“Heeeere Leeetle ARRRaabian. COME BACK leeeeetle Arrraaabeaaann!”
I had to rub my jaw and yawn for a minute, meanwhile wiping the ground implant away. My nose needed a little straightening as well. I was at least able to do my best Bewitched impression.
“Heeeeere Leeeetle Arraabian. Cooome baaaaaaaaaaaack!” Will’s voice echoed again.
Darn it. I owe that man a bottle of wine/liquor/whatever I stumble across first.
The pesky little Arabian was still running. The funniest part was that my saddle was flapping around on his back like little wings. He looked like a Pegasus. At least it was staying put – I could at least say that for my tacking-up skills.
Up and down hills he flew. Along the fence line. Down through the woods. Back up the hill. Down the other side of the hill. Back in a circle around us. And off he went again.
I let out a big sigh.
“Come baaaack, Leeeettle Arrrrrrrrabian!”
Will Faudree was calling my horse for me. How embarrassing.
“Oh he’s done now – his tail has deflated!” Tammy laughed over her shoulder. She and Jazzy formed a wall with their horses, and Sudi came up to a halt in front of them.
I grabbed my reins and walked him over to a semi-flat surface that was good for remounting. I had re-mount therapy coming my way in about thirty seconds.
“Ok – go canter over that log over there and come back. We need a TALK.”
I was fine really. Well almost. My confidence in my “sticking to the darn Arab” skills were greatly shaken. Foundation gone. I did need a talking to.
Well what happened? We were approaching a two stride log combination. Granted, these logs were semi-novice level, and the combination certainly nowhere near Beginner Novice level. Shoot – we’d barely made it through the cross bar combination three weeks ago. And I’m supposed to make it over two LOGS? Sure. Uhuh. You got it, Pete.
Well at any rate, I’d been doing a really good job of keeping Sudi forward to all of our jumps so far, and he hadn’t refused a ONE. I was thrilled. Up we came to this log, I blocked his drifting, and we took the log in stride. I however, was so elated, I let him skip out to the side and not go over the second log.
Will, of course says, “SO why didn’t you go over the second log?”
I really wanted to answer “BECAUSE – I didn’t want to.” I didn’t though. I told him something about how I didn’t make Sudi do it. Truth be told though, I REALLY didn’t think I’d stay on through it. I just thought I’d fall at the second log. Not the first.
Well, upon my second approach, I lost my stirrup. I got it back. Sudi drifted. I drifted trying to fix him. He slowed down, and I kept him going. Well all of a sudden he literally ROCKETS over the jump, and I go flying up on his neck. I’m really not used to that power jump he gets. I knew I was going to fall as I was grappling his neck. My feet hit the ground, but I couldn’t keep up with his momentum. Down I went…face first. And OFF Sudi went. For about ten minutes.
Even though I fell, Will was able to help us work through the combination, and help me figure out how to crouch down to stay a bit more stable through my legs. It worked. After we worked out the combination, we worked a ditch and also worked up a bank and down to a log on a hill. Good stuff, and well worth the day.
I, however, am VERY sore. It didn’t hit me during the day of, BUT I learned that I could pull a ton of muscles in my neck and right arm that I didn’t even know could be pulled.
All in all though, Sudi was a real champ. We had fewer refusals than ever before, and I think he actually really had a good time. I think I have an eventer on my hands. Now…if only I could get MY act together.
The best part? We got inducted to our first EVENTING TEAM!!
See fondly picture below:
I had to rub my jaw and yawn for a minute, meanwhile wiping the ground implant away. My nose needed a little straightening as well. I was at least able to do my best Bewitched impression.
“Heeeeere Leeeetle Arraabian. Cooome baaaaaaaaaaaack!” Will’s voice echoed again.
Darn it. I owe that man a bottle of wine/liquor/whatever I stumble across first.
The pesky little Arabian was still running. The funniest part was that my saddle was flapping around on his back like little wings. He looked like a Pegasus. At least it was staying put – I could at least say that for my tacking-up skills.
Up and down hills he flew. Along the fence line. Down through the woods. Back up the hill. Down the other side of the hill. Back in a circle around us. And off he went again.
I let out a big sigh.
“Come baaaack, Leeeettle Arrrrrrrrabian!”
Will Faudree was calling my horse for me. How embarrassing.
“Oh he’s done now – his tail has deflated!” Tammy laughed over her shoulder. She and Jazzy formed a wall with their horses, and Sudi came up to a halt in front of them.
I grabbed my reins and walked him over to a semi-flat surface that was good for remounting. I had re-mount therapy coming my way in about thirty seconds.
“Ok – go canter over that log over there and come back. We need a TALK.”
I was fine really. Well almost. My confidence in my “sticking to the darn Arab” skills were greatly shaken. Foundation gone. I did need a talking to.
Well what happened? We were approaching a two stride log combination. Granted, these logs were semi-novice level, and the combination certainly nowhere near Beginner Novice level. Shoot – we’d barely made it through the cross bar combination three weeks ago. And I’m supposed to make it over two LOGS? Sure. Uhuh. You got it, Pete.
Well at any rate, I’d been doing a really good job of keeping Sudi forward to all of our jumps so far, and he hadn’t refused a ONE. I was thrilled. Up we came to this log, I blocked his drifting, and we took the log in stride. I however, was so elated, I let him skip out to the side and not go over the second log.
Will, of course says, “SO why didn’t you go over the second log?”
I really wanted to answer “BECAUSE – I didn’t want to.” I didn’t though. I told him something about how I didn’t make Sudi do it. Truth be told though, I REALLY didn’t think I’d stay on through it. I just thought I’d fall at the second log. Not the first.
Well, upon my second approach, I lost my stirrup. I got it back. Sudi drifted. I drifted trying to fix him. He slowed down, and I kept him going. Well all of a sudden he literally ROCKETS over the jump, and I go flying up on his neck. I’m really not used to that power jump he gets. I knew I was going to fall as I was grappling his neck. My feet hit the ground, but I couldn’t keep up with his momentum. Down I went…face first. And OFF Sudi went. For about ten minutes.
Even though I fell, Will was able to help us work through the combination, and help me figure out how to crouch down to stay a bit more stable through my legs. It worked. After we worked out the combination, we worked a ditch and also worked up a bank and down to a log on a hill. Good stuff, and well worth the day.
I, however, am VERY sore. It didn’t hit me during the day of, BUT I learned that I could pull a ton of muscles in my neck and right arm that I didn’t even know could be pulled.
All in all though, Sudi was a real champ. We had fewer refusals than ever before, and I think he actually really had a good time. I think I have an eventer on my hands. Now…if only I could get MY act together.
The best part? We got inducted to our first EVENTING TEAM!!
See fondly picture below:
The Will Faudree Tadpole Team!
(Left to right: Hailey and Zebbra; Jazzy and Indy; Tammy and Willa; Me and Sudi! - and of course Will Faudree in the middle!)
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