Finally Back!

I haven't been able to play with Gambler in a week. First I made plans for the weekend, no big deal. But then I was sick and then I had homework. Everything seemed to be plotting against me! At long last I found my way back to the barn (and not a moment too soon).

Mom surprised me with a birthday present that I had asked for, but didn't really expect to receive. Wanna  know what it was? Here's a hint:

A new rope halter! I've been using a rope halter I purchased at Fleet Farm years before I knew Gambler existed. It has worked well enough up to this point, but the quality isn't fantastic and it doesn't fit Gambler.

Case and Point.

The Parelli website had sizing instructions, but I found them tedious and confusing so we ordered two sizes: Arab and Regular. I already have a Parelli halter in the Pony/Weanling size and Draft size, but obviously neither of those fit Gambler at all. 

Funny story I have to stick in here - Gambler and I were in the arena. I was grooming him before I tried the new halters so that they wouldn't get dirty if we wanted to replace them. He was more fussy about his feet than usual, so I looked around for something spooky. What I saw was Kezi gracefully meandering out of sight into a far pasture. Immediately I was on high alert. Mom was out of sight and ear shot with Sweetheart. Gambler was on the 12' line. There was no way I could get the gate open and let him go if he freaked. But then I looked at Gambler. He watched Kezi with an unconcerned look on his face, then he licked and chewed, and bumped me with his nose.

 I was surprised to say the least, but I figured that any minute he would notice she was leaving and freak. So I showed him the new halter. I took his old halter off and tried the Arab one. It was a little too small, so I removed it and left him loose in the ring while I grabbed the Regular size from the vehicle. Just as I got back Gambler threw his head in the air and I heard thundering hooves as Kezi galloped back toward us. I was expecting Gambler to run. He wasn't even wearing a halter! But I stroked his shoulder and said "easy" and he just stood there. Apparently somebody missed me. I should disappear for a week more often.

After all of that excitement, I finally tried the Regular halter. It is a tad big, but not nearly as big as the old halter. I left the halter on him without attaching the 12' line and wandered around the arena trying to get pictures. It wasn't official playing at liberty, because I didn't ask him to do anything, but he followed me like a puppy dog anyway.

Gambler shed out a lot while I was gone and his dapples are totally different.

Then we had to try it out. 

Drawing Gambler into the circle.

Asking Gambler to back.

He has been using his neck better lately, not flinging it up as much.

Hindquarter yield.

Then I took his halter off again and took more pictures.

Aaaaachooo!

Aaaaachoooo!

Random artistic shot.

Buddies

Ninja (Sixteenth Ride)

Gambler and I had another exciting first today!

Playing the porcupine game to disengage his hindquarters.

Playing the circling game over a low cross-rail.

Longeing over jump standards is a pain, but Gambler loves to jump so I'll survive. :P Hopefully I'll be riding over them some day soon.

Since Gambler was jumping calmly instead of being a crazy critter like last time, I upped the height. 

Then I put the saddle on Gambler for the first time in a week or so. I tried a different saddle pad, which I think fits the saddle and Gambler's back better.

We played the circling game under the trees.

Then we played one of Gambler's favorite games, where I ask him to make half-circles, switching direction half way through each circle. Usually he jumps into a canter with each change of direction, but today he was worn out. Earlier Marguerite had ridden Kezi and Gambler spent at least half an hour running around the pasture.

That's more like it!

Because Gambler was so calm and worn out from his earlier exercise, I decided to ride him. Throughout our session he didn't buck with the saddle at all. I lowered the jump to a cross-rail again and sent him over it with the saddle. When even a jump didn't cause Gambler to buck, I mounted up. I still had Mom holding the longe line, and I had gaming reins attached to the halter. 

At first we just walked around the circle and changing directions and halting now and then. Gambler is definitely starting to relax and listen to the riders cues. Once I felt him relax I asked for the trot. For a few steps (about a quarter of a circle) he trotted without and issue. Then he bucked a little. I pushed him forward. Then he bucked a lot. I don't remember much, and what I do remember is in slo-mo (because that's how the mind works when adrenaline is rushing through your system), but I tried to pull him into a one-rein stop. I lost my hold on the reins and fell backward out of the saddle onto his butt and then landed on my feet behind him. 

After giving myself a once-over to make sure that nothing hurt in a dangerous way, I took the longe line from Mom and told Gambler to canter for several circles, changing directions often. I don't want him to learn that bucking means less work. Then I mounted up again. I didn't trot, because the bucking is an issue that only comes up at the trot and I need to form a game plan. I don't think rushing into battle without a plan is a good idea. But I'll have a post about that soon. 

I talked to Mom afterwards and she said that Gambler bucked and I came forward on the saddle, then he reared and spun, going one direction while I went the other. It sounds pretty much like all the bucking fits I've seen him have on the ground. My only injuries are a small bruise on my thigh from the saddle and a blood blister/rope burn on one of my fingers. 

Mom and I have been worried that something like this would happen and it would destroy Gambler's and my confidence. I would argue that it has just strengthened it. Like the first spook under saddle, the first fall is bound to happen, especially with a green horse. Now that it's over with, I feel that I will be able to ride more confidently in the future. 

And can we just take a moment to dwell on the fact that I landed on my feet!