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As the trainer hauled her to our boarding barn, we followed and discussed a barn name for our new horse. I don't remember all the candidates, but "Sarah" was the one we settled on, after a short debate on whether to use the "h" ending or not. It seemed plain but dignified, suiting her well. We began discussion of all the things needed for her... we had some, a cheap halter, two of us had saddles, a cheap bridle... Hap began getting excited about the "layette" (Hap's term) we needed to accumulate. Cooler, blanket, various brushes and manicure items... I think we were a little overwrought by the time we arrived for the unloading. We'd even come up with a stable name... Silk Purse, which in hindsight I don't think was much of a complement to Sarah (though perhaps right on for us).
All was uneventful, and I had taken off the entire week so as to babysit Sarah in her new surroundings.
I kept her in her stall the first day or two, but she had a window to watch the other horses out at pasture. By the third day, I let her out into a small arena next to the pasture, and one by one the other horses came up to greet her across the fence. At last, Sarah got turned out into the rolling pasture. (That's her in the middle, facing left.) She was smart about things... there were over 20 horses to deal with, and she did it by teeth clacking (a sign of submission), and as a result was not chased too badly and got no wounds from being the "newbie". The boss of the whole herd was a tiny white pony mare, must have been about 25 years old. She accepted Sarah, so the rest did too. Peace! So, time to get to work educating the horse, and the horse educating us. And believe me, it definitely is a two way street. We had a farrier do her feet first thing, and got shoes on her. When we got her, she was to say the least a bit plump and soft. We continued on our Sunday rides, and even added the occasional Saturday ride. (To the left is a weekend ride with friends.)
I also rode her after work in the evenings when it cooled off, riding about 45 minutes or so at a time. The first month I did a lot of hills at a walk and some trotting on the flat. Second month was trotting up hills and walking down and more trotting on the flat. By the third month, we could canter up the hills and her fat was melting away as muscle took its place.
Mistake Number One. Don't get a horse fit before you've done a little training! By now, cantering up hill was fine, but on the flat with the going easier, Sarah was getting a bit eager even at a trot. She felt good, lots of energy! Time for some lessons to direct all that energy. We started working on getting her to flex a little. We were using a plain snaffle, which suited her. Ring work began.
She didn't do too badly, but my lack of expertise and rusty skills with what expertise I had cramped us a bit. Nevertheless, she began to be softer and more willing to trot at a somewhat slower pace. (She's a little overbent at right, but getting the idea... and notice, no fat!... on the horse that is) I also stripped off the standing martingale, thought by hunter show riders to be manditory in these parts. It had served one purpose though; when riding out on the trails if she got a little fast, I could just grab the martingale's neck loop and pull a little and she'd immediately slow. Nice. We had a routine down now for the days when we were all there. After I schooled, Hap would ride a little, and then Lisa would get on to ride her at a walk for the cool down. Sarah was a little much for Hap, but she stuck with it and did well at walk and trot. Lisa was perfectly content to stick with a walk, and Sarah knew it... you could see her wise old eyes sizing up Lisa as she mounted, and Sarah would drop her head like a 25 year old and mosey around softly on a loose rein.
More Early Days (2)
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