Golden Days - Adventures With Indy

Every Thing Is Better In The Spring

Even if we are just to semi-Spring, everything seems better already. I don’t think I’ve ever been SO tired of being cold in my entire life. And no wonder - this has been one of the top 10 harshest winters in the history of this part of the state. Indy and Ami are SERIOUSLY shedding now, so maybe it’s FINALLY over!

Now to get down to business - such as FINALLY actually RIDING Indy. I cannot believe I’ve had him almost a year, and have yet to sit on his back. Who could have foreseen all the complications we were to face! Not to mention my own difficulty dealing with the prospect of riding a horse that wasn’t DJ. I think I’m ready now. Actually, I’ve been ready for a while, but there was just NO possibility of trying to ride in the weather we’ve been having.

Of course, during Shedding Season, just GROOMING is serious business LOL! Yesterday I got enough hair off those critters to carpet a floor. Too bad I don’t know how to braid one of those pricey horsehair mecates. I could make a fortune here!

I groomed on the two of them yesterday until my arms almost fell off, and I was STILL getting hair. For Indy, grooming is ecstasy, and even Ms Ami didn’t give me any “go AWAY” glares. I must say, they both looked absolutely gorgeous when I was finished. So, they both immediately rushed out to roll in the mud after they finished their dinner. I’ve come to the conclusion that horses feel embarrassed when they are clean.

To get back to riding - I’ve decided to start Indy off in a bosal. That was to be his next step with his original trainer anyway, and I think it will be the best thing for both of us. I think Indy has an EXTREMELY sensitive mouth. I’ve observed this even when he’s eating, and I think that’s the reason I’m having problems getting him to relax with a bit. It’s not that he won’t TAKE the bit - he will, after a bit of gentle persuasion. But he seems miserable the entire time it’s in his mouth, only thinking about how the spit the danged thing OUT. I still believe that with time, he will come to accept it, but for now, he NEEDS to get restarted under saddle. He had a super start and 30 days with his NH trainer, BUT, that was almost TWO YEARS ago now. That’s a long time for a seasoned horse and even longer for a greenie like Indy. The bosal will enable us to get started riding again and let me take all the time in the world with the bit bit (just a bit of humor I couldn’t resist!)

I’ve watched Indy work under saddle on a video with his trainer, and having come to know him, I certainly don’t anticipate any intentional trouble from him. Still, a green horse is, well, green, and nothing can change that but lots of time, time, time and riding, riding, riding. It’s time to get started. YEAH!
suzym on 03.18.03 @ 11:08 AM CST [link] [1 Comment]

Catching Up

First, I want to thank Indy and Ami (at least I, uh, THINK I want to thank them) for posting in Indy’s Journal while I was sick. Indy is getting quite good at typing, and I only had to pull a few pieces of hay and a bit of carrot out of my keyboard.

I still don’t know what the heck was wrong with me. I never had any fever or anything like that, but I got so weak I could hardly walk to the barn - then it all went away as quickly as it had come. VERY strange! Whatever it was, I just want it to stay away from me!

It’s been quite cold here for some time, but Spring MUST be on the way, because both Indy and Ami have started shedding. I noticed a few hairs coming off Indy a week or so ago, but yesterday they both were suddenly covered with loose hairs! That’s great with me - I’m SO sick of dragging on 10 lbs. worth of clothes before I can venture out the door. Besides, there is no way I can do any serious work with Indy as long as I have to wear heavy gloves. Well, every day is one day closer to Spring…

Ami must think Spring is coming because she’s getting, ahem, amorous toward Indy. Seriously amorous. Yesterday she was trying everything she could think of to seduce him, and he just wanted to play. Finally, I guess he decided to take advantage of her arched tail stuck in his face, and he grabbed her tail in his mouth. She started trotting off, and he was right with her - her tail still in his mouth. My kingdom for a video camera! They trotted all the way around the hay feeder that way - until Indy got distracted by the hay. Ami stopped a few strides later, and looked back with a disgusted “Where’d he GO?!” look on her face. He was blissfully munching hay, and I was rolling on the ground. What a RIOT!

Even though I am getting anxious to start more “serious” work, that’s not to say that the time I’m spending with Indy now is wasted - not by ANY means. We’re continuing to deepen our bond. The other day, Indy had been looking at something over the fence up by the barn. I came over to see what it was. I didn’t see anything myself, and he lost interest shortly too. We were standing side by side, and I leaned against one of the fence posts, resting my head on the top. Indy walked around behind me, coming up to my opposite shoulder, which was at about a 45-degree angle to the fence. I felt his muzzle brush my shoulder. A couple of minutes later, I felt a weight gently come down. Indy was dozing with his head on my shoulder. We stayed that way for quite a while, with him drifting in and out of sleep, his jaw on my shoulder and his sweet, warm breath on my cheek. Perfect bliss - for both of us.
suzym on 03.01.03 @ 11:18 AM CST [link] [2 Comments]

March 2003
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