After various delays we finally set off at 11:30. The traffic was quite bad but both boys were travelling well. I was very pleased to noticed that for the first time 'Mr F' did not sweat up as he usually does.
We unloaded the boys and 'Mr F' did fidget about a bit but nothing like he used to. He even stood still while taking off his travel boots. We were due to meet up with 'Lady Jane'. And promptly, from a distance, we heard horses approach. Horses? I thought it was just 'Lady Jane' joining us. This didn't sound like just one horse, this was at least 3. It turned out it to be 4, including 'Lady Jane'.
'Oh great' I though ... 'another complicated ride'! I have still the memory of that Christmas ride where I had my hands full trying to keep 'Mr F' from wanting to 'win the race'. I sat in that saddle for hours while he was jogging most of the way, throwing his head around. Not something I fancied again; I was hoping I could teach him in a more relaxed environment that groups of horses don't mean 'its a race and I have to win!'.
But more: I hadn't been on a group ride with the bareback pad and I really didn't fancy hours of jogging!
'Mr F' of course saw the other horses approach and was getting a bit giddy. Meanwhile I was trying to keep my temper which was already flaring up. 'Why didn't they tell me that this was a group ride!'
While my mind was busy making a noise and coming up with all kinds of worst case scenarios, I wasn't with the moment for one split second. This was long enough for 'Mr f' to give me a real good kick to the side of my thigh while I was about to take off his back travel boot. It was both our fault: his for his unruley behaviour and mine for my ignorance of the situation and not recognising what was about to happen. It wouldn't have taken much for me to tell him to stop, he is quite good at listening if I have had enough!
Luckily he had the hoof boots on, else I would have come off a little worse. I always approache a horse sideways when having to deal with their hind legs, just in case. And then I go very close so that I can feel their muscles move prior to the kick and either prevent it or get out the way.
I may not be big and tall but I have a fair amount of muscle which were protecting my leg. It did not hurt ... yet but I knew it would the next day.
We mounted and joined the others. I did ask if it was ok if I could go at the front; hoping that 'Mr F' would be more relaxed about it this way because I needed to find a moment for both of to relax and to 'reset' our frame of mind. For a moment my thoughts wandered back to Aikido and having no mind (no thoughts). I couldn't exactly calm down but at least my anger eased off and I was able to be somewhat switch into a 'neutral' mind frame. Not quiet, but even leveled. That's better than being hot tempered! 'Mr F' seemed to experience something similar because he too suddenly was very calm.
And surprisingly, against all the worst case scenarios I had had at the start, he remained calm throughout most of the ride. There were a few moments when we were at the back or in the middle of the small pack and he would go a little giddy but again nothing like he used to.
In fact we all were very surprised at just how relaxed as he was on this ride (They had all seen me struggle with 'Mr F' on previous group rides).
The ride also turned out to be a good test for the new set of hoof boots, particuarlily on the way back. 'Lillian' and I did the ride back without the others who were taking the fast (canter) route. The route took us up a very steep, grassy and bumpy hill side. I did get off and walked a good part of it to make it easier for 'Mr F'. However, more surprises for me: he was hardly out of breath! He marched up that hill with ease! Neill's work sure is making a difference to his breathing.
Looking back there are several factors I think which were contributing to 'Mr F's relaxed state:
- No irritating hoof boots
- No irritating saddle (in the old days he would walk away as soon as I appeared with any saddle)
- Neill's work which with no doubt has addressed some core issues that bothered 'Mr F'
- The relgular lessons with Rupert working on the contact
'Mr F' is learning that I am no longer a push-over and our mostly good relationship is helping too, making 'Mr F' more willing / interested in listen to my 'ideas' of how things could be done. But he is a very headstrong horse and pretty much knows what he wants so we do have a fair share of lets call it 'discussions'.
But at the end of the day, he is my teacher, in so many ways - exactly because of the fact that he is such a strong character; and he does challenge me regularily. This keeps me on my toes and and wanting to work on this partnership. We are getting closer to a 'lets do this together' atmosphere between the two of us. Well, appart from that kick earlier, I guess I'll be nicely blue and red tomorrow morning. I may struggle in tomorrows Aikido class ...
Full set of working hoof boots! No twisting, no slipping.
Hinds ...
fronts ...
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