So the bad news is.......... you ready? Are you sure? Ok I will tell you what it is,
I rode Ginger today, and I think it is almost time to retire her. I don't think I will be doing any mountain riding on her anymore. She is anywhere between 25 and 30. She is slowing down and her back legs seem to give out on her sometimes when we are riding. So I don't dare go any faster then a trot. When I was out today with her, I just got the feeling she was telling me, " I'm old and tired can we please go slow". I will still take her out around a bit just to keep her moving. Ginger has given me so much, I'm happy to let her spend the rest of her life just being loved. I have so many happy times with her. I went on a few dates on her with my husband. Had many many wonderful times with her up at Mona Pole riding with my cousin Candace. Ginger has had 3 beautiful babies, all were buckskin. I think she has had a good life. Hopeful I will have lots of time just to love her and baby her.
So now for the good news...... are you ready? Yesterday I was working with Zippity on the lunge line. She is a lazy horse doesn't want to go any faster then she has too, and she will fight you if you ask her to go faster. By the way I don't understand because she ends up working harder by fighting me, anyways back to yesterday. I was lunging her and she decide she would come at me when I would ask her to go faster. I cant have her running me over. So I took the lunge whip and and would whip it in front of me if she started to come at me, so that she would hit the whip and not me. After a few mins she started to listen to me and I got her to LOPE on the lunge line. I then put the rope around her neck and walk around she started to follow me, I couldn't believe it.
Today I went to work with her again, wondering what today was going to be like. Would I have to fight her again or would she just go?
I had her going at a lope both ways I couldn't believe it. I think I finally got the respect I have been wanting. I ended the work with Zippity with her just following me around without me holding onto the rope. I think I'm seeing hope here. This just might work out in the end.
You know, I understand, from talking to people in that stage of life, that retirement isn't really "bad news". They generally seem pretty happy with it. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear your making progress with Zippity. Congratulations! Tabby is soooo excited to come ride with you.
Nice to have the good to offset the bad. Ginger may be happy to go slow but she will miss the mountains that she loved to visit. You may have to show her pictures so she can pretend.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your posts I always think about you, as a little girl, and how you knew one day you would have a horse. I guess you knew all along how much they would improve your life and help you grow as an individual. It makes me so happy to see it all come to fruition. oh and I am guessing "unknown" is mom... am I right? Love ya and see you tonight!
ReplyDeleteoh and PLEASE, please, please turn off your word verification... its totally unnecessary.