So, we tried another trio today, bit closer to home.
Horse one, QH mare, built like a tank, maybe 15 hands, 7 yrs old. She
was fine for Carl size wise and personable on the ground. *Horrible*
feet--more than what a few trims and six months could fix. She had
obviously been recently trimmed and shaped, but had hellacious cracks in
both fronts and a chunk out of the side in the back with smaller
cracking. When we got there the guy was riding her bareback with a
halter and lead rope in the field with her pasture ornament pal. Brings
her up, shows us her nice ground manners and Parelli tricks. Asks do we
want to ride bareback or with the saddle. I said saddle please. He gets
the saddle on her, bridles her up, and I hop on. Give her a leg cue.
Nothing. Give a little stronger cue with a kiss and cluck. Pins her ears
and stands. I try a side step, get a half step to the side and then
nothing.
Woman suggests that guy get on and show me how to ride her; I figure
maybe they put some weird cues on her. After all, they were just out
riding around in the field. She won't budge for him. He puts his big old
rowel spurs right into her and she will back up and go sideways, and
turn tight, but refuses to step out and go anywhere. He decides it
because they so seldom put the saddle and bridle on to ride, so peels
the bridle and tries in the halter. Nada. Strips the saddle and gets on
bareback. Nope. Backwards, sideways, head over her pal's back, etc., but
uninterested in doing a thing. We all shrug, say these things happen,
and head off to horse #2.
Horse number two is Duke, a grey QH gelding, about 15.2, 12 years old.
Cute, kinda rough conformation and not so sweet on the eye, but a good
sound bare foot. They tacked him up and did walk, trot, canter, and a
cross rail in the small covered arena. I got on and felt him out--comfy,
pleasant, not at all lazy to the aids, but not too sharp. Very wiggly.
We swapped and Carl got on, did some walk and trot both directions, went
over some trot poles. I asked did he want to canter and he said OK
(first time he has agreed to canter a horse on try out, which I figured
was a good sign). They did a little canter both ways, some steering
issues together but Carl looked a little tight and the space was really
small. They had a stream out near the barn and said we could take him in
it, so I suggested we hack him down to the creek. He got a little head
high and frisky out in the open on the mini trail, but Carl was able to
settle him and make him mind his manners without being intimidated. Then
went down the rocky path into the creek, splashed around in the creek,
came up the bank, down a little bit of path, walked over a biggish log,
back down into the creek and back to the starting point, then we hacked
back to the arena and thanked them before going on our way.
Last horse was a cute little paint mare, Lady. She's 5 years old, 15,
15.1 hands, 5 yrs old. Owner tacked her up and the daughter jumped up
there and did a little walk and jog each way, then loped her when mom
pressed (novice rider, scared of loping--mom has serious health issue
and not able to ride or care for horses now). She was steady and quiet.
I got on, walk trot lope, and she was very good. Carl and I swapped and
she was also very good for him; it was a tiny little space, and I
suspect she would liven up more out on trail, but she was very sweet and
rideable.
I think Duke is Carl's current favorite, followed closely by Pepper from
last weekend and Lady from today. Tomorrow we have three more, and I
want to set some up for next week, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.
So there you have it! Shopping adventures. I think Carl was
flabberghasted that I could not get that horse to move at all. I told
him I wasn't about to do corrective work on someone else's horse while
trying it out--this ain't a mare sent to me for training, and I am not
going to pull out the tools it would take to get her unstuck.
Eileen Morgan
The Mare's Nest
http://www.themaresnest.com
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