Subject: Endurance Thrills / Behavior

[Kimberly Price <PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com>]

Hi Lori,

  I enjoyed your post.  My guy seems to love to act up, especially with
me, especially since he is out in pasture and knows the wild life, but
once we hit the trail he is pretty good.
Hi Lori, 
 I've been riding someone else's horse who  share pasture with his
riding buddies, and this new guy is definately becoming more competitive
with his pasture mates as he tries to climb the ladder a little. 
Unfortunately (for him), we do not tolerate this behavior under saddle. 
Fortunately (for us), we try to refocus it to being competitive under
control, meaning feed the desire to compete, but also set boundaries as
to who is issuing the orders including the one "let the other guys go
first at this time".  Make sense?
  It always amazes me how these horses KNOW who is at the top or bottom
of the heap.  My guy is a strong character, and not very nice to other
horses (I must keep that under control at all times...).  He HATES
horses he feels are at the bottom of the pecking order and respects
horses close to his pecking order.  We tie side by side Mystery and
Jihan who is also a "higher" guy, and the two will threaten and
stalemate, no kicks, then settle down.  But a lower horse who wouldn't
threaten back would be beat up in no time and can't be tied beside him. 
But he doesn't live with them..how does he know!?  He also reminds me of
a small child...misbehaves for mom, perfect for a strange rider.  My
roommate (afraid of horses), was leading him out of pasture through mud
and he was sooo careful not to step on her even though she was leading
him wrong and walking too slow.  It was like he KNEW not to spook her.
Aren't they amazing?

Kimberly (&Mystery the Morab...."well yeah, cause she just gives me
carrots and doesn't ride me!! Get the hint?")
Pt.Reyes, CA
  

Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 23:25:39 -0500
From: "Lori & Roger Sumrall" <sumralls@gateway.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>

The question was:  What gives you the biggest thrill at an endurance
ride?
        The answer to this for me is the complete metamorphosis that my
horse
experiences.  Just recently I attempted my first ride in two years
because
I've just had a child.  During my conditioning rides in the last several
months, my almost 10-year-old Arab gelding, Merx, has just acted like a
pain in the neck (even on unfamiliar trails).  He wouldn't listen to me,
had to trot as fast as possible to pass all others on the trail, really
embarrassing stuff.
        I was thinking I had all these troubles with him to work
through, but then
I take him to this endurance ride and instantly he is Mr. Business.  He
pulled no crap on me, was a perfect gentleman at all times, listened to
me,
moved at the pace I chose.  It was just a complete transformation.  I
remembered during the ride that he'd always been Mr. Business at rides,
never even spooking at things because he just loves the whole process. 
He
knows what is required of him and is very serious about the business at
hand (we're not top tenners, just completers) (didn't complete this one,
though, pulled at 12 miles with a bruised heel).
        I don't know if others out there experience this kind of
phenomenon with
their mounts also.  But I must say that my biggest thrill in endurance
riding is the complete melding I experience with my horse.  He and I are
in
such harmony out there.  Life can't get any better than that!!!!  As I
said
to my companions on the trail that day, "This is what life is about!"  
        While I'm on this subject I'd like to ask a question about these
training
rides.  If I'm not just imagining things, it seemed as though he
misbehaved
the very worst on training rides at which his pasture mate was also
there. 
Merx was king of the pasture when he moved in.  For about nine months, a
four-year-old strong-headed gelding and he fought daily and now the
four-year-old is king of the pasture.  Could it be that Merx feels a
need
to outperform this other horse on the trail because of their pasture
relationship, or am I anthropomorphizing a little too much?  I've almost
felt like telling my buddy I'd rather not condition with her and her
horse
for this reason.  Let me know what you guys think if you've had
experience
with these things.  Thanks, Lori

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