Changes in attitude

Well, sort of. Today is: cold and rainy. The temperature has been hovering in the 60s for a couple of weeks . . . low 60s at night, and up a couple of degrees during the day. But they are promising a change starting tomorrow. It will become hot and rainy. Variety is always good.

I rode in the indoor last night. Even though the outdoor is surfaced with sand it is a soggy mess right now, and besides it was spitting rain. I had planned to lunge Champagne to wake him up, but I didn’t have much energy and I was a bit nervous about breaking yet another finger (or the same one again, even worse) so I just saddled up.

Champagne was being his usual lethargic self. I’d prompt for energy, and then remind him to keep his back up and his neck arched, but as soon as he did that he’d slow down and get all limp again. He pretended he couldn’t even leg yield at the trot, and was doing the old “slow way down at the corners so she won’t ask for a canter” thing. I was getting pretty gloomy myself. Riding a dopey horse is a lot of work.

Finally I gave him a good honking crack with the crop on his side behind my leg. I know he felt it because he did kick out behind. But suddenly he was quite willing, much more on the bit, nice walking energy, pretty brisk trot, and canter either way I wanted. Now I know he was just gaming me with all that slow stuff. Sheesh. Out-gamed by a horse.

We ended the ride with some trotting on completely loose reins. He stretched his neck out so far his nose was six inches from the ground, his back came up, and it was kind of fun. These days I’m ending my rides by giving him the buckle but still asking for energy, and trying to steer, speed up, slow down, and stop just using my seat and legs. That’s good for both of us.

So my mood is considerably improved despite the atmospheric conditions. And I am so happy to have the indoor. If Champagne still lived at Anne’s I would not have been able to ride for most of June.