Wonder Horse Unleashed

Photo by Ty Holland

I rode Apache during the riding school last night. I haven't been doing much work with him lately since I've other horse projects to work on. It seems I'm only able to ride him about once per week.

Last night's riding school lesson was a fun one. We've been working on lead changes, so we set up the plastic barrels in a straight line about ten paces apart and had the students ride a pole bending pattern. I also set up a cone box in which the students had to stop their horse at the end of the barrel course. It gives the students a chance to practice lead changing cues at a gallop and then learn how to stop their horse from a gallop in a limited space. It is pretty fun.

I went through the pattern twice on Apache to show them how to do it and the Wonder Horse was nearly perfect. He missed one of the lead changes but otherwise glided through the pattern effortlessly without dropping out of a canter. After all the students had gone through on their mounts at various gaits until they could do it at a canter, I had them switch horses so they could feel what it was like on a different mount. Changing mounts is a good way to learn as the rider has to consider the way each horse moves and responds to cues.

I offered up Apache to the two assistant instructors who both gave him a try. Of course, Apache doesn't like anything new, and apparently that includes other riders. He made it known to the other riders that he wasn't happy with this new development. He didn't do anything particularly bad, he just wouldn't perform the way he was supposed to. He engaged in a little crow hopping at first but eventually became more and more agitated until that was pretty much all he was doing. I took him back before things got out of hand and stroked his nose until he calmed down and stopped hyperventilating. It's good for Apache to work with other riders once in a while but there's no sense in pushing it. Once he starts getting agitated it is just best to dismount and calm him down.