Sunday 2nd April 2017
Bucky has settled in remarkably well, not phased by the other horses, donkey, camels, goats, dogs, cats, and we humans. She has picked up her new routine, comes in with the others when we call them, and goes into her own stall at night. Due to receiving an amazing amount of rain, she was here a week before we were able to put a kiddo on her. A very excited Tayla volunteered for the job. It wasn't long before she un-volunteered and requested to leave Bucky to someone else!
Bucky is a pony. Bucky hasn't been ridden in ages. Bucky knows how to handle kids. Poor Tayla, she was practicing picking up a flag on a barrel, every time she concentrated on the flag Bucky headed for the round yard. Every time Tayla relaxed Bucky headed for the round yard. Every time Tayla tensed up Bucky headed for the round yard. All the time accompanied by Steve shouting “pull her head round”. He went off to give Greer a jumping lesson on Grace, so it was my turn to shout “pull her head round”. We nearly had a three way tantie, it wasn't pretty. Now, whilst riding a naughty pony is a good learning experience we soon realised Tayla wasn't the person to start Bucky’s re-education - looks we're going to have to call in the big guns!
Monday 3rd April 2017
Day 1 of Bucky’s Schooling
I haven't ridden for well over a year, and due to ME, have muscle weakness, dizziness, pain, and chronic fatigue, so it seemed perfectly natural that I should be the one to dust off my joddies and re-educate Bucky! First problem was getting a saddle that fitted. Her owner’s saddle looked like a pimple on a pumpkin, so we tried my dressage saddle, not too bad so we were set and I hopped on. My first thought was, I can see now why adults ride ponies, I like being so much closer to the ground. My second thought was holy moly, last time I stretched my legs this wide was in the gynecologist’s office!
It was obvious that Bucky knew all the pony moves: how to try and get the reins out of the rider's hands; no matter what direction you're going in, head back to the tacking up area; stop at every gate; take shortcuts wherever possible, so that a circle is closer to marching on the spot; head up neck out ears back and ignore the rider. We tried a trot but it was horrible, head all over the place, so I've decided we'll leave that for a while and concentrate on the basics at a walk. It was so good to be back in the saddle, and Bucky is just gorgeous.
Tayla, our Willing Helper, was dropped off for a riding lesson on Grace, followed by tidying up the yard and loading scrap metal onto the truck. After lunch, a visit to the dump, we know how to entertain a kid!
That afternoon Ryan and Maddie came for a ride. Bucky was just wonderful on the lead. Despite initial excitement, and sitting on her for a bit, Maddie morphed into the Reluctant Cowgirl and decided she didn't want to ride Bucky after all and very happily spent the rest of the time decorating the horse stalls, and Lola and Chana, with grass and flowers. Ryan did very well, including trotting and bending. Bucky was a big hit.
Bucky has settled in remarkably well, not phased by the other horses, donkey, camels, goats, dogs, cats, and we humans. She has picked up her new routine, comes in with the others when we call them, and goes into her own stall at night. Due to receiving an amazing amount of rain, she was here a week before we were able to put a kiddo on her. A very excited Tayla volunteered for the job. It wasn't long before she un-volunteered and requested to leave Bucky to someone else!
Bucky is a pony. Bucky hasn't been ridden in ages. Bucky knows how to handle kids. Poor Tayla, she was practicing picking up a flag on a barrel, every time she concentrated on the flag Bucky headed for the round yard. Every time Tayla relaxed Bucky headed for the round yard. Every time Tayla tensed up Bucky headed for the round yard. All the time accompanied by Steve shouting “pull her head round”. He went off to give Greer a jumping lesson on Grace, so it was my turn to shout “pull her head round”. We nearly had a three way tantie, it wasn't pretty. Now, whilst riding a naughty pony is a good learning experience we soon realised Tayla wasn't the person to start Bucky’s re-education - looks we're going to have to call in the big guns!
Monday 3rd April 2017
Day 1 of Bucky’s Schooling
I haven't ridden for well over a year, and due to ME, have muscle weakness, dizziness, pain, and chronic fatigue, so it seemed perfectly natural that I should be the one to dust off my joddies and re-educate Bucky! First problem was getting a saddle that fitted. Her owner’s saddle looked like a pimple on a pumpkin, so we tried my dressage saddle, not too bad so we were set and I hopped on. My first thought was, I can see now why adults ride ponies, I like being so much closer to the ground. My second thought was holy moly, last time I stretched my legs this wide was in the gynecologist’s office!
It was obvious that Bucky knew all the pony moves: how to try and get the reins out of the rider's hands; no matter what direction you're going in, head back to the tacking up area; stop at every gate; take shortcuts wherever possible, so that a circle is closer to marching on the spot; head up neck out ears back and ignore the rider. We tried a trot but it was horrible, head all over the place, so I've decided we'll leave that for a while and concentrate on the basics at a walk. It was so good to be back in the saddle, and Bucky is just gorgeous.
Tayla, our Willing Helper, was dropped off for a riding lesson on Grace, followed by tidying up the yard and loading scrap metal onto the truck. After lunch, a visit to the dump, we know how to entertain a kid!
That afternoon Ryan and Maddie came for a ride. Bucky was just wonderful on the lead. Despite initial excitement, and sitting on her for a bit, Maddie morphed into the Reluctant Cowgirl and decided she didn't want to ride Bucky after all and very happily spent the rest of the time decorating the horse stalls, and Lola and Chana, with grass and flowers. Ryan did very well, including trotting and bending. Bucky was a big hit.
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