Starting Over

My blog about why walk/trot really got me thinking about the process of starting over with a new pony. When I sold Elsie and Reba, both of those ponies were finally what I refer to as broke. They knew all the things that a broke pony should do. When I was showing Reba to her prospective owner I talked about how she could:

sidepass

pivot on the fore and hind

collect the lope, extend the lope and collect again - using legs/body

had 3 speeds at the trot/jog - using legs/body

stop with leg/body

turn with leg/body

two track

do all the trail obstacles

shorten and lengthen their stride

ride one handed on a drape

stand and wait patiently

do everything showmanship

About the only thing show pony wise that Reba still struggled with is not messing around with crap that wasn't/isn't hers to chew on. Reins, saddle pads, ropes, her neighbor's blanket, you name it - all fair game in Reba's mind.

With starting over... it is a whole new mind set that can be a struggle to adjust to. I'm trying my hardest but there are moments where I frustrate myself and think "OH MY GOD you know NOTHING!" I mean, I'm not wrong - it was literally ride 11 and those 11 rides had been spread over a little more than a month so she really shouldn't know a whole lot. But it is definitely a mind set adjustment. When you're used to putting your leg on and getting this or that response, it's incredibly disheartening when you put your leg on and they ignore it or simply become confused. It's back to taking pride and finding success in the little things. Good girl who stood for 30 seconds. Good girl who backed softly. Good girl who moved her shoulder over when I picked up the outside rein! Good girl who wasn't afraid or went by the scary corner of the arena. Bit by bit we will build the foundation of a great riding pony. Today we are just slapping those first couple of bricks down in a row. And that's okay. Today I went back through my goals and added a few basic goals. I should put "not die" on there, that's always a good one!

One thing I am thankful for (and this can go both ways) - is only having Nani (the baby pony) to ride. Sometimes having the broke pony is nice because it can be refreshing to hop on and not have to work so hard. It can be refreshing after struggling to get through something basic with the baby to hop on a broke horse and ride that amazing lope or spin in a circle with the lift of a couple fingers. However, other times it can be such an adjustment to lower the expectations for the baby that you get a little too handsy, footsy or just plain over it with the young one.

Example: I remember a show when Sophie was riding both Pepper - who was green broke WT and switching between classes to ride her broke pony - Mercy. She was riding Pepper along on the rail and Pepper broke gait. Sophie, forgetting which pony she was on, got a little too aggressive with her spurs and Pepper gave a little jump straight up in the air. Ooops! Like I said, sometimes you forget which one you're on for just a second. lol

However, with all that being said - this is the fun part of training the green ponies too. They learn so much, so fast. Each ride is a fast paced journey of constant training from the time you get them out of their pasture or stall to the second that halter comes off at the end of the session. Each day you can physically feel the changes in their bodies and their minds. If you have never felt that moment when something clicks in their minds, you may not appreciate what a great feeling that is from their back or beside them. Right now it is the most basic of lightbulbs, but before you know it, Nani will be stringing those "ah ha" moments together and the beginnings of a broke pony will be laid.

I've rambled on long enough but writing has always helped me get my jumbled thoughts organized. I'm motivated now to get home and get on my pony again. Just need to the weather to cooperate. Until the next ride....