I've been lungeing ol' Rusty a bit before each ride, just to give him a chance to work out any little kinks he might have. It's a good chance for me to gauge how he is feeling and acting before I get on.
These two ponies are Rusty's pasture-mates. They were looking on as we rode. I dubbed them the peanut gallery. Shorty, my crush was in a a different pasture today, so no chance to pet him... 
I was doing a fair bit of trotting with Rusty and I'm doing alot better than when I first started riding him. We are starting to smooth out some of the rougher spots in both of our riding. Although, today, Rusty seemed to want to canter every time I put a bit of leg on him. Silly horse. I worked on slowing him back down and only cantering when *I* asked him to. He can get a little snorty when I start doing that and it used to make me nervous. It's mostly funny to me now.
After about 20 minutes of riding, something interesting happened - I went to pull on my reins and there was only air... (Sorry for the happy face on the picture - I had my eyes closed and was making a really weird face!)
Here is a close-up of the tack malfunction - the chicago screw on my left rein let go! I didn't have any spares, so Rusty got out of the rest of his ride. I'm going to have to go buy a package of screws tomorrow - my luck they will only come in boxes of 500 or something! I laughed when this happened and I realized how lucky I was to be in the ring and not somewhere out on a trail!
15 comments:
Oh wow, that could have been a disaster, lucky it was just a funny thing to have happened. He looks great by the way
lol! It looks like your right rein is long enough that, if you had been out on the trail, you could have 'jimmy-rigged' something up to get you back to the barn, though. You'd have figured something out, I'm sure :)
And good for you, for figuring out your horse and knowing how to get him under control.
It reminds me of my Baby Doll and how she pulls her barn-sour drunk sailer thingie, thinking I won't notice as she tries to shimmy and sway sneakily in the direction of the barn.
When I catch her and correct her, she usually gives me a little crow hop of complaint just like a child stomps their feet.
Silly horses
lol! :)
~Lisa
From one Laura(in the UK) to another Laura across the pond....hello.
Just found your blog and look forward to reading it.
Man that could have been bad! Wait gait were you in when it happened? Rusty looks uneffected by the whole thing:-)
I think lunging or at least trotting in hand a bit is a great way to access how pony is behaving that day and to let him stretch out a bit.
See if cdn can send you some new reins, I know she has plenty ;-)
lol no godd at all! although it has happened to me a time or two as well. And of course both times we were out on thr trail. Once it happened to my boyfriend as well. And he isn't horse savvy.... good thing Peppy follows Sally everywhere!
That just happened to my neighbor's granddaughter the other day, and I somehow managed to drop a rein during one of my lessons while my horse was walking off. On instinct, I pulled back on the one rein I had and the horse spun, of course. I then said whoa, and my istructor handed me my rein. Not fun.
That is hilarious. I could just see that happening to me right when Marve decides to have one of his bolting sessions. But look at you -- so happy and cheerful nonetheless, ha ha ha!
Glad it wasn't a disaster. These things are funny in a controlled environment, not so much out in "the wild".
Whoa nellie!! Those little things have a way of coming undone at the most inappropriate times. I'd go for the bag of 500-LOL. I stocked up on them and keep them and a screwdriver in the horse trailer. Always seems to happen to me and Megan when we are at a horse show.
I thought the funny face was funny!!
It happens to the best us - I like the tie-on reins for that reason I got tired of the stupid screws real quick. That's all I'll use now even the show ring for that reason.
I really like the looks of your new place.
Hello !
Thank you for having visited my blog. I discover yours and your beautiful pictures. They are very clear !
Here we do not use Chicago screw. I'll try to make a picture of what we use when I go to the club.
You're a good rider for you have not fallen from the horse.
See you soon
Chicago screws are a pain for that reason! I always check mine before rides to make sure they are tight. I am glad everything was fine and you weren't in the middle of a lope or something.
Rusty looks cute with his fuzzy fur! I really think that by the time My Boy is in his twenties, he will be roaned out and colored more white with sorrel "trim" like your boy. The funny thing about Appy's is that they have constantly morphing coat patterns. Kind of cool, you can never get bored with their color, LOL!
By the way, Laura, you and Rusty are my Million Dollar Friends :)
Come gather your award.
~Lisa
Oh,it's a horrible feeling when it happens on the trail. I was riding a new horse when I went to stop and had no left rein. The tied bit end had come untied. Thankfully he stopped and I retied it securely (I thought) and went on. Apparently I don't know how to tie those reins because 5 minutes later we were going along at a fast trot when it happened again. Needless to say, I haven't used those reins again.
Glad that you were alright. Rusty looks pretty resigned to it all. :)
OOOh those Chicago screws! They are so handy and then, poof! Stuff like this happens. Rusty doesnt seem to be bothered by much - what a dandy!
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