Another, "Oh! It's the journey!" Post

10/10/2016

Over the weekend I had another one of those moments where you realize your horse is not going to wake up tomorrow and be a schoolmaster for the blind. He's not even going to be a schoolmaster for a pro. He's just what he is, a youngish horse who is a bit hot and sassy and quite full of himself. He isn't going to be "easy," which is what I keep hoping I'll find when I get to the barn. And just like all young horses, he needs at least five more years before he's somewhat dependable to ride.

Not a well broke teenager ... yet.

On Friday afternoon, I hopped up on Speedy bareback with nothing but a halter and a desire to have that easy ride. He gave it to me of course because that's what well broke 12 year olds do. As we ambled around the neighborhood, I realized that I've been waiting for Izzy to start behaving like a well-broke teenager. Well shoot, that's not going to happen.

What should be a tunnel of terror.

Like I mentioned the other day, Izzy is an energetic horse that will simply need to be ridden for several more years until he slowly turns into that reliable teenager. That means I have about 4 or 5 more years to keep working on it. One day, I'll wake up and laugh about how many times I threatened to sale him.

For now, I just keep throwing learning experiences at him. Sometimes he behaves like you would expect, trembling in anxiety, certain that death is on his heels. Other times, like with the "tunnel of terror" pictured above, he drops his head, gives a bored sigh, and shows me his future well broke self.

His reaction is always the same - "this is boring."

Sometimes I find myself telling him in the most exasperated tone, "would you just start acting your age?" But of course, he already is. Come on, Birthday Number 9!

Leah link

10/10/2016 06:37:07 am

I just had this conversation with myself about my 5 y/o, haha. Although many days, she acts WAY more mature than her age, sometimes she reminds me she's five. I have to stop getting irritated by that, and just remember she's still young, and that by the time she's 10 or so, she's going to be so ridiculously rock solid! However, I think my 4 y/o will probably still be a baby until she's 20..... lol.

Elinor Yee link

10/10/2016 06:46:23 pm

:) OK, it's official. You're cordially invited to come all the way up here in the boonies in the foothills (because, you know, somehow you'll find a reason to make some sort of road trip up here!) to ride my very young, very NOT energetic horse.
It will be, um, safe, humbling, and yes, exhausting. Maybe some piggy rooting if you ask for the canter impolitely, that's about it.
I'll kick back on the mounting block while you ride and try not to fall asleep :) Please come!
In the end, you'll come home, thanking your lucky star that at least you've got an Audi, not a Wolkswagen, pet your handsome boy and take off flying through another diagonal.
Well, at least that's what I'm imagining will happen haha.
Hang in there with your full powered machine of a horse! I'm sure he's worth it :)

Tracy

10/11/2016 06:03:46 am

I love his expression in that tunnel, lol. He's definitely saying "what's all the fuss about? YAWN"

Teresa link

10/11/2016 04:38:44 pm

I too am living this reality. I want to hurry it up but there's no way to do it. I have to remember how Irish was at the same age....

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage