We picked up George-ous from the trainer on Saturday
afternoon. And I am happy to have him home and I think he is happy to be home. He
really missed his pony girlfriend.
I’d been in contact with his trainer throughout his time away, and she said
that he had been wonderful for her. His manners really improved. When she was
first working with him in the cross ties, he tried to take a chunk out of her,
but she gently popped him under the chin, and she said he was shocked that
someone had stood up against him. He didn’t try it again. He was wonderful in
the cross ties. He would just stand there, even when she walked away.
As far as riding went, she said that he went wonderfully for
her. Everything she asked of him, he did. He was a bit sticky going into the
canter, but he would do it. When he was done cantering, he would come back down
and wasn’t ‘up’ afterwards.
I went out to see them on the Thursday before I picked him
up. I watched her ride him and she said that he had bigger strides than she was
used to, but in the trot, if you slow your posting down, he will match you. The
one problem she told me about that she had with him was when another horse was
lunging in the arena, he got really competitive, and crabby. She hopped off of
him and they watched and he was fine. She said that might be something that he
needs the most work on. I was able to hop on him, and he is still a lot of fun
to ride. He really does have big forward gaits.
Also one of the things I noticed was that when he was ridden in his figure 8
bridle, he lets his tongue flap out the side of his mouth. Like a lot. Does
anyone have this problem with their monster? When he is ridden in plain caveson,
he doesn’t do it as often. Occasionally, but not as bad as when in a figure 8.
He was ridden in a myler comfort snaffle if that means anything to this flappy tongue
equation. I’d be willing to try out different combos if anyone had any helpful
hints.
I am also going to get him adjusted by the chiro. Once he speeds up a bit, he
holds his head a bit crooked. I’m thinking his body might just need to be re
adjusted, and obviously, I am going to have his teeth checked.
When we went to pick him up, he was very sweet, but again, forgot how to load
into the trailer. Funny how he forgets that. Every. Single. Time. But his trip
home he was much more relaxed than when we went to the trainer, and he wasn’t
all worked up by the time we got home. He unloaded and was happy to be reunited
with his pony. When he hopped off the
trailer he was squeaky clean and spotless, so obviously he found the first mud
pit (not hard with the rain we’ve had) and rolled until he was a paint horse.
Sunday evening I saddled him up. I am still not ready to take him down the
road. I want to build up my trust with him, but mostly I want to regain my
confidence in the saddle. So I set up some ground poles, and just kind of
played in the yard on him. We did serpentines, and figure 8’s and 4 leaf
clovers, and circles, and one thing I noticed was that he never got bored. Even
if it felt like we were doing the same thing over and over. When Piney got
bored, he would slow down, and get a little fussy. Piney hated dressage for
that reason. It always seemed like the same thing to him. He loved trail
riding, because it was different scenery, even when it was down the same road.
George seemed to enjoy working in the yard on our little patterns. It may take
some time, but we will get back to riding down the road.
So that is that. Big gray monster is home. And we are all happy. He doesn't seem as pissy towards everyone as he did before he left and he can be a bit of a pest in the pasture. But here is to hoping that we can work on our partnership this summer!
