It actually wasn't raining when I got off work!! I rode Chrome a short way down the road (1.27 miles total and 30 minutes) bareback in his halter.... I might be crazy lol. Hubby hand walked Rocky with us. Both horses were perfect!
Chrome was very relaxed, but eager and forward. He walked out fast, both going to and away from home. The only time he hesitated (what I call balking, but is really just walking slow) was when we turned back to go home because he wanted to go see the horses that spooked them last time. I wasn't pushing my luck bareback though and kept him going toward home. I love how happy he is to go places. He loves going! He was an absolute dream today. It's days like this when I know he will be my perfect trail horse someday. :D
On the way out I heard something coming up the road that sounded like a tractor or a truck pulling a trailer. As it got closer I realized it was a Gator, but it had back seats and a long bed too. I haven't seen one like that. It was really cool. Chrome hasn't seen one either, but I wasn't too worried since he's great with tractors. I turned him to face it and waited. He watched it approach and luckily the guy slowed way down and then stopped to chat.
It was an older guy who is new to the area who lost his wife to cancer two years ago. I could tell he was lonely. He talked to us for a long time and eagerly greeted and pet Chrome. :) Eventually another car was coming and he had to keep going. I enjoyed the chat, but Chrome was getting impatient (he kept trying to turn and continue down the road away from home... love!) and I was glad to get moving again. Turns out the next car was neighbor girl B. She pulled up and said, "Well it's a good thing he's kind of broke!" I laughed!! It's true. I still think of him as really green, but I was riding him bareback in a halter on a road, in traffic, next to a Gator that he's never seen before. I was so proud of him!!
She chatted with us a second and fed both Chrome and Rocky a peppermint. I told her she is such a horse person, carrying peppermints in her car hehe. We finally were able to get going again.
His shoulders look so gross and weird because of where he's rubbed them
due to the sweet itch. The hair grows in a different color and he has scars... pout.
Just as we were turning back into the driveway someone yelled "Hey!" I looked around and spotted another neighbor coming toward us pushing a stroller. I decided to get off because Chrome has never seen a stroller and the neighbor horses across the street were headed our way. We stood and chatted for a while. Her baby got to pet Rocky, but I couldn't let Chrome get too close. He's too lippy, especially after having a peppermint. He showed off and flagged his tail when the neighbor horses galloped up, but he was really good... until he got impatient, but that's another story lol. I probably could have made him behave, but I used it as an excuse to cut the conversation short because some neighbors will talk for hours and we'd already been held up and it was getting late. There are only so many hours in a day after work and I had to cook supper, take a shower, do laundry and write this post.
In short, it was a great ride and made me so happy!! Yay for no rain! Tomorrow I probably won't get so lucky, but I'm just going to have to wait and see because I've gotten lucky so far. :)
P.S. Chrome did his smile and shaking his head no tricks perfectly for the neighbor. They were impressed hehe.
Ha, you think he's got scars and rubs and funny marks? You should see Griffin. He's royally disgusting lately due to his new perceived role as herd instigator of all playful things. I've never seen him so bitten up! And he's a grey paint at this point...grey and mud/grass stains. Very, very special! Chrome looks like a super model in comparison lol
ReplyDeleteLol!!! You cracked me up! Nothing like owning grays huh?
DeleteChrome is doing so well. That's one special green horse that will walk in a halter next to traffick. All those hours you've put into him are paying off!
ReplyDeleteThank you! He really is a good boy. He just had to get his spring sillies out I guess lol.
DeleteIt must have been nice weather with all those neighbors coming out of the woodwork. You were getting hit from all directions. Yeah, there's not much you can do except consider it a lesson for your horse in desensitization and patience. It is frustrating when you lose what little time you had to ride, though. I had several neighbors in NV who stopped me every time I rode to tell me their life stories for hours on end, so when I moved to AZ, I made a point of not getting to know most of the neighbors until I trusted that they were not the types to suck up my riding time. Hee hee.
ReplyDeleteIt is but they don't do it all the time so I can't be too annoyed with them lol. I can't even imagine how annoying that would be if it happened all the time! The weather actually wasn't that nice... But it was a break in the rain so I guess everyone was taking advantage of it.
DeleteI don't like stopping to talk to people, myself, but over the years a few of them have become good friends--in fact, that's how I met my significant other, Kevin.
ReplyDeleteWill I'm glad you stopped for Kevin hehe!!!
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