Photo with his owner.

I've had the absolute pleasure during the holidays of riding a new-to-me horse, Big G*.  He came to the barn a few months ago as a moderately underweight rescue and I was entranced with his big bone structure and the fact that he's gaited.


Due to some of his health issues (and the need of building muscle), the vet has recommended that he be ridden fairly regularly.  Raise your hand if you can spot locking stifles a pasture away.  Anyways, this has been done mostly through his owner and another boarder.  In text, the owner invited me to take a shot on him and the other boarder was thrilled to have the help.

I spent some time in text with both the owner and the other boarder, because I hadn't ridden a gaited pony since high school.  I could also tell from having seen this guy be ridden that he wasn't going to be exactly like my ancient molasses-trudging TB.  The general assessment was, basically, just leave him the fuck alone and verbally tell him what you want.

"What, lady?"

My husband came out with me the first time I rode him (safety!) (..and video!).  Big G was crawling backwards towards the mounting block, but as soon as I got in the saddle, he was off like a rocket.  I immediately clued in (though I had later derp moments) that they were dead serious about leaving him alone.  To turn, I open my shoulders.  I kept a running monologue the entire time.  To move forward (hah), I lifted my hands.  God forbid my nose itch.  I giggled maniacally when he first picked up the running walk.  And then asked my husband (rhetorically), why the hell we even rode horses that trot.

#tennesseewalkinghorse #runningwalk #smoothasbutter

A video posted by bekaburke (@bekaburke) on Nov 27, 2015 at 10:40am PST

We've spent some time during our rides together working on walk, a faster walk and the running walk and transitioning between those.  I've taken him over a few trot poles as well.  I'm completely smitten with this pony (he's taller than Archie, I think), who is brilliant and has an incredible work ethic.  I think he can count and he certainly figured out my running-walk-on-the-diagonals,-walk-on-the-short-side exercise.  He didn't really need me.  His owner said that he was used in field trials prior to her purchase of him.  I should be riding him about once a week.

Fail.

Trying to get photos of both the boys.

Archie doesn't share well.

*I use nicknames for all the people and pets, simply because they never asked to be blogged about.