Clearly the arena has gremlins
Enrique is absolutely certain of that now. Where before there were some doubts in his mind, there's none now. Gremlins in the arena. Evil, ugly gremlins who long to destroy the minds of poor, innocent Trakehners.
First of all, we have a large (think about 12ft) back door in our arena, which allows you to see the hayshed and part of the outside arena. And the doors can either be closed all the way, or you can have a sliding half door over the lower part of the door so that you look out. Generally, unless its winter, the door remains half closed for ventilation and. This has always caused concern for Enrique, because you can see out and things can sometimes pop out at you. (one time visitors came bye and leaned over it just as we were going around the corner. Enrique almost shit himself. And almost dumped me)
So he's cautious of this...in fact, all the horses are, some more, some less. Costa for example, looks at it and won't go close to it until you ride him in bigger circles and get closer and closer until you are right next to it, and then he's generally fine, even with activity happening outside. He seems to realize that its ok-its just the outside and if he does spook, its a small shy and then he carries on. Enrique, on the other hand, can be ridden right up to it from the start and is generally just fine until he sees something...and this something can be something so small as a sparrow, and then he'll try to spin around and bolt like the hounds of hell are after him. Same happens if he sees other horses in the outdoor, he stops dead, spins on his haunches and heads for home...or rather the wall as by that point, I'm swearing at him and telling him to grow the hell up!)
So, we had a lot of snow the past two days. About 3" of the stuff. And today was warmer (yay!) so it was starting to melt. Enrique was being fabulous. Monday was an ok ride, but today he felt really good. We're really starting to get crisp walk to canter transitions instead of the "what? canter? how's about I trot a few steps...no? alright, I'll canter" So we were about 1/2 way into our ride, when we passed the doors....and all this snow fell from the roof right into the arena and right into his path and face with a loud woosh. Well, let me tell you. In Enrique's mind, this was clearly an indication of the Apocalypse. The poor grey beast lost his little Trakehner mind, bolted forward, dislodging me from my stirrups, and almost knocking me out of the saddle, and was so out of it, that I literally was seesawing the bit trying to get him back to me for 5 minutes before I could turn him enough to run him into a wall (and the poor beast actually did run himself into a wall. He's got a cut now on his nose thanks to hitting it on the wood. oy) . He just fried. He was coated in sweat and shaking. So I spent the next twenty minutes of our ride getting him past that Evil Corner. I have to say though, he did feel fantastic despite that; he was so up in front of my leg and sensitive at this point that my littlest half halt was enough to have him sitting back right on his ass. But We Were Not Amused.
Frustrates me though, as I thought we were getting better with this door thing. I mean I know most horses would have shit themselves in these circumstances; but he was always so sensitive about that corner to begin with. Of COURSE it would happen to him. Now he's absolutely convinced that there are gremlins with a penchant for eating big grey Trakehners lurking in the corner.
First of all, we have a large (think about 12ft) back door in our arena, which allows you to see the hayshed and part of the outside arena. And the doors can either be closed all the way, or you can have a sliding half door over the lower part of the door so that you look out. Generally, unless its winter, the door remains half closed for ventilation and. This has always caused concern for Enrique, because you can see out and things can sometimes pop out at you. (one time visitors came bye and leaned over it just as we were going around the corner. Enrique almost shit himself. And almost dumped me)
So he's cautious of this...in fact, all the horses are, some more, some less. Costa for example, looks at it and won't go close to it until you ride him in bigger circles and get closer and closer until you are right next to it, and then he's generally fine, even with activity happening outside. He seems to realize that its ok-its just the outside and if he does spook, its a small shy and then he carries on. Enrique, on the other hand, can be ridden right up to it from the start and is generally just fine until he sees something...and this something can be something so small as a sparrow, and then he'll try to spin around and bolt like the hounds of hell are after him. Same happens if he sees other horses in the outdoor, he stops dead, spins on his haunches and heads for home...or rather the wall as by that point, I'm swearing at him and telling him to grow the hell up!)
So, we had a lot of snow the past two days. About 3" of the stuff. And today was warmer (yay!) so it was starting to melt. Enrique was being fabulous. Monday was an ok ride, but today he felt really good. We're really starting to get crisp walk to canter transitions instead of the "what? canter? how's about I trot a few steps...no? alright, I'll canter" So we were about 1/2 way into our ride, when we passed the doors....and all this snow fell from the roof right into the arena and right into his path and face with a loud woosh. Well, let me tell you. In Enrique's mind, this was clearly an indication of the Apocalypse. The poor grey beast lost his little Trakehner mind, bolted forward, dislodging me from my stirrups, and almost knocking me out of the saddle, and was so out of it, that I literally was seesawing the bit trying to get him back to me for 5 minutes before I could turn him enough to run him into a wall (and the poor beast actually did run himself into a wall. He's got a cut now on his nose thanks to hitting it on the wood. oy) . He just fried. He was coated in sweat and shaking. So I spent the next twenty minutes of our ride getting him past that Evil Corner. I have to say though, he did feel fantastic despite that; he was so up in front of my leg and sensitive at this point that my littlest half halt was enough to have him sitting back right on his ass. But We Were Not Amused.
Frustrates me though, as I thought we were getting better with this door thing. I mean I know most horses would have shit themselves in these circumstances; but he was always so sensitive about that corner to begin with. Of COURSE it would happen to him. Now he's absolutely convinced that there are gremlins with a penchant for eating big grey Trakehners lurking in the corner.