I rode India today

India sporting her new Pessoa saddle

Below is the text of an email I sent to Kathleen Lindley earlier tonight:

Great news to report! I got to the barn early this morning and while India ate, I hitched up my trailer and brought it round. She finished her breakfast and stood nicely while I brushed her. Once that was done, I grabbed a flag and we headed over to the trailer, whose doors were already open. I was thinking good karma thoughts and lo' and behold, in she went without hesitation. I shut the divider and did have to remind her with the flag to keep her head up, but only once. After a minute of giving her praise, I opened the divider, she stood quietly still and I asked her to back up slowly, which she did for three steps and then zoom! Out she went with alacrity, so right back in she went as soon as all four hooves hit the ground and she could change direction. Divider shut, no peeking under it, count to fifty, open the divider and then she nicely backed off one hoof at a time as I asked and that was that. We headed back to the barn.

Next up? Ground driving and it was comedic at times, but we made a full circuit around the barn, stopping to touch various gates and changing direction several times. We lack your marvelous, sandy soil, so the ropes were nicely soggy and I spread them out to dry after we finished. Remembering what you said about India giving the hairy eyeball to things on the ground, I asked her to walk over them. She skittled sideways but stepped over, we turned around and walked back the other way. Less skittling that time and then the third time over was a nonevent. Yay!

So what next but to saddle up and ride? Although the arena was full of weanling cows, a round bale in one corner, a very long feed trough and three watering tanks, that was no reason not to ride there. We had enough room and the cows did stay out of our way. That said, we didn't go faster than a trot, mostly because the arena was full of the aforementioned cows, round bale, trough and tanks. I was certain we could avoid the hay bale and tank and troughs, but those calves were hither and yon and I didn't want to risk it. Rumor has it that they'll be gone soon and we'll canter then. Besides, our trot needs work.

Her trot was rushed and then nicely paced then fast again, but she never balked or backed up and she did listen to me. She wanted to drift off the rail, but she moved back when I asked. We also tracked across the arena and our lines weren't always the straightest, but they wern't half bad, either.

We rode about thirty minutes and I was delighted. I am much more confident of our future. She has matured mentally and I am treating her differently too. I sure wish I could work her as often as you did, but she proved today that even with a week off, she can be fine. Yay!

If it's not pouring tomorrow, we shall work again. The footing in the arena will be sloppy, but fine for trotting some more. Stay tuned.