Anne came over on Saturday to be there when I got on Joma and Imperial for the first time. Anne's purpose in life was to dial 911 if necessary. It wasn't necessary. By the time I got Joma up from the pasture, Anastasia had arrived eager to try out her new mount. As I always do with a new horse, I put the synthetic western on Joma. The synthetic generally fits anyone with the right padding and a green horse can flip over and roll on it without hurting it. I lunged Joma first, but only for a minute or two. He was so pokey and relaxed about the whole thing I just knew he'd be a good boy. So up I went.
The first thing I noted was that he stood perfectly still while I mounted. The second bonus was that he moved off my leg easily without jumping out of his skin and wanting to run. I've dealt with quite a few off the track TBs that launch into a gallop at the slightest hint of leg. Not Joma! He also did not mind moving away from the herd, and was actually reluctant to turn around and head back. "Hey, why not just keep going?" My first trot on him was absolute heaven. Even though Joma is not the best mover in the world, he is definitely the smoothest TB I have ever ridden. EVER. I barely had to post. I probably could have sat his trot easily. And let's not forget that the trot was with a very light contact on the bit. There was no taking off, no let's run, we must RUN attitude from him at all. The canter was even better. I had brief thoughts of telling Anastasia she'd have to fight me for him. He was just that wonderful! Anastasia got on him and had the same thoughts. It was true love!
Imperial went much the same way. A quick couple of circles on the lunge line and I was up. He also stood perfectly still to be mounted. His trot was much different as it was a huge movement and not at all like the almost flat trot of Joma. Imperial was a lot of work to ride and was much more into going fast. It took a lot of leg, seat, and bit to keep him from taking off, and the canter was even faster. But, he was never stupid about anything. When Thor decided that the big bad horsey had better put me down OR ELSE, Imperial just ignored him and kept trotting. Anastasia also enjoyed Imperial and decided that his attitude would suit her husband Scott just fine.
Last night the two boys were delivered to Anastasia's. Ike, the incredibly stupid Percheron stallion that Anastasia is fostering, immediately thought he'd like to mount both the boys without finding out gender first. Joma wouldn't hear of such nonsense and planted several very solid kicks to Ike's chest. Ike eventually got the picture and left the two boys alone. This morning Ike and Joma were playing bite-face and scratching each other's backs. This is the first friend that Ike has made since he's been at Anastasia's. I guess the old guy just needed someone to stand up to him and earn his respect!
Because the boys were so laid back about everything, we took them out on the trails today. Anastasia rode Joma, I rode Imperial, and Glenn rode Willow. I was expecting Imperial to be a bit silly and for the two of them to be upset about following and always wanting to be in front. I couldn't have been more wrong. About 10 minutes into the ride I started to wonder if the trainer from Mountaineer had sent me a couple of big Quarterhorses instead of TBs. Let me tell you, these two boys were born to be trail horses! We rode them both on loose rein, even when trotting. Deer would jump out of the trees next to the trail and the boys would just flick an ear in that direction and keep going with heads down and legs swinging freely. Not one nervous jig, not one excited moment.
Anastasia has a creek flowing across her driveway and no bridge, so we knew the boys would have some trouble walking through the water. Water crossings just aren't something you see in stalls or on race tracks! Imperial was the first to walk up to it, but he didn't want to step into it. Rather than create a fight and bad experience on his first outing, I hopped off and led him through without a problem. Joma didn't want to walk into the water either, so I came back and led him through as well. Later on in the trail we came to a wider water crossing. Imperial walked right in and took a nice long drink. Joma wasn't interested at all, and after a brief discussion with him, Anastasia asked me to come back and lead him through. Three steps into the water he lowered his head, took a drink, then continued to the other side on his own. Good boy!
On the way back Joma walked right in, took a drink, then decided that water was actually FUN.
Scott didn't get to ride with us so it was just the three of us. Both boys were very much enamored with little Willow and she thoroughly enjoyed all the attention they were giving her. She also got to be the star a few times, when the boys thought they saw monsters in the trees ahead and wouldn't go forward. And since this ride was all about making it fun for the boys, we tried to avoid any conflicts. So when we got "stuck" we called the professional. Oh Willow! Time to take the lead! Those boys followed that cute little Willow butt anywhere.
Back on the farm, the boys ate dinner then headed off to find a place to roll.
Oh yeah, this is the life!
I had to call the TB trainer last night when we got home, just to tell her how wonderful her boys were. She thought they'd have trouble with the water and was tickled when I told her how well they both did. I just hope Quest turns out to be half as good!
