laceblade: Mikage from Silver Spoon anime, on a horse. (Silver Spoon: Mikage)
laceblade ([personal profile] laceblade) wrote2014-04-23 08:09 am

Horses: Babies & Freedom

Last night I saw a baby horse!! He was born on Thursday.
His knees are knobbly & he's skittish about everything/everyone. I guess "skittish as a colt" is a phrase for a reason.

The pregnant horse in the stall next to the foal/his mom kept sticking her head over the wall. My instructor said she really likes being a mom, & wants to steal the baby horse since she hasn't given birth to her own yet, lmao.

The baby horse was so soft!! omg.


Last night I saddled up Chief. Since I rode Jake (who was already saddled for me) last week, & was in Florida the week before, I was a little out of practice. My legs were shaking after picking the mud from Chief's hooves, let alone brushing/saddling him! omggggg body. Please get stronger faster!

After saddling up, I rode outside for the first time ever!!! We rode around the pastures of the entire property (or at least the horse-friendly portions). Chief likes to be in the lead - appropriate, yes - & would huff & puff to get ahead of Cheyenne whenever Cheyenne pulled ahead.

The only thing that scared Chief was a police car that went by when we were next to the road, sirens/lights going. All he did was pull away from the road, though - very easy to control.

Chief needed some constant reminding to slow down - he was so excited to be outside, & in at least one of the fields for the first time this year, that he kept starting to go into a trot, even when we were going up hill.

This was easily my favorite lesson so far, even if my body hates me this morning. I like walking outside in the woods Up North with my dad, but I always get tired & feel gross. Viewing the world from a horse is way better, imo.

We had some pretty views. Chained dogs barked at us, & we heard a peacock from somewhere.

My dismount is still abysmal.

I really liked coming back into the barn with Chief. All the other horses stick their heads out of the stalls to greet him, & I know them well enough by now to know which ones might try to bite him, & which ones might be goofy & stick their heads by mine to ask for cookies. There are rows of fuzzy faces who are at least interested in our return, if not pleased to see us (more likely Chief than me, lol).
lileyo: A drawing of Osaka, from the manga Azumanga Daioh, looking a bit blissed out. (Osaka)

[personal profile] lileyo 2014-04-23 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Baby pony <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I really think it's badass you're doing this. It sounds so nice.
hederahelix: Zen Garden, black and white, with the phrase "Zen fen" at the bottom (zen fen)

[personal profile] hederahelix 2014-04-23 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
You know what was most happy-making about reading this post for me? Picturing the fact that even the horses are happier to see nicer weather. I know how much cabin fever I get; it hadn't occurred to me that horses probably feel that way after a crappy winter too.
jesse_the_k: Ultra modern white fabric interlaced to create strong weave (interdependence)

[personal profile] jesse_the_k 2014-04-24 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds lovely. I'm imagining how tall you are astride Chief: A new perspective as spring creeps in.
garrideb: Ms. Marvel flying over New York (ms. marvel flying)

[personal profile] garrideb 2014-04-24 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh man! The baby horse sounds adorable!
antarcticlust: Text that says "They were just mad at me for imposing discipline and calling them studpid."  (I am always right.)

[personal profile] antarcticlust 2014-05-03 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Fuck dismounting. I say you ride underneath a tree branch, grab hold, then swing around several times before landing directly on your feet.