(no subject)
Yesterday I went up to Mohonk Mountain House were I worked last summer. I friend Lori still works there. We took horses out yesterday up to the tower. I took Domino, the love of my life. He was so cute when he saw me. He cocked his head to the right and looked confused like 'hey i know you'.
He hasn't been back for even a week yet so he had energy. They are not ridden all winter.
We start out and he's fine. It felt good to be back on him...right. Lori usually rides Heart he's a small quarter horse palomino but he was worked a lot so she took Gus.
We go up around the gardens and turn onto the trail and there are tables and folding chairs leaning against the wooden guardrail/fence. Gus was ahead of Domino by a hair. He sees the tables and freaks out. He starts throwing himself in all directions and takes off. Dom sees Gus get scared and is like oh shit what's going on and scares himself. He runs in circles and throws his head and neck up and side steps. There was a brief moment that I questioned whether we would both fall over. Lori gets off Gus and walks him past the tables. I try to coax Dom towards them and he starts walking backwards up a steep hill. I pat him and tell him its ok. Then i get him off the hill and we turn to walk back towards the tables. He's jumpy so I look the other direction and talk to him. That's a trick w/horses. If you look the opposite way from where they are looking they think oh well if she's not looking at it it must not be scary. So we make it past.
It was pretty uneventful up the mountain towards the tower. I trotted Dom and Lori cantered Gus. Dom doesn't know how to canter if someone is riding him. I've seen him do it in the field on his own but no one has even taught him what that gait is and how to do it when asked. I could tell he wanted canter b/c he kept shaking his head and neck so I set him up to canter and he threw his front end up and to the side and tried to pick it up w/his back end. Which isn't all wrong. The canter originates from the hind end. It does but his front end didn't get it and he was spastic. Plus the only reason he wanted to was to catch up to Gus. So I slowed him down to a very nice collected trot. It was enjoyable. Then he spooks at who know what and takes off. I calm him down and such. That right there proved it was a good idea i kept him at a trot b/c had he been cantering and took off it could have gotten ugly. We get to the top of the mountain and let them graze for a bit. Then head down. Dom got scared b/c the door of the tower was open and he thought there was a monster in it. There were people on top of the tower. Luckily none of them came down and went through the door.
The way down was pretty calm. When we passed by the tables again they were set up in the middle of the path with tablecloths blowing so rather than fight it we both got off and walked them through it.
It was a lot of fun. I'm glad I went. I love that horse. I wish he was mine he's seven so he has a lot of life ahead of him. I would love to teach him to canter and jump.
He hasn't been back for even a week yet so he had energy. They are not ridden all winter.
We start out and he's fine. It felt good to be back on him...right. Lori usually rides Heart he's a small quarter horse palomino but he was worked a lot so she took Gus.
We go up around the gardens and turn onto the trail and there are tables and folding chairs leaning against the wooden guardrail/fence. Gus was ahead of Domino by a hair. He sees the tables and freaks out. He starts throwing himself in all directions and takes off. Dom sees Gus get scared and is like oh shit what's going on and scares himself. He runs in circles and throws his head and neck up and side steps. There was a brief moment that I questioned whether we would both fall over. Lori gets off Gus and walks him past the tables. I try to coax Dom towards them and he starts walking backwards up a steep hill. I pat him and tell him its ok. Then i get him off the hill and we turn to walk back towards the tables. He's jumpy so I look the other direction and talk to him. That's a trick w/horses. If you look the opposite way from where they are looking they think oh well if she's not looking at it it must not be scary. So we make it past.
It was pretty uneventful up the mountain towards the tower. I trotted Dom and Lori cantered Gus. Dom doesn't know how to canter if someone is riding him. I've seen him do it in the field on his own but no one has even taught him what that gait is and how to do it when asked. I could tell he wanted canter b/c he kept shaking his head and neck so I set him up to canter and he threw his front end up and to the side and tried to pick it up w/his back end. Which isn't all wrong. The canter originates from the hind end. It does but his front end didn't get it and he was spastic. Plus the only reason he wanted to was to catch up to Gus. So I slowed him down to a very nice collected trot. It was enjoyable. Then he spooks at who know what and takes off. I calm him down and such. That right there proved it was a good idea i kept him at a trot b/c had he been cantering and took off it could have gotten ugly. We get to the top of the mountain and let them graze for a bit. Then head down. Dom got scared b/c the door of the tower was open and he thought there was a monster in it. There were people on top of the tower. Luckily none of them came down and went through the door.
The way down was pretty calm. When we passed by the tables again they were set up in the middle of the path with tablecloths blowing so rather than fight it we both got off and walked them through it.
It was a lot of fun. I'm glad I went. I love that horse. I wish he was mine he's seven so he has a lot of life ahead of him. I would love to teach him to canter and jump.