Last night was gorgeous. It had poured rain all day Tuesday but yesterday the sun was back out and there was a cool breeze. I ignored the fact that the saturated earth plus blazing hot sun made the humidity sky rocket and the world turn into a sauna. It’s late August in SC. It’s just the way it is right now.
I really wanted M to try Gem out. She hadn’t matched well with Eeyore and I see no point in making either of them struggle through that. Not when Eeyore and I are starting to finally click and M will be leaving in June. If she was a permanent member of the family, maybe. Gem is a much different ride than Eeyore and she needs the exercise anyway. Plus this way we wouldn’t be sharing and could ride together versus one then the other.
M requested that I hop on Gem first. I’m not sure she trusts my descriptions of my horses after her experience with Eeyore. As soon as I got on Gem, it felt both familiar and foreign at the same time. My butt knew her so well but it had been 15 months since I last climbed on her and a lot has changed in that time. My first thought was “have you always been this narrow?! I can nearly touch my feet together under you” which was quickly followed by “awe look at those beautiful black tipped ears” and then by “ah yeah. now I remember. screw this crap. I want Eeyore back”.
We did some walk and trot work. I didn’t bother to canter her. Once you let Gem canter it’s over. That’s all she will do from then on out and after sitting in the pasture for 15 months I wasn’t really wanting to school her all that much. This was a test ride to see if M and Gem would be a good match or not. Though honestly I pretty much knew the answer going in. You have to try though, right?
It’s probably a difference in riding technique across the pond. M rides well, her hands are quiet and her position steady and solid. The thing that keeps biting her is that all her aides are very strong. There is no whispering. She clamps with her legs and gets very heavy with her hands. I’m not criticizing her, but it is the reason that every horse I’ve seen her ride gets tense and goes flying off in a canter when all she wanted was a trot. Or trots when she wants to walk. Or backs up when she wants to halt.
Everything is very loud and heavy. Eeyore isn’t that sensitive of a horse and even he got wild and wooly under her. Gem is a very sensitive horse. After nearly a decade with her, all I had to do was think trot and she would. She needs a whisper. When M was yelling at her with her aides, things got out of hand. Nothing scary mind you. Gem is incredibly safe, but she did hollow, get a giraffe head and canter around on the forehand. That’s not very fun to ride.
All this to say that it wasn’t a good match. She mostly walked and tried a few trot transitions but that turned into a canter and that scared M. I assured her that if she just let go with the reins a bit, gave Gem the ability to move forward in the trot after she asked, she would settle and trot nicely but it was a no go. That subtly wasn’t going to happen.
I felt bad. I wished I had a beginner friendly, easy horse for her to ride. A horse who won’t do more than is absolutely required. I know she desperately wants to ride here. I know she was really looking forward to that and it is falling apart for her. But I don’t know what else I can do really. Her style of riding isn’t a good match for the style of horse I’m attracted to and hence have at my farm.
I was texting with Bette and she may have come up with a solution for us. She works at a summer camp and those horses need a home for the fall and winter. Generally they go out on a care lease type situation. I believe pretty much all the favorites have been spoken for but there is one gelding left who might fit the bill.
He is a senior Arab with a sway back, a good brain and a heart of gold apparently. He can w/t/c, hit the trails and do small jumps. All things M wants to do. He has given kids lessons and takes a lot of leg to go which sounds just about perfect for M. I’m not excited about another horse on the property, but if it does work out then I’m goinG to put the extra work on M. If she wants a horse of her own to ride, she is old enough to do the chores required to have said horse.
I’ve reached out to the lady in charge of this and I am waiting on a reply. If it pans out, we can sneak up on this three day weekend to try him out and see how it goes. There is an apple festival going on near where he is, so we can also hit that up and get some apple cider slushees and apple cider donuts while there. Maybe go back the next day and pick him up. He’d need to go back to camp come May and she leaves in June so the timing is almost perfect. We will see how it goes but I do think that if he doesn’t work out, her days of riding with me are probably over as I don’t think her on Gem on trail in the open is a good idea anymore. I’d worry that I wouldn’t see them ever again and that they would be found in the next county or even state.
The Roaming Rider 
If I weren’t riding right now, I’d send you Batt because he’d be perfect. He’s used to being a lesson horse and can take care of the most rank beginner (kicking, squeezing, pulling, etc) and doesn’t get fast—ever—and loves trail rides. But, alas, he finally has a job. And 2 fat chestnuts with bad attitudes might put you over the edge. Lol
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Could you send Jimminy in his place? 😁
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Fight Michele please…
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Fingers crossed it works out with the camp horse. Could be a great situation!
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It could work out great. We will see
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Oh what a frustrating situation for all! Hopefully a good solution is found quickly one way or another. Good on you for trying ❤
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I think this is my last try. I mean she does have two perfectly fine horses at her disposal at home. I know they aren’t clicking that well but still. I rode a lot of horse growing up I didn’t click with. You learn to deal and enjoy the free ride. We will see
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I was thinking this same thing. About how much you learn from those horses who are tough (but not dangerous). I could see her quickly adjusting her “ask” and other queues, I know riding different school horses (not all of whom were saints) sure taught me about that! But if she doesn’t want to work through it that is her loss, you can only do so much.
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Exactly. Both my horses are safe. Maybe not saintly, but they don’t rear, buck (too bad, Eeyore will throw in one very now and again when he is really pissed off about working), bolt or do anything mean. But they do require a nuanced ride and that is something she can learn if she wants to. I’ve tried giving pointers or a mini lesson, but I’m not a trainer by any stretch.
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Ah that’s frustrating! I’m sorry! I really hope it works with the camp horse. That’s so awesome you’re trying to find something that works for her!
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I’m doing my best and will see if this guy gives her what she needs. If not, she will have to decide what she wants to do
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You’re great for trying. Maybe if camp horse doesn’t work she could just walk Gem, or a lunge lesson with you so she can practice softening until she learns the right pressure?
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Yeah that is a possibility. Or she can take lessons at a barn. I think that would be best as it would also get her to meet other girls and make friends but I’m not sure she wants to spend the money and I can’t afford my own lessons let alone hers.
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Do any of your local trainers let barn rats work off lessons? That’s how i got all my saddle time as a kid, i was the grunt at the summer camp/ trail ride/ lesson barn.
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I’m not sure. It’s super hard to find a barn with lesson horses around here. Most expect you to bring your own
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All of our horses are GO GO GO models too. I was very concerned with my friend visiting, but the mares were well behaved enough at the walk/leadline trot for her kids. It’s funny; as I was reading the first part of the post, I was going to suggest looking for a summer camp horse for her. But you’re way ahead of me. I hope it works out.
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That one doesn’t look like it will work out but I put out an ISO ad on various Facebook sites and have a few possibilities
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Oh Gem. She’s fun(ny) to watch, but I give you major props for how long you rode her. I’d totally send you P, but in order to ensure good behavior, M would have to ride in a t-rex suit. I hope you find something suitable, and I’ll keep my eye out
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The only reason I did was that I couldn’t afford to board 3 horses. Maybe if we didn’t have Pete but we did so it was ride Gem or ride nothing. Kinda why I’m a pit perturbed at her not trying a bit harder. You ride what is available you know? Begged can’t be choosers and all that.
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I’d honestly just focus on my studies if I was her lol but until June is still a long time, especially for a teenager.
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This year is a throw away year for her. It doesn’t count for anything and she will have to repeat the year back home next year. All she needs is a C average to remain in the states, so her studies aren’t her priority.
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oooh what an exciting opportunity – possibly you’ve already written about the outcome haha but i’ll get there eventually 😉
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No. Basically M bailed. I found the most perfect horse for her and had everything set up. Told her she wouldn’t have to pay anything but the added chores of feeding would be all on her and she’d have to commit to twice a week rides. And she said no. So…
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