Back in the Saddle

[fantasykiger]

It is just fabulous and inspring to see you riding Amigo, to those of us who have been frightned by our beloved horse. Yet given time and circumstances we can one day ride again and be the riding partners we always hoped for.

[pepper]

Thanks for the encouraging words.
Having a mustang enter my life at this late date has caused me to think a lot about my relationship to equines.Having one breed that has spent hundreds of years actually living in the same dwelling as their humans(my arab) and another who's ancesters for generations feared humans & had as little interaction as possible(Amigo,the kiger)..well let's say it's "interesting".He reminds me everyday that he is "wild" and it's his choice that we are friends & partners.It's humbling & inspiring. He would have been an amazing wild herd stallion..but his fate is to trot 20 meter circles...please forgive me Migo..and have another carrot!

[DianneC]

Anything for carrots and scritches!

[pepper]

Today I tried on his breastplate that he wore in 2006 for the endurance race..hummmm..even though it's way too big for my arab & is concidered a "large horse" size,it looked like his little brother's stuff! Didn't realize he'd grown so much but guess I'll have to have a custom one made...oh yeh..he's entered in the same,30 mile race he did 4 yrs ago.It's on the 25th of this month.Should be interesting.He's still barefoot so I had to get permission from ride manager to enter.From pasture potatoe to endurance horse in 3 months......we'll see ??!!

[DianneC]

He'll be with you and you will take care of each other and have fun, that's real joy.

[lindad]

I'm guessing that he will probably do well or you wouldn't enter him. He is mature, big and strong. That is a short period of time to train, but the weather will be cooler and after all he is a Kiger. Wish you well and anticipate hearing some interesting stories.

[pepper]

I plan to take it slow..will leave after the racers like we did first time around.He did it in just under 6 hours last time & we have a total of 7 hours to complete.Today he trotted a mile & a half uphill & recovered to a pulse of 60 in 3 minutes.This pic is us at the race 4 yrs ago & he has on that breast plate that now barely fits over his head!
And after a cooler than average summer we've finally gotten some heat here in Northern California which will be hard on such a large bodied critter..so I'll have to watch him .Tough ride with lots of hills but also shade from lg redwoods.

[fantasykiger]

This is very exciting news I wish you both the best of luck. After 4 yrs old I don't think we watch so closely for growth of our horses, when you see them everyday and they can surprise us. That is until you try on like you mentioned, a breast collar they used to wear.

[pepper]

The race went well and though we didn't finish all 30 miles I'm very happy that we made it there at all! If anyone had told me 6 months ago I'd be riding Amigo at an endurance race I'd have thought they were NUTS!!I left 15 min after the start hoping eventually to catch up to another horse so he'd have company on the trail but we did the entire first loop,15 miles all alone in exactly 3 hours.Tough trail with lots of climbing & rocky in places so we went slow due to his level of conditioning & bare feet.He did everything I asked of him & was all A's on his vet card at check but I was afraid we would finish OT (with holds we had 61/2 hrs to do the 30 miles) so opted to pull us there where we could get a trailer ride back to camp.He was not happy being tied to the trailer so much & learned to trot in circles at the end of his High Tie...probably did as many miles in camp as on the trail!!
We obviously have work to do but he sure made an impression at the ride..one person said he looked "like he should be in the Olympics!?"& he definitely was the biggest horse there..
unfortunately didn't get any photos....the photographer left the site early & missed a few of us slow pokes..oh well.next time!

[DianneC]

Yeah! I love the "did everything I asked of him part"! Sounds like he liked it a lot!

[pepper]

Well...I wouldn't say he "liked it' in fact one reason I stopped half way is cause I didn't think I could catch up to another horse & Amigo really does NOT like being out on the trail alone.I was afaid he might hate me if I made him do another 15 miles alone & I really did want him to enjoy himself a little?!!It was a breakthrough that he agreed to keep going even though there was little to motivate him..hot steep,rocky trail with no known end in site vs campsite with unlimited hay,yummy mash ,water & treats,not to mention other horses....a no brainer but he traveled on cause I told him to so I'm happy he agreed.There's hope ! :>)

[lindad]

I'd say that was a very successful ride, especially under the circumstances for a first time on an endurance ride after such a long lay off. You seem to be a wise rider, and ended on a good note! Congrats.

[Jackie]

Yes, congrats!

[fantasykiger]

I got to say he is a BIG boy that Amigo' and it is great you two are back together. I agree about cutting it short while they still like you and still want more of the trail.
First time out it sounds like you did great no refusals or balking and it sounds like you didn't expereince any real anxiety, just concern. A complete success ;D

[pepper]

Actually there was balking & even spooking to contend with but it was pretty funny and we overcame it...at the very first fork in the trail(1 mile from camp) there were lg white arrows in dolomite pointing the way & he just FROZE!!Took some persuasion to get him to pass them..leg yielding,circles etc...and from then on he stopped looked HARD at each arrow ..and there were lots of them along the way..by the end he was insisting on going right up to the arrows & sniffing them..even rubbing his nose in them till he ended up at the vet check with a white spot on his face like he'd been eating sugar donuts!
And yeh.he's very big which is why I've had adifficult time justifying keeping him but for now we're a team.Would have been easier if he were typical kiger size but ...there it is....mooseman !