The Howie Chronicles

Howie is not a slam, bam, thank you ma'am kind of guy. He does not do well when I don't get to the barn more than twice a week. It's only fair. He is still young. Morgans don't mature physically until 7 or 8, and mentally, well, that can take even longer. Howie likes a softer, quieter ride. He likes to be asked, not told what to do. And he is social, happier when other horses are in the ring with him or close by, not out on the trail by himself. If I rush and am frustrated with him getting him ready, because he paws or moves in the crossties or it is just too hot, it will carry over into our ride. You just have to bring patience and your best 'zen' to the barn and it makes for a much better ride. I have been able to get to the barn more consistently for the last few weeks and it finally paid off last night in our lesson. For the first time in months, Howie did not stop at anything. It was probably a bigger mental relief for me than for him, but it was huge for me. Howie had gone from being the horse that would literally drag you off the track in front of anything to try to jump it, to a horse that stopped at the first jump every time, and sometimes, more than that. It really shook me. I was afraid I had ruined everything by trying to train this young horse myself and not having a pro do the jumping training for me. But he had so seemed to enjoy and, yes, even relish the jumping, that I was certain I could do it with good help on the ground. Then he started stopping. I was sure it was my riding, and a lot of it probably is/was. But he is a young horse and he is going to go through some of the 'I don't wanna' that they do. ok, we'll deal with it. Two steps forward, one step back, I think (hope) we are back on the two step part again. I love my horse even though he still can't canter worth a tinker's darn...one of these days he will stop growing and figure out how to put it all together and it will be great!

Howie and I were enjoying a trail ride the other day. Our rides have been few and far between again lately. However, this was a beautiful day and I had a few hours to enjoy my horse. We had just climbed a small hill and were coming down when Howie realized we were also heading toward home. Opps. Jig, jig, jig, trot. Ummm, wrong answer. So after trying to make him walk and not succeeding I just turned him back up the hill and said trot, his answer was an astonished, WHAT?!? Yup, trot and trot smartly my leg said. All the way back to the top, we even broke into a little canter for a short piece. At the top we turned, again, and started back down the hill. Howie walked this time, good boy! He may not be a rocket scientist, but we aren't building rockets either. I don't need him that smart. He thought about breaking into a little trot on the way back down, but I could feel him holding himself back, thinking, I really don't want to have to trot back up the hill! I love my horse.