The Kiddie Table

I have never entertained the thought of not having riding lessons. However, I thought that my skills would improve quickly being able to ride with more experienced riders on a casual basis. Last summer, STA rode with me whenever she could. Her coaching was a tremendous help to me. But she started a new job that summer and her travel has increased making it difficult to schedule a routine ride. We try to get together at least once a month. My riding buddy, Jean, does not own a horse, but sometimes she does come out and ride with me.

Most adult riders at the stables ride much earlier in the day than I can. There is a small group, whose horses are boarded in the arena stalls (Gem is in the old barn), that get together regularly in the evenings and on the weekends. I am friendly with the Arena Gang, but unless I initiate it, an invitation to ride with them is not extended. They are always really nice to me when they see me, but I have come to realize that they just don't want to "babysit" me. It made me a little sad at first, but I can understand where they are coming from. So, I end up riding with the younger riders a lot.

Initially, I was a little embarrassed to be riding with the Young Ladies, but it has been great! I am always guaranteed company in the evening. There is no age discrimination when you love horses. The Young Ladies actually don't mind that I am older than their mothers - they think I'm cool. :-) Their average age is about 13 years old. They are courteous and patient with me, fun and know waaaaay more than I do. They love their horses and aren't shy about showing it. The Young Ladies all compete in reining and it's amazing what their horses can do. They don't mind me asking questions. A 12-year-old taught me how to a 90 degree turn! Imagine! They are always encouraging to each other, laughing and having fun. You can see the physical change in their horses as they pick up on the positive vibes. They get lighter on their feet, their bodies loosen up, they are almost dancing! Disciplining a horse is almost non-existent; there's no need to. The Young Ladies are fearless; we were comparing how many times we had fallen off our horses and one said she was into double digits!! Yikes!!

Riding in the arena with the Arena Gang is a bit different. The riders praise each other, but the displays of affection or praise towards the horses are fewer in number than with the younger riders. The energy level is not as light and fun. The horses don't dance. It is all business. The focus is a little more on what you are doing wrong. I was told I praise Gem too much. *sigh*

As usual, CH, RB and AT (aka Arena Gang) had arranged to meet and were just finishing their ride as I arrived at the arena. As I struggled to maneuver a mouthy, grumpy Gem around their horses, a comment was made that I was too nice to him and need to be tougher. *sigh*

So how is it that the Young Ladies can ask their horses to work willingly and happily without being "tough"? I want to learn their secret. The laughter, the lightness, the fun; does it really have to slip away when child turns to adult? The Young Ladies have helped me remember why I started riding in the first place. I recently started riding with a couple of other adult boarders. But, as long as they don't mind me hanging out with them, I am going to continue riding with the Young Ladies, too. I want to experience the laughter and energy that they exude for as long as I can. I want Gem to have opportunities to just be goofy. Yes, I am looking forward to experiencing my second childhood....bring it on, I say!!! :-)

What was I thinking....?

It's Electrifying!

Every Sunday, I go to the stables. A couple of weeks ago, as I put Gem in the cross-ties, I asked LA how he had been over the last few days.

LA: "Well, we had a bit of an incident yesterday."
Me: "An incident??? What happened???"
LA: "Well, Gem decided to take a tour of the neighbourhood and went galloping down the road."
Me: "WHAT?!!!!! Holy crap!"

Let me back up a bit. Gem shares his field with 3 other horses: a 14.3hh blue-eyed black/white paint, DH, who beat up the other horses when he came on the scene and is now leader (I think he has short-man syndrome), a 15.2hh brown/white paint named S. (really sweet) and a 14.3hh brown QH named J. (shy, unassuming). Gem used to be the leader, but then DH arrived and they had it out (lots of bite marks!). Gem gave way to DH and now DH is top, Gem is next, S. is 3rd and J. is lowest ranking. Gem tolerates DH.

Last summer, I bought one of those rubber balls with a handle (in chartreuse, of course!) for Gem to play with while he was separated from the herd. It eventually ended up in the corner of his stall. LA asked me, about a month ago, if she could put it out in the field for The Boys to play with; they were getting bored. Of course! They love that thing. They run around chasing and kicking it. It was a great idea to give it to them.

On the day in question, The Boys were running around the field, kicking up their heels and blowing off a little steam. The ball came into play a few times. LA was enjoying watching them while she was doing her chores in and around the barn. Boys will be boys, though. Somehow, S. lost his footing (ice?) and fell right down....across the electric tape fence, the section facing the back of the arena. This stopped play for about a nano-second. S. quickly got up (unharmed), both he and Gem looked at the gap in the fence, noticed the absence of gates beyond where they were standing and decided to go for it....at a trot and then a gallop...right past LA!

LA yelled at her helper, who grabbed a couple of halters and started off after the escapees on foot, while LA and her husband brought DH and J. in and then jumped in the truck. The race was on! The stables are located on a quiet road, so traffic was not an issue. But if the horses had deviated from the road, there were plenty of farm fields they could frolic in. S. and Gem weren't gone long. They only went down the road about 1/4 mile when they stopped and looked around and realized that the herd was no where in sight. They were easily caught and walked back without issue. Gem had a chunk missing from his front hoof as a reminder of his escapade.

As usual, the next time I was at the stables, I asked how Gem had been.

LA: "There was another incident."
Me: "WHAT?!! You have got to be kidding me!"
LA: "Nope. DH was involved."

Oh, no. I assumed that there had been a blow up between him and Gem.

Me: "Good grief. Is everyone OK?"
LA: "Yep. DH got electrocuted this time."
Me: "What?! You mean.......
LA: "Yep."
Me: "Crap."

Based on the details LA provided, this is what I think happened. Gem instigated a game with DH. Play ball with me. I am your friend. I won't hurt you. DH and Gem were tearing around the field tossing the ball back and forth. Gem took the game to the side of the field that faces the pastures. Gem threw the ball long and deep. DH went for it and crashed through the electric tape fencing. As DH struggled to get up (bzzzt! bzzzt!), Gem stepped over him, stuck his tongue out at DH (OK, maybe I am making that up) and trotted off to be with the herd. DH (unharmed), S. and J. stayed put. Gem was eventually brought back, looking very smug (OK, maybe I made that up, too).

It's hard to believe that a face like this could be devious. These incidents, as much as they are worrisome, have given me a whole new respect for Gem's intelligence. I believe it clicked that if he could pull down the electric tape, there was a new adventure waiting on the other side of the fence. He knows that the electric shock hurts and I think he was smart enough to realize that he would need to sacrifice one of his roommates on the fence to be able to start his adventure. DH was the perfect choice. :-) DH would get zapped (that will teach you to bite me!) and Gem gets to party.

I offered to pay for the electrician and repair of the fence. LA declined my offer. "This is just horses being horses", she said with a smile, "Comes with the territory." Thank goodness! Hmmmmmm, now I wonder what OTHER plans Gem is developing......

What was I thinking....?