In the mean time I was working for Ben exercising his horses and going to all of his polo matches, two per week. Every Wednesday and Sunday we would go out to the various polo venues and Ben ahd his partner Liam would play polo. It was very exciting and I was loving it. I groomed the horses, helped to load them onto the trailer and generally was an assistant to Rhonda, his barn manager. When ever she needed a day off I was there helping to feed the horses, turning them out and cleaning their stalls. I was learning how to care for a whole barn full of horses. I was really an apprentice, in exchange for nearly free board for Desi.
The life I was leading that summer was like a dream for me. I felt so lucky to be a part of the world of horses. Desi was coming along nicely and he was getting more fit since he was being ponied on a regular basis. Rhonda and I had decided that we would forego riding him until next spring. Maybe the time off would do him some good. I didn't want my weight to hurt his back, after all he was only two years old.
My schedule and work load at the barn was fairly intense and a bit tiring. One night I begged off from grooming the horses at one of the matches. I helped Rhonda get all of the horses ready, groomed and loaded onto the trailer and I headed for home for a quiet evening of rest.
At 5AM the next morning the phone rang. This was very early for a call, I thought. "Hello?"
"Uh, hello, Marilyn?"
"Yes..."
"This is Rhonda..."
"Yes, I recognize your voice, what's the matter? You sound very different."
"Well, Ben...(long pause)... he died last night." She sounded so upset, her voice was choking. It must have been a very long night for her.
"What? That's impossible, you must be joking."
"No, it's true."
"How did it happen?"
Rhonda explained "He was riding in the match and must have had a heart attack while he was on his horse. He leaned over and everyone thought he was just fixing his girth or making a tack adjustment or something. But he didn't sit back up. When they realized he was taking quite a long time, they went over to him, and he was already gone."
"Just like that, so quick?" I couldn't believe my ears.
"Yes, it was unbelievable"
"Oh, how terrible. I can't believe it."
"Yes, everyone at the match was so upset," said Rhonda.
"It's just so hard to believe. He was fine yesterday and now...gone. I can't believe it."
"Yes, but you know that's how he would have wanted it, he died on his horse with his boots on."
"I know, I know. If he had planned it that's what he would have wanted. It's so difficult to believe he's actually gone. What's going to happen to his horses, the barn and Liam, his partner?"
"I don't know but I suppose Liam will take over the barn and probably buy his horses, but I'm not sure."
Ben had greatly affected my life and now that he was gone I felt quite uncertain about the future with Desi. I hung up the phone and contemplated the influence that he had had on my life. I knew things would never be the same.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
One Small Step for Desi....
I continued to lunge Desi and build up his muscles on a regular schedule. About three days after our initial ride Rhonda and I decided to try to saddle and ride him again. First we lunged him and then we saddled him and then we lunged him again. When we thought he was getting tired it was time to mount up for the second time. I was a little bit concerned that he would buck but he was a very quiet and accepting this time.
After I mounted up Rhonda led us around on the lead rope and I started to use my legs and a slight bit of contact on the bit. I was thinking that he was over and done with his bucking and that things would now progress with a steady forward momentum. Short sessions were the key, I concluded. His training was progressing. His relaxed attitude during our second session was a big relief.
The next time I came out to the barn to ride Desi, my husband Dave came with me. I was feeling very confidant now. So much so that I skipped the lunging this time and went right to the saddling. Dave held him and I got on. And with no warning on the very first step he bucked and groaned again like his first day's reaction. He tossed me into the air like a rag doll. I landed on the ground with a thud. I saw stars and couldn't get up. Desi came over and sniffed me while I lay on the ground.
He was probably thinking "What are you doing down there? Did I have anything to do with this? If so, I am sorry." He really looked apologetic. After the wind came back into my lungs and my head stopped spinning, Dave helped me get up.
"Dave, what did you see? What happened?"
"He looked upset or scared or something. I don't know. It was so sudden." We were both beginners in the horse training business and very vulnerable.
Dave helped me hobble back to the barn and we put Desi away. I had many questions and it seemed as though no one had any answers about his bucking. I did research, I asked experienced horse people and I consulted John Lyons, a big name horse whisperer. No one could say what caused his behavior. Or at least not until I met a woman from Ben's tack store named Louisa. She was intimately involved with another horse who reacted the same way with the saddle. She called it the cold back syndrome. The muscles on the horse's back really need to be warmed up before he could be ridden. So when he was lunged for a good long time and then saddled up he would walk off quietly, but if I was in a hurry, I could expect another trip into the air. His monstrous bucks were not something you could hang on for.
I also learned that it was a genetic condition that the mother passed on to her progeny. I learned that in some cases it was so severe that the horse could not ever be ridden. And then I remembered that Pete had mentioned that Desi's 3 year old sister, that we originally went out to see, probably had the same condition. Pete had mentioned that she liked to buck. I was disheartened. I needed to fix this problem and I would need a lot of patience and a lot of help. This was not a fortuitous beginning to my equestrian education.
After I mounted up Rhonda led us around on the lead rope and I started to use my legs and a slight bit of contact on the bit. I was thinking that he was over and done with his bucking and that things would now progress with a steady forward momentum. Short sessions were the key, I concluded. His training was progressing. His relaxed attitude during our second session was a big relief.
The next time I came out to the barn to ride Desi, my husband Dave came with me. I was feeling very confidant now. So much so that I skipped the lunging this time and went right to the saddling. Dave held him and I got on. And with no warning on the very first step he bucked and groaned again like his first day's reaction. He tossed me into the air like a rag doll. I landed on the ground with a thud. I saw stars and couldn't get up. Desi came over and sniffed me while I lay on the ground.
He was probably thinking "What are you doing down there? Did I have anything to do with this? If so, I am sorry." He really looked apologetic. After the wind came back into my lungs and my head stopped spinning, Dave helped me get up.
"Dave, what did you see? What happened?"
"He looked upset or scared or something. I don't know. It was so sudden." We were both beginners in the horse training business and very vulnerable.
Dave helped me hobble back to the barn and we put Desi away. I had many questions and it seemed as though no one had any answers about his bucking. I did research, I asked experienced horse people and I consulted John Lyons, a big name horse whisperer. No one could say what caused his behavior. Or at least not until I met a woman from Ben's tack store named Louisa. She was intimately involved with another horse who reacted the same way with the saddle. She called it the cold back syndrome. The muscles on the horse's back really need to be warmed up before he could be ridden. So when he was lunged for a good long time and then saddled up he would walk off quietly, but if I was in a hurry, I could expect another trip into the air. His monstrous bucks were not something you could hang on for.
I also learned that it was a genetic condition that the mother passed on to her progeny. I learned that in some cases it was so severe that the horse could not ever be ridden. And then I remembered that Pete had mentioned that Desi's 3 year old sister, that we originally went out to see, probably had the same condition. Pete had mentioned that she liked to buck. I was disheartened. I needed to fix this problem and I would need a lot of patience and a lot of help. This was not a fortuitous beginning to my equestrian education.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Just a little Glitch
We trailered Desi to Ben's farm and put him in a stall right next to one of the polo ponies. Desi was nervous and a little anxious the first few days at Ben's farm because it was his first time away from his friends and family. He did not understand that this was the start of his new life as a riding horse. He didn't have to worry because he would have a very good friend in me and I was his new family. I went to visit him every day. He was brushed and curried and bathed and I even took him for walks on the lead rope, so he could get acquainted with his new surroundings. We practiced getting on and off a trailer. And we even ponied him out with the polo horses so he would start building up his muscles. The training was underway with Rhonda's help.
I also taught him to lunge and he became very good at listening to my voice and learning the four most important words in a horse's vocabulary. They were walk, trot, canter and halt. I had to be careful how I said each word. When I wanted him to walk I would always say AND walk, stretching out the word wa-aa-aa--aa--al--k and a final emphasis on the "k". The word "AND" taught him that something was about to change, so I also said AND trot, AND canter, AND halt. I started teaching him the words by calling out to him as he did the walk so it confirmed that he was, in fact walking. Then when he broke into the trot I would say AND trot.
After he heard me calling out the words and confirming what he was doing many times I then suggested to him the actions of the walk, the trot, the canter and the halt. If he wasn't responding I would shake the rope a bit so he would feel a vibration on the cavesson on his nose. When he responded with the appropriate action, I would call out. "Good boy, Desi"
Eventually he learned to do each of the gaits on command and I was very proud of him. We were learning together. What a smart horse I had bought! I thought I had made a very good choice! Good for me too!
Then Rhonda said it was time to start teaching him how to go under saddle. We first put a pad on him and shook it and rubbed it all over his body. I stood above him on Ben's mounting block in the middle of the ring. This was done so he wouldn't be afraid when I did get on him. Horses are naturally afraid of anything above them because they are prey animals. That is how they are genetically wired. There are many predator animals who would attack a horse from above by jumping down onto their backs and then the horse would run for its life. This type of reactive engineering has undoubtedly saved many horses. So when humans interfered and domesticated horses, some of the old wiring had to be retaught.
The horse can now be taught to accept someone higher than they are, once they understand it is a friend and not an enemy. While on the mounting block I rubbed his neck on both sides to calm him, talking to him the whole time. I would say "It's Okay, good boy, Desi, I'm your friend. I won't hurt you." Once he was relaxed about that it was time for the saddle. We gently put it on his back and tightened the girth. Desi just stood there with his eyes bulging out. He looked afraid to move. We started to walk him forward and just as he took his first step he exploded like a fire cracker up into the air with a very large buck. His head was down between his feet. As he did this he let out a huge groan, as if to say "Get this thing off me!". I scrambled out of the way.
"What was that?" I asked Rhonda.
"I don't know. I never saw anything like it before."
"Maybe he doesn't like the saddle." I countered.
We were both puzzled. But then we continued to walk him around and he settled into the walk and he seem relaxed, like nothing had happened.
We walked him over to the mounting block again. I picked up the reins and put my weight into one of the stirrups on the near side. I pressed down hard and held all of my weight in the stirrup. This time Desi gave no reaction. Then ever so gently I slipped my foot into the stirrup and swung my right foot over onto the other side, sat down very lightly and took a deep breathe. I was very careful not to kick him with my foot as I slid into the stirrups.
Then Rhonda led Desi and I around a bit and I dismounted. I wanted him to have a very pleasant first experience so we made the session quite short.
I did it. I rode my horse for the very first time. The only thing that worried me was the bucking, but I was hopeful that it was just a fluke reaction to the feeling of the saddle and that it would be a one time occurrence. I was very optimistic.
I also taught him to lunge and he became very good at listening to my voice and learning the four most important words in a horse's vocabulary. They were walk, trot, canter and halt. I had to be careful how I said each word. When I wanted him to walk I would always say AND walk, stretching out the word wa-aa-aa--aa--al--k and a final emphasis on the "k". The word "AND" taught him that something was about to change, so I also said AND trot, AND canter, AND halt. I started teaching him the words by calling out to him as he did the walk so it confirmed that he was, in fact walking. Then when he broke into the trot I would say AND trot.
After he heard me calling out the words and confirming what he was doing many times I then suggested to him the actions of the walk, the trot, the canter and the halt. If he wasn't responding I would shake the rope a bit so he would feel a vibration on the cavesson on his nose. When he responded with the appropriate action, I would call out. "Good boy, Desi"
Eventually he learned to do each of the gaits on command and I was very proud of him. We were learning together. What a smart horse I had bought! I thought I had made a very good choice! Good for me too!
Then Rhonda said it was time to start teaching him how to go under saddle. We first put a pad on him and shook it and rubbed it all over his body. I stood above him on Ben's mounting block in the middle of the ring. This was done so he wouldn't be afraid when I did get on him. Horses are naturally afraid of anything above them because they are prey animals. That is how they are genetically wired. There are many predator animals who would attack a horse from above by jumping down onto their backs and then the horse would run for its life. This type of reactive engineering has undoubtedly saved many horses. So when humans interfered and domesticated horses, some of the old wiring had to be retaught.
The horse can now be taught to accept someone higher than they are, once they understand it is a friend and not an enemy. While on the mounting block I rubbed his neck on both sides to calm him, talking to him the whole time. I would say "It's Okay, good boy, Desi, I'm your friend. I won't hurt you." Once he was relaxed about that it was time for the saddle. We gently put it on his back and tightened the girth. Desi just stood there with his eyes bulging out. He looked afraid to move. We started to walk him forward and just as he took his first step he exploded like a fire cracker up into the air with a very large buck. His head was down between his feet. As he did this he let out a huge groan, as if to say "Get this thing off me!". I scrambled out of the way.
"What was that?" I asked Rhonda.
"I don't know. I never saw anything like it before."
"Maybe he doesn't like the saddle." I countered.
We were both puzzled. But then we continued to walk him around and he settled into the walk and he seem relaxed, like nothing had happened.
We walked him over to the mounting block again. I picked up the reins and put my weight into one of the stirrups on the near side. I pressed down hard and held all of my weight in the stirrup. This time Desi gave no reaction. Then ever so gently I slipped my foot into the stirrup and swung my right foot over onto the other side, sat down very lightly and took a deep breathe. I was very careful not to kick him with my foot as I slid into the stirrups.
Then Rhonda led Desi and I around a bit and I dismounted. I wanted him to have a very pleasant first experience so we made the session quite short.
I did it. I rode my horse for the very first time. The only thing that worried me was the bucking, but I was hopeful that it was just a fluke reaction to the feeling of the saddle and that it would be a one time occurrence. I was very optimistic.
How Far Would a Dollar Go?
This turn of events really upset Pete. He knew the winter was coming and that he couldn't keep all of his horses. He had really counted on the sale of Desi not only to make ends meet but to alleviate the burden of so many unproductive horses and the work that they entailed. Now the reality of Desi being nearly unsalable also struck home. Pete looked totally dejected. He looked the way I felt.
We started to leave.
"Wait. Will you take him for a dollar?" He was desperate, but he had to sell some of his horses or they would all suffer.
"A dollar?" I was incredulous. "A dollar?" I repeated, just to be sure I heard him right. I looked at Rhonda and saw a little smirk. Then she gave me the nod which said go ahead, for a dollar we could deal with a little roaring.
I turned to Pete and said, "No, I can't take him for a dollar, but how about if you keep the deposit that I gave you and we will have a deal?"
He looked so relieved. Here was a small time breeder who really only wanted his horses to go to good homes. He barely broke even each year, but his was a lifestlye that he loved, so he kept at it. The money had never been the issue with him. He obviously put more into the horse than I had given him but he was very happy knowing his horse Desi would have a good and permanent home. I promised to keep in touch with him and told him he could even come for a visit if he wanted. It was a deal. Smiles all around. I was ecstatic. I just bought my first horse, "Faith in Destiny", his was a name to live by.
We started to leave.
"Wait. Will you take him for a dollar?" He was desperate, but he had to sell some of his horses or they would all suffer.
"A dollar?" I was incredulous. "A dollar?" I repeated, just to be sure I heard him right. I looked at Rhonda and saw a little smirk. Then she gave me the nod which said go ahead, for a dollar we could deal with a little roaring.
I turned to Pete and said, "No, I can't take him for a dollar, but how about if you keep the deposit that I gave you and we will have a deal?"
He looked so relieved. Here was a small time breeder who really only wanted his horses to go to good homes. He barely broke even each year, but his was a lifestlye that he loved, so he kept at it. The money had never been the issue with him. He obviously put more into the horse than I had given him but he was very happy knowing his horse Desi would have a good and permanent home. I promised to keep in touch with him and told him he could even come for a visit if he wanted. It was a deal. Smiles all around. I was ecstatic. I just bought my first horse, "Faith in Destiny", his was a name to live by.
Monday, September 7, 2009
First impressions
Pete brought the young Thoroughbred out to the ring and attempted to lunge him. Desi thought he wanted to play, so he leap about and ran around trying to play the silly game. Pete wanted him to go in a circle and Desi would have no part of it.
I am sure that Desi thought this lunging and circling stuff was just ridiculous. I mean "What was the point of going around in circles anyhow? Straight lines are much easier and faster too." Desi was quite the clown and seemingly uncooperative, but his reaction was just indicative of a very green horse. We knew that.
I liked his playful attitude and I could tell that Rhonda liked him too. So we talked on the side. "Are you sure you want a horse you have to train? He is very green."
"Yes, yes, yes, I do. He looks like a lot of fun. As long as you are willing to help me train him, I really want him." I said.
"Sure, but you probably won't be able to ride him very much until next year. Is that still OK?"
"That's OK, I really like him. You can help me right?"
"Yes, said Rhonda, "We can train him together."
"OK, can we make an offer to Pete right now?" Then as was the custom we made the purchase contingent on a vet check to be sure he was healthy. We settled on a price and I told Pete I would have the vet out to check him as soon as possible. I gave him a modest deposit and we shook hands.
I was so ecstatic, a horse of my very own. I was having a hard time grasping the reality of what had just happened. I kept thinking how lucky I was to have found him. He was extremely handsome and he looked like he would mature to at least 16 hands which meant he would grow about 2 more inches. We were basing it on the size of his mother and father who were right there on the farm.
During the week before the vet check I went out to see Desi several times and I groomed him and handled him. I was getting to know him. To me he was a very special horse and I was falling in love with him.
Next week I had Ben's vet go out to check out my new horse. Dr. Washburn was a very experienced old fashioned country vet and always gave very sound, no frills advice. He was certainly to be trusted.
Pete had been calling his young horse Desi but I found out that his full registered name was "Faith in Destiny" and that is exactly how I felt about him. It was like it was meant to be. Desi was going to take me down a life path and he held the key to my future, with a name like that what else could it mean?
The veterinary exam started with checking Desi's eyes, then listening to his heart and watching him being lunged to see if he was sound. Then the doctor listened to his lungs and checked his breathing.
"Hmmmmm...he's very noisy, he sounds like he has a flap in his airway that doesn't close properly. He is what is known as a "roarer". And although it is not a problem for his health, he would be eliminated in shows because it is considered a defect. There is surgery which could be performed to close the flap but it is not always successful. It would cost about $2500."
And that was a huge sum to me and way more than I could afford. I couldn't afford to buy Desi and pay for an operation. Out of the question. I looked at Rhonda and she looked back at me, just shaking her head side to side then staring at the ground. I knew what that meant. She could sense the disappointment. I was heartbroken. I couldn't buy him. My destiny would have to wait.
I am sure that Desi thought this lunging and circling stuff was just ridiculous. I mean "What was the point of going around in circles anyhow? Straight lines are much easier and faster too." Desi was quite the clown and seemingly uncooperative, but his reaction was just indicative of a very green horse. We knew that.
I liked his playful attitude and I could tell that Rhonda liked him too. So we talked on the side. "Are you sure you want a horse you have to train? He is very green."
"Yes, yes, yes, I do. He looks like a lot of fun. As long as you are willing to help me train him, I really want him." I said.
"Sure, but you probably won't be able to ride him very much until next year. Is that still OK?"
"That's OK, I really like him. You can help me right?"
"Yes, said Rhonda, "We can train him together."
"OK, can we make an offer to Pete right now?" Then as was the custom we made the purchase contingent on a vet check to be sure he was healthy. We settled on a price and I told Pete I would have the vet out to check him as soon as possible. I gave him a modest deposit and we shook hands.
I was so ecstatic, a horse of my very own. I was having a hard time grasping the reality of what had just happened. I kept thinking how lucky I was to have found him. He was extremely handsome and he looked like he would mature to at least 16 hands which meant he would grow about 2 more inches. We were basing it on the size of his mother and father who were right there on the farm.
During the week before the vet check I went out to see Desi several times and I groomed him and handled him. I was getting to know him. To me he was a very special horse and I was falling in love with him.
Next week I had Ben's vet go out to check out my new horse. Dr. Washburn was a very experienced old fashioned country vet and always gave very sound, no frills advice. He was certainly to be trusted.
Pete had been calling his young horse Desi but I found out that his full registered name was "Faith in Destiny" and that is exactly how I felt about him. It was like it was meant to be. Desi was going to take me down a life path and he held the key to my future, with a name like that what else could it mean?
The veterinary exam started with checking Desi's eyes, then listening to his heart and watching him being lunged to see if he was sound. Then the doctor listened to his lungs and checked his breathing.
"Hmmmmm...he's very noisy, he sounds like he has a flap in his airway that doesn't close properly. He is what is known as a "roarer". And although it is not a problem for his health, he would be eliminated in shows because it is considered a defect. There is surgery which could be performed to close the flap but it is not always successful. It would cost about $2500."
And that was a huge sum to me and way more than I could afford. I couldn't afford to buy Desi and pay for an operation. Out of the question. I looked at Rhonda and she looked back at me, just shaking her head side to side then staring at the ground. I knew what that meant. She could sense the disappointment. I was heartbroken. I couldn't buy him. My destiny would have to wait.
Horse shopping time
Ben's barn manager Rhonda said she would help me find just the right horse. And I would be able to keep him at Ben's barn at no cost if I would pitch in and do a bit of barn work now and then. I was already grooming for the polo matches and exercising the horses and filling in for Rhonda on her days off. No additional work was really required. In fact, it hardly seemed like work at all and it was an offer I couldn't refuse.
And so we started horse shopping.
Rhonda and I had an agreement, the horse first had to meet with her approval and then I could consider it. Her standards were a lot more rigorous than mine. At that point in my equestrian education I would have bought on color or some other frivolous characteristic, so I deferred all of the initial queries and tough decisions to her. If she said "No good", even if I liked the horse, it was no good and crossed off our list. I wanted to be careful about this purchase. By this time realized I knew nothing about buying a horse and so we took our time. (See how smart I was getting?) She was very strict and had the power of the veto, this horse would have to be good for Rhonda to allow me to purchase it.
Then one day I found a small newspaper ad for a three year old mare and showed it to Rhonda. It sounded like a possibility so we made an appointment to see her. The horse was at a private barn in Hunterdon County. Up until that point we had seen a variety of horses. Some were too old, some were too big, some too small, some were lame and some just didn't have any spark for me at all. But this particular horse shopping day was the pivotal point in my horse life.
The owner Pete that advertised his young thoroughbred mare in the newspaper had only just begun her training. At his facility he had one stallion and a few mares. He bred a small number of horses each year to be used for pleasure, jumping or dressage. In no way did he want any of his horses going to the race track.
His mare was all bay with no markings but still an attractive animal and quite a nice mover. But when Pete revealed that she did like to buck that really turned me off. I admittedly was not a strong rider and Rhonda and I both thought we should keep looking.
But quite surreptitiously on our way out we asked did he have anything else for sale.
"No, not really, just her younger brother but I haven't done anything with him at all." Rhonda and I both looked at each other. "Well, since we are here, would it be possible to see him?"
"Sure, but you have to understand, he has done nothing. But just for the heck of it, I will show you."
That is when I saw Desi for the very first time. He was just under two years old, a bay thoroughbred with very long legs and a gangly narrow body. He looked very immature and since he was so young and barely worked he was very frisky. He had a remarkable white star on his forehead that went into a stripe down his nose and to a snip all the way at the bottom. He also had two white socks. He was quite flashy and very handsome. I liked him from the very start.
And so we started horse shopping.
Rhonda and I had an agreement, the horse first had to meet with her approval and then I could consider it. Her standards were a lot more rigorous than mine. At that point in my equestrian education I would have bought on color or some other frivolous characteristic, so I deferred all of the initial queries and tough decisions to her. If she said "No good", even if I liked the horse, it was no good and crossed off our list. I wanted to be careful about this purchase. By this time realized I knew nothing about buying a horse and so we took our time. (See how smart I was getting?) She was very strict and had the power of the veto, this horse would have to be good for Rhonda to allow me to purchase it.
Then one day I found a small newspaper ad for a three year old mare and showed it to Rhonda. It sounded like a possibility so we made an appointment to see her. The horse was at a private barn in Hunterdon County. Up until that point we had seen a variety of horses. Some were too old, some were too big, some too small, some were lame and some just didn't have any spark for me at all. But this particular horse shopping day was the pivotal point in my horse life.
The owner Pete that advertised his young thoroughbred mare in the newspaper had only just begun her training. At his facility he had one stallion and a few mares. He bred a small number of horses each year to be used for pleasure, jumping or dressage. In no way did he want any of his horses going to the race track.
His mare was all bay with no markings but still an attractive animal and quite a nice mover. But when Pete revealed that she did like to buck that really turned me off. I admittedly was not a strong rider and Rhonda and I both thought we should keep looking.
But quite surreptitiously on our way out we asked did he have anything else for sale.
"No, not really, just her younger brother but I haven't done anything with him at all." Rhonda and I both looked at each other. "Well, since we are here, would it be possible to see him?"
"Sure, but you have to understand, he has done nothing. But just for the heck of it, I will show you."
That is when I saw Desi for the very first time. He was just under two years old, a bay thoroughbred with very long legs and a gangly narrow body. He looked very immature and since he was so young and barely worked he was very frisky. He had a remarkable white star on his forehead that went into a stripe down his nose and to a snip all the way at the bottom. He also had two white socks. He was quite flashy and very handsome. I liked him from the very start.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Becoming proactive
When the polo season was over that year I was feeling the lack of horses in my life. I had to become proactive with my equestrian education. What could I do to be involved with horses? I didn't want my riding career to be over with those couple of rides with Winnie and Ben.
Maybe I could get a job at Ben's upscale tack store. Thought that was a pretty good idea. But I was beginning to become more conscious of my incompetance. Remember stage two? I was thinking I probably didn't know enough about horses and equipment to be even considered as an applicants for a job at his very upscale tack store. This was a new concept for me. If some one were to ask "Where are the martingales?", for instance. I would probably think, "I didn't know there was a bird department here."
So that wouldn't work and I eliminated that idea. I was getting just a bit smarter about things.
Maybe I could take lessons? But I didn't know any place to go. I had no horsie friends who could direct me. But wait, I had heard there was a county stable that offered package deals in riding.
I would try that even though it smacked of The Blue HIlls Riding Stable days. I didn't care. At least it was something. And I was becoming proactive.
Over that first winter I took ten riding lessons and by the end of that season I was promoted from "Beginner I" to "Beginner II" at Lord Stirling Riding Stable! I was on my way and I felt pretty good about my standing and my new proactive state. Even though at the end of all those lessons the group was barely trotting. It was a very enjoyable group of women taking lessons there and they all were yearning to become riders, as I did. But not all of them were as serious as I.
In the spring of the following year I was in Ben's tack store and I very fortuitiuosly bumped into him.
"Are you going to come out and help me with my horses this year?" he asked.
I couldn't believe my ears. I am thinking, "Me? Why me?" I was a real beginner. That was confirmed at the Lord Stirling Riding Stable with my label of a mere "Beginner II", hadn't it? Now I knew it. I felt quite out of place as I looked around his upscale tack store and realized I was not an "A" circuit rider, a foxhunter, nor did I even own a broken down plow horse and keep it in my backyard. I was no one in the horse world.
What could he possibly want with me? But I guess my lack of skill as a rider didn't matter so much, I was willing and quite eager, (I definitely had that going for me) I had time on my hands since I had quit my job as an architect and that's all that really mattered to Ben. So I started to go out to his barn without Winnie. Afterall, Ben asked me! I didn't have to rely on her invitations anymore.
And that is when I began to really ride. I would excercise three or four horses per day and pony one along side, just so they would be in shape for the upcoming polo season. I learned how to clean a stall, to handle and feed a horse and how to really groom. Ben and his barn manager Rhonda were great teachers and I was like a sponge. When Ben was going to one of his polo matches each horse had to be in perfect shape with not a speck of dirt anywhere. I became a groom as well as an exercise rider.
Ben allowed me to ride any horse in the barn. There was Patti, a very pretty dark bay quarter horse and Bagel, a dun quarter horse, and Queenie and Petey and Rodney all bay thoroughbreds. And there was Mary, she was my favorite another bay thoroughbred. He and his partner Bob had ten horses and I secretly thought of them as my own. I was allowed to ride anyone of them nearly at anytime I wanted, I was so lucky! However I knew that my relationship with his horses was tentative because at any time he could sell one of them and where would I be then? What if he sold Mary? It could happen. The thought nagged at me.
That is when I started to think of getting my own horse. I realize now that it was a somewhat crazy thought. And it is something I would advise against now, given what I have learned about horse ownership over the years. I had a small nest egg which I intented to spend on the purchase of my very own horse. I would find out later that the purchase price was only a drop in the bucket compared to what the attending costs would be. Someone should have told me that my pockets needed to be deeper, much deeper than that little nest egg I was willing to splurge on my very own horse.This would be revealed to me in only a matter of time.
Maybe I could get a job at Ben's upscale tack store. Thought that was a pretty good idea. But I was beginning to become more conscious of my incompetance. Remember stage two? I was thinking I probably didn't know enough about horses and equipment to be even considered as an applicants for a job at his very upscale tack store. This was a new concept for me. If some one were to ask "Where are the martingales?", for instance. I would probably think, "I didn't know there was a bird department here."
So that wouldn't work and I eliminated that idea. I was getting just a bit smarter about things.
Maybe I could take lessons? But I didn't know any place to go. I had no horsie friends who could direct me. But wait, I had heard there was a county stable that offered package deals in riding.
I would try that even though it smacked of The Blue HIlls Riding Stable days. I didn't care. At least it was something. And I was becoming proactive.
Over that first winter I took ten riding lessons and by the end of that season I was promoted from "Beginner I" to "Beginner II" at Lord Stirling Riding Stable! I was on my way and I felt pretty good about my standing and my new proactive state. Even though at the end of all those lessons the group was barely trotting. It was a very enjoyable group of women taking lessons there and they all were yearning to become riders, as I did. But not all of them were as serious as I.
In the spring of the following year I was in Ben's tack store and I very fortuitiuosly bumped into him.
"Are you going to come out and help me with my horses this year?" he asked.
I couldn't believe my ears. I am thinking, "Me? Why me?" I was a real beginner. That was confirmed at the Lord Stirling Riding Stable with my label of a mere "Beginner II", hadn't it? Now I knew it. I felt quite out of place as I looked around his upscale tack store and realized I was not an "A" circuit rider, a foxhunter, nor did I even own a broken down plow horse and keep it in my backyard. I was no one in the horse world.
What could he possibly want with me? But I guess my lack of skill as a rider didn't matter so much, I was willing and quite eager, (I definitely had that going for me) I had time on my hands since I had quit my job as an architect and that's all that really mattered to Ben. So I started to go out to his barn without Winnie. Afterall, Ben asked me! I didn't have to rely on her invitations anymore.
And that is when I began to really ride. I would excercise three or four horses per day and pony one along side, just so they would be in shape for the upcoming polo season. I learned how to clean a stall, to handle and feed a horse and how to really groom. Ben and his barn manager Rhonda were great teachers and I was like a sponge. When Ben was going to one of his polo matches each horse had to be in perfect shape with not a speck of dirt anywhere. I became a groom as well as an exercise rider.
Ben allowed me to ride any horse in the barn. There was Patti, a very pretty dark bay quarter horse and Bagel, a dun quarter horse, and Queenie and Petey and Rodney all bay thoroughbreds. And there was Mary, she was my favorite another bay thoroughbred. He and his partner Bob had ten horses and I secretly thought of them as my own. I was allowed to ride anyone of them nearly at anytime I wanted, I was so lucky! However I knew that my relationship with his horses was tentative because at any time he could sell one of them and where would I be then? What if he sold Mary? It could happen. The thought nagged at me.
That is when I started to think of getting my own horse. I realize now that it was a somewhat crazy thought. And it is something I would advise against now, given what I have learned about horse ownership over the years. I had a small nest egg which I intented to spend on the purchase of my very own horse. I would find out later that the purchase price was only a drop in the bucket compared to what the attending costs would be. Someone should have told me that my pockets needed to be deeper, much deeper than that little nest egg I was willing to splurge on my very own horse.This would be revealed to me in only a matter of time.
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