Turk was an amazing horse that could work under English or Western tack, and he won Best of Show at the Michigan State Fair the year after I sold him.
My second horse was Buck, named so because he did like to buck people off. I got him as a green-broke horse when I was pregnant for our third child. For a few weeks I worked with him on the ground and could even put the kids on his back and lead them around, so I thought he was ready for someone to mount him. My husband preferred that I not do that, for obvious reasons, so he volunteered. Buck promptly bucked my husband off, much to the delight of the kids. "Oh, look, Daddy's a rodeo cowboy."
My husband was far from delighted, and even more so when a seasoned horse-woman caught Buck, led him to my husband and said. "Get back on."
I didn't hear my husband's response, but I'm sure it is not printable here. The woman said, "If you don't get back on, the horse won. You never want to let the horse win."
So my husband did get back on and let the woman lead him around just long enough to show the horse who was boss.
I had a similar experience when I first got Banjo. The first time I rode him, he was fine, but the second time I mounted him, he decided to rear. He went straight up, and for a moment I thought we were going over backwards. Luckily my daughter was there, and she was able to grab the horse as he came down and hold him until my nerves settled down.
My impulse was to bail. After all I am a lot older now than when I used to like to ride horses that gave you a little rodeo before they settled down. Those horses always had a lot of spirit, but I am too old to risk any more broken bones.
Still, I remembered what that woman told my husband those many years ago. So I had my daughter lead us around. Then I called a trainer who worked with the horse and with me until I could show Banjo who is boss. He still thinks he is, but I know better.
7 comments:
What a sweet looking horse!
Happy second week of AtoZ!
Pretty horse. Never been on one that bucked, but I had one take off on me across a field. Fortunately, I managed to hang on.
I love horses...mostly photographing and filmming them. I've only ridden a couple of times and enjoyed it, but it was kind of scary. They are the most beautiful animal in the world. Here in Wyoming we see them every day. It's wonderful!
Hi Maryann. I can understand your love of horses. I have had horses all my life and I can't imagine life without at least one now.
Great post and Banjo is absolutely stunning!
Wow, you are a brave woman, Maryann. I've always loved to look at horses and I follow horse racing. My uncle used to own a stable, and when my cousin and I were about six years old he got a pony cart. We were happily riding in it when a bee stung the pony and he took off. That ended any desire either of us had for riding horses.
Nice post. Happy A to Z!
Monti
What a beauty he is! I've done some tourist horseback riding, but I never got the "horse bug". Maybe because we never had room or money for one, maybe because they're so scary BIG. :)
Marian Allen
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Thanks all for stopping by. Marian, before moving here, we never had room for horses, so both of my other ones were boarded. That was expensive, and I did not get to see the horses every day. I love being able to go out in the morning and have Banjo come to the fence and nicker at me.
Monti, that had to be scary to have the horse run away with the cart, especially since you were so young.
Denise, I noticed in your profile that you are a horse lover.
L. Dianne, I've had horses run away with me, too. Not as much fun now as when I was younger.
Karen, so sorry you were never able to get a horse.
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