The summer is Fun Ride season. Every weekend organised rides across open countryside are open to all who wish to join. They are truly FUN rides.
Normally the Horse and I go to these with dad on the best friend. One very wet ride began this way (it’s the UK, of course it rained). We were quickly joined by two lovely ladies on very nice mares. Four young horses riding as a herd. Just how horse life should be.
Many new situations are encountered on a fun ride, but with ladies there to impress, The Horse was trying extra hard to be brave.
Several gateways were questioned.
“Is this the way?” A mare asks.
“My human says yes! Let me lead the way m’am.” the Horse strides forwards, intent on crossing the questionable threshold… And skids to a halt. “You know what, maybe you’re right. Mares know best and all that.”
“Horse, walk on.” I try to encourage him.
“Oh, OK…” the Horse tiptoes through.
After some time leading the Horse began to loose his nerve.
“Friend! My bestest of best friends, where are you?!” the Horse tried to stop several times between twitches at invisible hedge monsters.
“I might need back up here!” I call out. But of course, dad would not be so nice as to come up front with the friend.
“There is DEFINITELY a thing in that hedge!”
“No there isn’t Horse, you’re being silly.”
“Look, LOOK! That leaf moved! There’s-a-monster-in-there-and-it’s-going-to-eat-me!”
“You do realise that rain makes things move Horse…?”
After skirting the edges of a few slippery, freshly cropped fields, we entered a nice open slope of grass. Everybody rode side-by-side, immediately both calming and exciting the Horse.
“Can we canter now? I like this field, let me show The Ladies how I canter!”
I throw the suggestion to my companions and with agreement all around the Horse is quick to show how big he can canter by staying just in front of everybody.
“Look at me too! Look how I pound the floor with my hooves!” The friend was starting to show off too.
The ride continued with calming, sociable walks and intermittent canters that the Horse and his friend used to show off.
We eventually reached the splitting point; do we take the longer route, or take the shorter one back to the start point? The Horse and his best friend are reasonably fit – on flat ground. This terrain on the other hand was pushing their bodies to work more than average. Dad and I decided it was time to end the fun while it was still fun. The two ladies and their mares chose to continue further.
“Where are they going?! Where are we going?!”
“Home, Horse.”
“But The Ladies! I still have more to show them!”
“Not today, Horse.”
The Horse cried out to them, a quick farewell to the mares, his best friend peering at their disappearing bums.
We rode out of site.
…
“Oh BOY am I tired!”
“Right…” The friend agreed. Both of them stretch their necks, noses reaching to the ground as we walk.
“I’m not sure I can make it up this hill. I’m sure it’s too high.”
“No way, Horse. Not even a canter will get me up there.”
“So true friend. I think I’ll crawl.”
“Showing off is hard work!”
“So hard…”
“Are we home yet?”
“Nearly there, Horse.” I reassure while dad does the same for the friend.
Apparently the best source of energy for any young horse is the presence of ladies to impress. Human or horse it would seem that the same rules apply.