I’ll Have An Appy With A Side Of Thoroughbred

April 7, 2008

I went riding Saturday after about a month off (I was busy and done with the cold). I started off with Marahute, a large Appy/Arab pony who is my little project horse. We’re working on basics like balance, collection, bend, response to leg aids and we’ve started working over trot poles so we can eventually do some jumping. Marahute is smart. She’s very well behaved for most people — especially beginners. She fights me, on the other hand, and I know what I’m doing (mostly)! I think she’s knows I ask a lot more of her than most people, so she gets a little resistant. She always tests before she gives in. Typically she’ll settle in after being difficult for a while and work just fine. But I think she was showing me her displeasure at being ignored for a while. And I’m sure it doesn’t help that I hadn’t been riding so I’m sure my strength and aids weren’t on par anyway.

But it was a decent start back, and with some consistent riding I know she’ll soften up and be a little bit more receptive. Plus, she LOVES the trot poles. When I finish up with a little free riding and let her go where she wants, she always walks over the poles of her own accord. I think she’ll really love to jump once we start.

After a break for a visit and lunch, I went out for a quick ride on Classic. Classic is a 24-year-old chestnut thoroughbred mare. She suffers from arthritis in her back legs, and the vet had recommended retiring her a few months ago. She’s been on joint supplements and receiving shots of adequan, which did seem to help for a while. But she’s been getting progessively more uncomfortable on her back end. After some time off, Classic quickly made it clear to us that she is by no means ready to be retired.

I’ve started hopping on her bareback and doing some light walk/trot work, asking her to round and stretch under with her back legs to strengthen her hindquarters and topline.

On Saturday, she was practically pushing me out of the stall door as I groomed her. She took off walking as soon as I was on her back, and immediately wanted to trot. Even with very little work over the last year, she was very light on my aids, she had perfect contact with the bit, respond to the lightest movement of my seat, legs or hands. She walked at a brisk pace with her ears cocked forward. We even walked and trotted over a pole to get her to lift up those back legs. And all of this despite a very stiff and weak hind end.

Riding Classic, even for a short, light ride reminded me why I love thoroughbreds so much. I love their longer, lower carriage. Their lightness and sensitivity. Their active, forward gaits. Their willingness.  Their desire to please.

It was a huge contrast to Marahute (who is still my baby!) with her resistant Appy side coming out a little too strongly.

Classic and Marahute are a good pair. I’ve got Marahute who is young and able-bodied enough to use as a training horse. And I’ve got Classic who is so easy and fun to ride as my relaxing horse.

Now that it’s finally feeling like spring, I’ll probably keep up this one-two punch of working Marahute and going for a light ride on Classic. I’ll be back in shape in no time!

Posted in Jackie's Thoughts, Riding and showing