I don't always have the opportunity to ride the horses at the LOPE Ranch -- sometimes they get adopted too fast. But usually I'm the one in the saddle during their first post-racetrack ride. Many people assume that these rides must be pretty wild and crazy, with lots of excitement for everyone (me, the horse, any spectators).
It's really not like that at all.
For example, last week I rode Pogo, a three-year-old gelding here. Pogo's last ride was in fall 2008 during his very first race. He chipped his knee during the race and came to LOPE (read about his surgery from Austin Equine Associates).
After a very successful post-surgery rehab and rest period, Pogo was ready to begin work again. As I led him into the round pen, he pouted -- clearly he had become used to the couch potato lifestyle here at LOPE. But after some ground work and free lounging, Pogo settled into the "in school" mode. He tuned into the cues, his face relaxing into a calm, attentive expression.
Even though it had been months since his last ride (as a two-year-old), I decided to mount Pogo. Actually, I decided to "try" to mount Pogo and just see how things went. I'm not a professional trainer, so I do a lot of the "let's see how this goes" approach. Pogo had this cheerful look of expectation in his eyes -- I felt like I'd be somehow letting him down if I didn't at least put my foot in the stirrup.
Once my foot was in the stirrup, it seemed like a shame not to hop up once or twice, and then maybe even lean over Pogo's back. Pogo stood quietly, his head lowering. Then it seemed downright silly to not mount him. I was already there, hanging over the saddle, petting the right side of his neck.
So I then I swung my leg over and sat in the saddle. Pogo seemed comfortable with that and so we walked around the round pen a little. He steered pretty well for a green ex-racehorse, wasn't spooky about my legs, and (best of all) he stopped when I said "whoa." Pleased with how relaxed we both were, I decided to dismount Pogo and call it a day.
Our ride was short and completely unexciting. Just the way I like a first ride to be here at the LOPE Ranch.
You just have that sense, that touch and connection. Never too much...just enough to build trust and confidence. Good for you! What a gift for those horses to have you care for them.
Posted by: Evelyn Murphy | November 26, 2009 at 02:50 PM
Sounds great! He looks like quite a cutie from him picture.
Just found your blog through your twitter link and am having fun reading all of the stories.
Mary H.
http://stalecheerios.com/blog
Posted by: Mary H. | October 17, 2009 at 06:30 PM
All these horses are so lucky to be in a place where their feelings (yes, science shows that animal feelings are not unlike ours) are respected.
Posted by: Susan Kuchinskas | July 02, 2009 at 12:46 PM