Riding/Horses

The Queen Herself

roamingridersite

The blog is becoming very Eeyore centric which is fine as he is my main mount now and well, life is becoming fun with him around both on the ground with his antics and under saddle with his obstinate but still somehow easy going nature.

However, Miss Thing is still around and living large. The last ride I had with her pretty much solidified my decision to no longer do arena work with her. She doesn’t enjoy it and at 20 years old now she doesn’t really have to do much of anything. I’ll still take her on trail rides and to some hunter paces as able but her main job now is looking pretty and eating grass.

Enjoying a roll in the spring time grass

What has been amazing though is that our entire relationship has changed. Ever since her partial retirement, she has started greeting me at the gate even when it isn’t dinner time. I don’t remember the last time I had to spend 40 minutes trying to catch her in the pasture. When I am outside she always looks up and notices me and if I call out a greeting she comes over instead of her usual hiding behind a tree or Pete to avoid being seen.

Looking like her gorgeous self

Last week, we had our first mutual grooming experience. She had just been put out after dinner and lingered by the gate which typically means she wants some attention. I went back in and began scratching her itchy spots. In the past, she would tolerate this and eventually move on after a few minutes. Last week though she propped a hind leg, let out a sigh and leaned into the scratches. After 10 minutes, with my hands starting to cramp, she looked over and started grooming my shoulder.

Why, hello there human!

Eeyore then wandered over because Big Goof can’t be left out of anything and started grooming on Gem as well. Pete eventually joined us and all three horses began grooming at which point I bowed out and left them to it.

All I was doing was brushing her out and applying some fly spray. From the look on her face you’d think I was about to torture her. 

Honesty, I put the change to the fact that I am no longer asking Gem to do what she hates doing. The pressure is off of her and she can enjoy my company knowing full well that she won’t be forced to do dressage or jump again. It makes me a little sad that I put her through it in the first place, but then I realize that we were doing 18″ jumps and fake-ssage at the walk and trot so really she could have gotten over herself just a tad.

Regardless, are relationship has reached a new level of understanding and companionship that took 9 years and a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to. I’m hoping we have another decade together to putz around when able and groom/enjoy each other.

Published by roamingridersite

16 thoughts on “The Queen Herself”

  3. that’s so sweet tho ❤ she's a lucky horse to have found you and i'm so glad that even tho she didn't become the partner in eventing that you hoped for, your relationship and partnership is still growing and developing in special ways!

    Like

    Reply

  7. Makes me happy to see that all is well in Gem-world 🙂 Whenever Quest is somewhat more affectionate than usual towards me, I get unreasonably excited lol Mares play hard to get sometimes

    Like

    Reply

  8. it is so great that she has come around but I think you all having your own farm has helped too. what a paradise they are on. She is like this is great this retirement stuff 😉 HA! She is too cute. Queen indeed 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    1. She is the original Queen Bee! Surprisingly she has taken over as herd leader which I never would have guessed. Nash led the way when he was around and when its just the two of them they both look to the other. Eeyore isn’t leading anything so I guess she just took it upon herself.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment