Herd situation better, riding, not so much!

Good news and bad news for today. Flash was having a really hard getting back in with the small herd after his training. I didn't know what else to do so I did the only thing left to do... I said a few prayers last night!! I apologized to my friend this morning for how upset I got yesterday and she went ahead and put Flash in with the other horses. No fights today!!! Yeah!! I even took him away for a little while then brought him back and put him back in with them and no fighting again!! I'm so happy! My friend said that she had a talk with them this morning so that's why it all worked out.

The bad news is that I attempted to take Flash trail riding today by myself. Bad idea. I can't find anyone to ride with so I just went. It's only the third time that he's been to the park so it was a stupid idea. We usually go in the evening and it was earlier in the day and there were a ton of people there. He was really excited. I had to have some stranger hold him while I got on and then we walked around a bit and all of a sudden he kind of popped up. The man said that he had both front feet off the ground. Yikes. I kept riding and we just couldn't agree which direction to go. He wanted to go sideways, backwards, and every way but straight. UNTIL I turned around and headed back towards the trailer. Then he decided straight at a nice fast trot would be the best way to get there... UGH!!! The brakes malfunctioned at that point. Eventually he stopped but by that point, I was done. I made him walk back to the trailer and that was it for today. A whole maybe 10 minutes on the trails. I think he would have liked a rider that wouldn't have held him back today.

This is not the nice relaxing trail riding horse that I imagined owning. Someone is supposed to ride with us on Thursday and I hope that goes better. I think with another horse along and later in the evening it will go better.

Comments: 14

Diane Huizenga Jul 30, 2011, 10:36pm UTC

hope things get better with him

Jennifer T. Jul 31, 2011, 9:50am UTC

Thanks! Me too! After the ride the other day, I thought they were. I was really looking forward to yesterday. It ended up being really hot and then he was being a dork so it wasn't the greatest that's for sure! LOL

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Visionaerie B. Jul 30, 2011, 10:46pm UTC

It was not the thrill ride you imagined! Yes, I've had at least one experience with a temperamental horse. Your next outing will go more smoothly. Thanks for sharing this!

Jennifer T. Jul 31, 2011, 9:50am UTC

I sure hope it does!! Thanks!

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Deborah McEnery Jul 31, 2011, 12:04am UTC

Horses are complicated critters..Social order is everything to them..Always ride with at least one other horse. It calms them. His herd situation is better now..So he may not want to be away; (called buddy sour)..I have that problem..They have to be able to see each other..or there is drama..we are working on that.

Jennifer T. Jul 31, 2011, 9:51am UTC

LOL.. yep drama for sure!!

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Heidi S. Jul 31, 2011, 12:37am UTC

I know how you feel. I had an "issue" in my concrete driveway the other day where Viking would not go forward, and I was by myself. I had no spurs and no crop. When things got dangerous, I got off, led him out the way I wanted him to go, about 50 feet off the driveway. I got back on, and tried again, same results. I knew putting him away would create bigger issues later, so I got off again, led him further down the street (half a block) and got back on. We went in circles for a little bit, but he finally gave in and we went through a field. As soon as I got the behaviour I wanted, I went ahead and rode him back home.

Jennifer T. Jul 31, 2011, 9:48am UTC

That sounds about like our ride. I didn't go right back to the trailer when he was fighting me. I didn't give up when he wouldn't stop. I kept at it until he did stop. Then I managed to make him walk all the way back. And I didn't fall off! Success!!!! I have to look at it that way I guess.

I should tell you this also - she said that Tennessee Walkers are very slow to mature, mentally and physically. She said he's about where a normal 2 year old would be. She said they don't fully mature until they are about 7 or 8.

Does Viking trip a lot?

Heidi S. Jul 31, 2011, 10:29am UTC

You did great, and you have to celebrate each little success like that! Every time you win a little "issue", you've really made a big step, and eventually Flash will rely on you to be his herd leader :)

I didn't know that about Tennessee Walkers, very interesting. I pulled out Viking's papers the other day and discovered he is 17, I knew how old he was when I got him, but never did the math. So he should be a grown-up by now! I also found out his registered name is TTC, for Tip Top Chance. Where they got "Viking" from I'll never know. I would have called him Chance. Sounds like a Yale guy.

He does trip, I was wondering if that's normal?

Jennifer T. Jul 31, 2011, 10:59am UTC

LOL.. Chance is cute!! And yes, he's definitely all grown up!! I didn't remember his being that old!! Haha! Tip Top Chance, that's cute!

Thanks for the vote of confidence!! After days like yesterday, I keep thinking - maybe I got my horse about 10 years too late!

I just asked the trainer and she said that Flash trips a lot partly because he's so lazy and he doesn't care where his feet are and partly because of the breed. I don't like it when horses trip so I wish I would have known that before. Oh, I still would have bought him!!

Heidi S. Jul 31, 2011, 11:14am UTC

Ha! You're far younger than me. Part of why I was afraid to ride was that my previous horse, Whiplash, had bucked me off in my arena and my foot got stuck in the stirrup. This was probably 5 or 6 years ago. I was hurt pretty badly and at my age it to SO long to heal. The last time I was thrown off (in my youth) I was just as sore, but in a couple of days I was OK. Now I got to the point where NOT riding was worse than my fear - except when Viking and I were having our disagreement in my driveway, that concrete was really far down and looked really hard....

I don't like the tripping either but I would still have gotten him, too:)

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Tessa D. Jul 31, 2011, 9:39am UTC

it takes time, patience and work -- you can do it!

Jennifer T. Jul 31, 2011, 9:54am UTC

Thanks!!! The trainer keeps saying that too.. "Remember he's young and you have to have patience with him."

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Tory H. Aug 8, 2011, 10:21pm UTC

He's still pretty early on in his training, so I think that sort of situation out on a trail by yourself is pretty normal. I have a hard time just riding down our driveway with Sarge when I'm on my own; he gets overly excited by the other horses and the new-ish (but not really,hah) sights and everything.

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Herd situation better, riding, not so much!

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