After the time our river ride went very wrong Luka hasn't wanted to know about the rivers, in fact he hasn't really wanted to even know about the tracks to them. I've got him paddling his front feet in the edge but he's not happy about it, and we've been through once but that was largely because having gone down the track to them something then was going on behind us that worried him more than the river did, it wasn't a relaxed ride through. I'd sensibly decided we weren't going through in the future unless people were around, realistically that time I came off I could have drowned.
Yesterday I decided we'd go along the track to the rivers for a change of scenery, then turn round and come back. It's also a good snack track and goodness knows he's getting precious little greenery in his field! He made it clear he had doubts, but a bit of reassurance and the word picnic meant he got over himself
We got to the rivers and they were very low, weather isn't the big issue rather what they're doing with the flood gates. So low in fact that he felt it was safe to out his tootsies in to reach the willow tree. Then without realising he had all four in to rach the better bits. Stopped browsing, looked down and realised that he was in the edge of the river and hadn't died! I'd have happily left him standing at the edge munching the tree, he was under no pressure to do more, but instead he took a big mouthful of willow then sauntered off through the river trailing bits behind him without a case in the world!
We then got to the second crossing that's always a bit deeper, at the moment probably mid canon on him at most, and because there's a current flowing through near the bridge we did get some looking and head bobbing. Fine, if needs be we could go back. First though I edged him to the far side of the entry which is furthest away from the bridge and the current is barely visible, it's a few more steps to cross but it gave him an option. No pressure, a long rein and legs lightly wrapped round but not asking just making sure if he backed up and/or whipped round fast I was less likely to walk home! He thought about it, dunked his nose a couple of times and strolled in like an old hand, indeed mid way through he stopped to blow bubbles and have a splash!
So much for my sensible rule of not riding the crossings if there's no-one about, but it just felt right at the time. All ride he'd been bright as a button and looking at everything, but in a curious and calm way (most of the time, the escaped builders bag was clearly a dragon) rather than spooky or reactive. If it had gone wrong I'd have kicked myself, but I pretty much know that when he feels like that and he's given a chance to make a thought out decision then he'll stand by it and can be trusted. And I'm probably as daft as him because if it feels right then sense goes out the window!
Yesterday I decided we'd go along the track to the rivers for a change of scenery, then turn round and come back. It's also a good snack track and goodness knows he's getting precious little greenery in his field! He made it clear he had doubts, but a bit of reassurance and the word picnic meant he got over himself
We got to the rivers and they were very low, weather isn't the big issue rather what they're doing with the flood gates. So low in fact that he felt it was safe to out his tootsies in to reach the willow tree. Then without realising he had all four in to rach the better bits. Stopped browsing, looked down and realised that he was in the edge of the river and hadn't died! I'd have happily left him standing at the edge munching the tree, he was under no pressure to do more, but instead he took a big mouthful of willow then sauntered off through the river trailing bits behind him without a case in the world!
We then got to the second crossing that's always a bit deeper, at the moment probably mid canon on him at most, and because there's a current flowing through near the bridge we did get some looking and head bobbing. Fine, if needs be we could go back. First though I edged him to the far side of the entry which is furthest away from the bridge and the current is barely visible, it's a few more steps to cross but it gave him an option. No pressure, a long rein and legs lightly wrapped round but not asking just making sure if he backed up and/or whipped round fast I was less likely to walk home! He thought about it, dunked his nose a couple of times and strolled in like an old hand, indeed mid way through he stopped to blow bubbles and have a splash!
So much for my sensible rule of not riding the crossings if there's no-one about, but it just felt right at the time. All ride he'd been bright as a button and looking at everything, but in a curious and calm way (most of the time, the escaped builders bag was clearly a dragon) rather than spooky or reactive. If it had gone wrong I'd have kicked myself, but I pretty much know that when he feels like that and he's given a chance to make a thought out decision then he'll stand by it and can be trusted. And I'm probably as daft as him because if it feels right then sense goes out the window!
I do most things more on feeling rather than thought, and if it feels ok my previous decisions often go out of the window.
. Luckily my now not so nervous friend saw the ridiculous side of it and was laughing at him even though her horse started to get a bit wound up from his tantrum.She knows us well enough to know I've got him and he's very unlikely to do anything unseating. I did nearly lose my patience when we got back on the yard and he readied heimself to do a spin and spook at the yard dog lying quietly in her normal place, that did earn a cross voice for the sheer ridiculousness of it.
he’s some boy.
