Today I am feeling victorious. My little roan horse, that I have been riding pretty solidly for the summer, performed very well yesterday. We saddled up and went for a fairly long ride around a big loop near my home. We had the type of ride that I have been waiting for since I began riding him. Low key and without trouble. A big deal for this particular horse.

I have been working with and riding this horse for the better part of two years. Prior to that my wife Joanna had been riding him. She gladly turned him over to me after having to always ride on edge any time she dealt with him. He is fairly small in height but a strong powerful horse. He is the type of horse that you can ride hard one day and when you return again the next day he is fresh and ready to go. A horse that has a ton of go and plenty of power. Hills don't even slow him down.

We picked him up for Joanna from our neighbors. They had gotten this horse as a four year old from a horse sale. He turned out to be way too much horse for them being the novice riders that they were. Joanna really liked him and figured that her experience in working with horses would be enough to help advance him. After riding him for a time and making little headway, she felt a bit in over her head. This horse was pushy and would mentally check out in a hurry. A deadly combination.

The history on this horse is that he was started by a trainer back east. Pushed hard early and entered into several trail competitions. He was a product of the whip, jerk, and spur approach. To make matters even worse he was started, or quickly transitioned, to the hackamore. Resulting in him learning to push through the bridle and drop his head. Two elements that are neither recommended nor smiled upon. This horse had come to us with a deep sense of self preservation and a weariness toward the human. A picture perfect result of expecting too much out of a young horse.

I had no idea of the journey ahead of me as I began riding him. He has had some deep rooted issues that have not been easy to get past. Now don't get me wrong. To many he would have been a fine mount. He would go just about anywhere and had no issues about staying on course. Arena work was where he shined. Walk, trot, lope, were all willingly performed. The issue was that he always operated ahead of the rider. Slowing him or stopping needed be performed where hundreds of acres were available. Mentally he kind of did his own thing and he was quite herdbound.

I have been riding him and making progress on getting him with me. Some days he would check out early and others he could stay calm for extended periods. The trouble was that when he would "lose it," getting his mind back was a long drawn out process. Having him feel that he could trust me to not reprimand him has taken some time. His dislike of the human had kept him from wanting to be separated from the herd.

Through time and hours upon hours of waiting he is beginning to come around. I have also been focusing this summer engagement from behind. This I think has been quite helpful in advancing him. He had previously traveled primarily on his front end. Re-balancing him has helped to boost his confidence.

Our rides throughout the summer have not been far off from where I want him to be. Mostly we would get along well. Occasionally having him check back with me would result in his compliance. I always felt though, that there was trouble right under the surface. Until yesterday that is.

Yesterday was a ride that I have been waiting for. I finally felt a change in him. This could be the beginning of something huge. The pay-off for two years of diligent riding. Yes!

I am enough of a realist to know that this may not be the end of his trouble, but a huge victory none the less. Light at the end of the tunnel.

Here's to lasting changes.

Eric

Easton Horsemanship