[Previous entry: "What Is This Thing Called Love? – Originally Posted June 4 2004"] [Next entry: "Time For An Update! – Originally Posted August 09, 2004"]
12/01/2004: "Ride!!!!! – Originally Posted July 23, 2004"
Ride Time: 15 minutes
Today, I finally rode Indy again!!! And, I think I'm gonna ride him again tomorrow since we're supposed to have a few days of really nice weather. Geez! I am so pumped!
We just rode for 15 minutes in the big paddock, but it was a major milestone nevertheless. This was the first time Indy has been ridden in a bit in probably 3 years – depending on when his original trainer switched from the rope hackamore to a snaffle. No matter what, it’s been a while.
I have Indy going in the Myler Comfort Snaffle, and he seems to be learning to accept it better every time I put it in his mouth. He was very calm today, with hardly a sign of any nervousness. He tested the limits of what he could get away with in the bit, but they weren’t problems and you have to expect some testing of the limits! He didn’t lug on the bit at all, and in fact, came extremely light at times.
We stuck to the walk today for several reasons. One, I want to practice control and giving to the bit some more before getting faster because I do NOT want to be pulling on his mouth! Another is that since he’s been ridden so little in his life, his back is not ready for a lot of work at any speed – especially since I am using DJ’s saddle which is definitely not wide enough through the withers for Indy. I think it will be okay for a few short rides while we get to know each other better from this standpoint. It’s better for both of us if I’m not getting the feel of a now horse and new saddle at the same time.
Indy’s back seemed perfectly fine after the ride, but I’ll be keeping a very close eye on it until we get the new saddle. God forbid I should make him sore!
I have to admit I was nervous, not having the same kind of control as I had with DJ – DUH? I keep thinking back to the first rides on DJ, and, honestly, Indy is MUCH calmer than DJ was at the time. The “problem” is MY nerves, not Indy’s. That and the fact that I’m 20 years older than I was when I started DJ!
Today went a loooooooog way toward calming those nerves of mine though. Indy improved so much in just that short time, and I know he’s only going to get better and better. He is truly wonderful.
And something else – something that it’s taken two years to happen: While I was up on Indy, I never once thought of him as “not DJ.” Now there’s a REAL accomplishment!
