I am going to re post what she has written on facebook because the stories are just that much better!
12-15-11
Today's ride started off with me working Desi on the ground some. He was full of himself. Soon he calmed down and I brushed/saddled him. Time for the dreaded headstall. He was naughty but eventually got it on. It just LOTS of patients and letting him know you will keep going no matter long it takes so he may as well give up.(The first ever ride I had on Legacy's back on 11-30-11, we were caught up by some wild dogs, who wanted to try and take the horses down but first they tried to take us off of the horses. One even managed to grab a hold of Jenn's ankle. Lots of stirrups and boot kicks to their faces, yelling at them, and making the horses "get them". I know now why people pack guns riding out here! It was pretty scary!)
Then I had to desensitize him to the helmet. Good thing I did because he was NOT happy it was near him or above him. It was pretty quick. I mounted and of course he stood waiting fo rme to get my hip situated. Off we went.
NO crazy dogs today. Just a bunch on their own properties.
And except for 5 spooks, we stayed at a walk on loose reins. The first spook I brought out my hand to adjust my sweatshirt, but he did not bolt, but leapt sideways and stopped. 2 Spooks were rabbits under the bushes that ran out as we got to them. But yet, 2 other rabbits ran out in between the spooks and after were no big deal to them. One more spook of my lifting my hand out and up to adjust the helmet. No big deal with any except, right when we came to my house, he had a super big meltdown. At the same time he heard his feet going quicker down the road, he wanted to bolt, but ran sideways towards a barbed wire fence. Right at the same time a damned white car came flying at us. Even seeing Desi was flipping out, they never slowed. I yelled at them and gave them my own flipping out sign. We had 2 choices, real quick into our yard or into barbed wire. I told Allison to quickly get in the yard or it was going to get bad real quick. We slipped in just as they drive by. There are 2 white cars who never slow down even if they see a horse freaking out. Once I would love a cop to pull them over and tell them about speeding down our road could get them more than a speeding ticket if we get seriously hurt.
The last part of the ride we did a lot of corto-ing. No issues with those transitions. No temper tantrums. He did stop everytime he felt me go a tiny bit off-balance which started to be a pain. But, after a second I would tell him to walk on. His brother would pretend he had to pee all the time to stop. And no he had no peeing issues. He just had learned he was allowed to stop and gawk when if he pretended. That is what Desi was starting to learn too, but we worked it out. He is still not happy with the bit. So soon as my spoon comes back, we will try that.
Much better ride than I thought it would be. Everything except the last few minutes with the meltdown. It was the same white car that did this when I was hand walking him over by the neighbors. Unsure what the trigger was. When we left and crossed the road, he had no issues with any sound of his feet. I am sure Allison thought he was a freak LOL
12-20-11
It would be an eventful ride today. 4 horses for Desi to deal with. Just a walk maybe a bit of slow gait now and then.
Ali had Legacy tied in her normal spot. I had Desi tied in his. I normally tie off his leadrope since he likes to untie himself and sneak off when I go to get the saddle. I went in to get grooming supplies when I heard a huge crash. Desi managed to get his halter down to Legacy's feeder and had it completely off her pipestall and hanging off the nose of his rope halter. All Kathy (my other riding friend and Ali could do it watch). He was pulling and rearing trying to get his heavy flying object off his face. You ALL know Desi's history and spookiness and ANYTHING near him let alone on him flailing about trying to attack him. My heart was caught in my throat as I went over yelling at him, "STAND!!!! DO NOT MOVE!!STAND DESI STAND!!" And then he stopped, this thing dragging his nose to the ground still stuck on him. He stood there waiting for me to untie him which was cake because of the way he was tied. Then he waited for me to untangle the hook fro the feeder from around his halter. I moved it to the side, looked him over, all good. He shook for a moment and then I put him back into his spot to groom and saddle him.
Still having issues getting headstall on, but not the bit. Once it was all done we were on our way. Kathy had ridden her NSH mare "Rocky" over. Desi had never seen her before and was trying to strut his stuff. His brother would do the same thing trying to look cool. Boys...
Once I got on and we started to head back, a huge trash truck with it's arms up went by and down the street. He had a small meltdown, but on we went. Crossed the street a small temper tantrum, small rear and baby bucks. Once we went in a bit he settled down. He was following like a champ. A few small spooks at ______ (no clue) but nothing horrible.
We went on and the gal with the Rocky we were trying to reach was actually there riding around LOL Ali and I stayed there while Kathy ran up to go talk to the gal. No issue from him being left by a horse running as long as Legacy was there. She was on a green horse too, and usually rides alone. Unsure if she was afraid we would be going full tilt. We explained I was on a freak and it was almost all just walking. She joined us and on we went, now 4 horses.
Everyone was doing super. Then her horse who was in front spied a big blue tarp that had blown up into the bushes. The bottom on the ground was full of water. Everyone got back under control when Desi spotted it. Oh great here it comes, another meltdown. But he was pulling on my hands hard.. to go get it LMAO! Seriously he walked up to it, stood on it, pawwed it and was fine. Yet the bush behind us touched his butt right there, and he spooked LOL
We went on a ways then circled back to her trailer where her husband and dog were waiting. Desi was not thrilled seeing something moving inside the truck. But he did good considering.
We headed back home and after about 20 min the gal on the Rocky turned to go back because he was acting up not being in the lead. Desi and I were behind him and he was being very good. Behind new horses do not (so far) seem to be an issue. He is staying (most of the time) back far enough without me to keep asking him to. A couple more spooks and we met up with one of my neighbors on her horse. She decided to go with Kathy while Ali and I went towards home. Both Legacy and Desi pitched a fit. Legacy stomped most of the way home LOL Desi kept crying out (something I have never seen him do) and we eventually made it home.
No white car to run us over. Though once we got in through the gate, he did have another mini-meltdown and was fine for me to get off in our normal spot.
What a ride....
Will he ever get rid of the spookiness, tantrums and meltdowns? We will see. But he did improve in some areas and did exceptionally well in others today. I know the fact he stopped moving in mid-terror to wait for me to get there, is that bond we have. The accident did not make him freaky for putting the halter on, tying etc. He did give it a LOOK when we got back and it was sitting on the ground across the way. Glad his feeder is white.. No matter what issues he sometimes has, I love that boy to pieces.
12-27-2011
I need a drink. One of those huge ones from on the strip. Today's excitement was lovely. Allison who bought Legacy came over to try out a new saddle. All was good. Desi was in the front yard playing and romping about with Spirit. Then I noticed one of the neighbors horses is running loose in their yard. I do not have their number and no way to get in their yard. I tried yelling, whistling etc. Then I hear a deeeep horse scream and the horse from next door is fighting with Desi over the fence. I start to go up and see what is going on when the other horse bolts and Desi jumps the fence to go after her. He did not clear it, got tangled in the wire and was stuck upside down. I am yelling at him to stay and not move while I try and figure a way to get next door. Desi waited as long as he could and then got himself free. Then he runs after the other horse which is a HUGE QH with buttcheeks the size of a Volkswagon. She tries kicking him and they go off. I scamper over the downed fence (4 tbars flattened with field fence) and go after Desi. I hear the neighbors voice and we both catch our horses. I check Desi out and not a scratch. Nothing. Thank goodness Allison was here to keep me sane and help out. Poor Allison, last week and now this week. Desi got some Bute because I know his muscles will be sore later. Again, I say, I NEED A DRINK! LOL
Some photo's from our rides
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