from English to Western

I've always wanted to ride 'Western'. Have a go in the big saddles, have a pretty bridle with their intricate decoration, split reins, bits that look terrifyingly strong.

Having Frankie from just backed, meant he was mine to mold, effectively. I wanted to do everything with him, and even at 11, I knew I wanted him to be easy and uncomplicated to handle. I didn't know about Natural Horsemanship, but I knew I wanted a relationship with my horses.

I had it easy in many ways. His mouth was and still is, beautiful. He has amazing self carriage and paces. His attitude to work with humans is positive, as long as you let him think he's doing what he wants, but he rarely dissents. Once when he was 6 or 7, I was walking him down the lane of the farm we boarded at and he decided to let out a small buck. I smacked him with the crop. He bucked harder. I hit harder. He bucked harder. We did maybe 6 or 7 buck SMACK! BUCK! SMACK! until he huffed and gave in. We had other fights that winter. He was full of his own ideas about how fast to go and whether to listen to me, and I was pretty small! My mum rode him a lot at that point, not asking a lot of him and letting him mature a bit. When I did ride him, I tried to stick to fun stuff, like teaching him to neck rein - very easy - and starting new jumps and obstacles - he wasn't scared of anything.

In a book I have about Welsh Cobs, there is a picture of a jet black cob called Derwen Rosina's Last, wearing western tack and a red and blue blanket. He looks beautiful. From then on, about 10 years ago, my aim has been to one day, even if it's just for dress ups, to have him all kitted out - and me! In the chaps, the spurs, maybe even the Stetson - and to have a photo of that.

Western disciplines in the UK are few and far between. The reiners have their imported Quarter Horses and it's based mainly in the south of the country, way away from where we lived. And it wasn't the sport, it was to do it with Frankie.

One day, my Mum brought home a tiny, weird looking western saddle that I in no way fitted in, and a bosal with soft rope reins. I've ridden Frankie in many bits. Happy mouth snaffles, sweet iron bits, belgian gags, pelhams, a double bridle, whatever the fad is for the latest show bit, a hackamore and probably more. All he needs in the school is a snaffle, but cross country and for galloping, I prefer a gag for extra woah factor. But, I tried this bosal on him. And because he neck reins and listens to seat and legs, he was fine. Walk, trot, canter, circles, pirouettes. No problem, because a bit is not everything. look mum, no mouth!
Frankie's 'perfection' taught me so much about riding different horses and the expectations one can have for a relationship with a horse. I say he's bombproof, because I trust him any situation. Big trucks, cars, wild animals (well, sheep and cows), loud noises, I know him and I know his reactions and that's fine with me. To anyone else, him jumping into the middle of the road because a rabbit rustled the hedge is crazy. And it is. He's not scared of rabbits. He's not scared of trucks or other big vehicles either. But if he's in a prancy mood and there's a JCB coming towards him, sometimes, just sometimes, he'll snort extra loud and dance around by the side of the road so that the kindly farmer will stop his engine and say 'you got a young'un there love?' and I smile through my teeth and say 'No, he's an idiotic 18, I'm afraid'. And I'm sure he finds it hilarious, if horses can take any amusement from embarrassing their humans.

Then a tractor will pass and he'll not bat an eyelid. Git!

He is a joker and I love him for it. But him doing that with anyone else? I agree, that's pretty dangerous.

Where I'm going with this rambling of mine, is that now, in Canada, riding the Rockies, I always choose a western saddle. First of all, it fits them better, second of all, I harbour my secret cowgirl fantasies, and third of all, they're damn comfortable. I also take lessons with a top reining rider and trainer, who has opened my eyes to completely different methods of riding, training and introducing skills to young horses. All in all, I'm very lucky, and I'm scoping out all the tackstores for the perfect bridle, girth, blanket and other accessories for Frankie. I bought a saddle off of ebay for £80. It was a good start, I feel.

Breakthru!

Spelling in honour of Queen, my favourite band as it would have been Freddie Mercury's 65th birthday today.

So, the last couple of times I've longed Stormy, she's been much more relaxed and hasn't had a scaredy tantrum since I sat on her last Tuesday. I've been asking her for tolt, and even for a little canter on a very big circle, as I doubt she's done it much before.

Today, she was a dream. I loose-schooled her at walk and trot - she chose to trot, not gait - and a little at canter, but she is very unbalanced, then I brought her onto the longe, and when I asked, she would 'whoa' almost instantly, when I said 'steaadyy tro-ot' she relaxed from rushing. She kept an ear on me all the time but her demeanour was happy and she didn't once balk at the rope or me or anything. Good girl!!

Lilly had her first day of work with Annick, who is going to back her, soon, I would think. She was very happy with the way I have started her, which I was pleased with of course! And Lilly did me proud by staying calm and behaving exactly as well as she does when I've worked her. If anything, she's a bit lazy, wanting to quit at the trot and very prompt halts!

The deal with this is Annick takes over Lilly to get her backed and ridden away, and I start working with Bond, the sole gelding at the farm, who Annick has been working with since May. He was 713lb when he arrived and he's 893lb today, at 14.2hh. A very happy story. He is still a little crazy, he likes to rush in all gaits and I was the first person other than Annick to ride him in his new life. We did lots of circles and transitions and I'll be riding him with her for the week, before taking him on myself.

Finally, Mae is finished her 3 weeks + off tomorrow, her bute taper finishes today and she was sound last Thursday when I loose schooled her to check. She's been off work and hasn't gaited for probably over 6 weeks now, so I'm going to walk her for 20 mins, 4 times a week, on the hard driveway, so she's not slogging through sand. I'll do this for two weeks and see how she goes before trying any circles or gaiting.