Re: a few observations from a training ride (BRAG)

["Celia Krall" <celiak@pcrs.net>]

You two have a great list of accomplishments.  It's really good that you
can list each of the positive steps you've made, together.  Happy trails!

----------
From: Sarah McIntosh <smcintos@rapidnet.net>
To: ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Subject: RC:  a few observations from a training ride (BRAG)
Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 12:59 PM

Hi:

I had such a great ride yesterday; Saffire and I were enjoying ourselves so
much I thought I would share it with you guys.

Saturday was pouring rain, so I stayed home and hoped for better weather
sunday.  Sure enough, Sunday was  much better, clear and cool. Yeeehaaw. 
Went to the barn and off we went.

Just for background, Saffy and I have only been together since last April. 
Before that, Saffy was a unused pasture ornament for the last 4 years.  I
got her for free as the owners had left her unused for too long, plus she
had had a BAD trailer accident.    Saffy had a LOT of attitude which needed
to be redirected into positive behaviour.   Saffy and I worked together and
gradually her behaviour improved.  It's funny how as you're going along,
you note the accomplishment and then move on to the next goal.  

As we were riding yesterday, with 3 other people and four horses,  I
suddenly realized the huge leaps we have made in the last 8 months:  

Old Saffy                                ** New Saffy
refused to trailer                        ** walks into 2 horse trailer
with me outside of trailer.
didn't stand for mounting            ** stands nicely for mounting
threw her head in the air            ** carries head in a nice steady level
way
didn't walk through water            **will walk through any kind of water
didn't drink on the trail                ** is a drinking fool at every
water stop
could not maintain steady pace       ** maintains even pace (most of the
time)
could not trot down road                ** pretty much understands to go
straight ahead
    without wandering left-right             until I say otherwise
no experience neck reining            ** has picked up basic neckreining
never been highlined or hobbled        ** hobbles and highlines no problem
never been camping                        **  camps like an old hand
never been trail riding                    ** goes down the trail like pro
only comfortable following            ** leads the ride quite happily
never done an endurance ride        ** successfully completed  23 mile LD
in good form

Anyways, as you can see I am VERY PROUD of my girl and we are very good
friends.  She nickers everytime she sees me and she trusts me.  I trust her
too.  She is so smart it makes our outings really fun.  

Yesterday, right at the start of our ride, something unusal happened.  A
big scary loud Helicopter flew right overhead (low) and circled and came
back over us.  Saffy was scared but did not spook, boy was i grateful. 
Saffy was so good while riding (about 4 hours slow speed up and down the
mountain) that i wasn't expecting anything from her on the way home.  She
thought she would wake me up as we were cantering down the road towards
home and started bucking while cantering.  I said a sharp HEY! and a little
tug on one rein and she quit.  I guess 4 hours of LSD on the mountain is
not too difficult for her.  Once we get into spring we will start adding
speed and distance, not at the same time of course.

Sorry to ramble on the so long, but i wanted to share our accomplishments
thus far.

Happy trails,

Sarah & Saffire




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