Due to a number of health issues, The Horse was initially unable to gallop without experiencing pain. Unfortunately, he hid his pain so well that I was unaware of this issue until almost two years of owning him.
However, thanks to the wonderful work of my vet and farrier, The Horse is under repairs.
This summer The Horse and I went on a charity ride with his best friend. It was an area I knew well, primarily because I have seen both the hunt and point to point racing in the fields that the ride began in.
As we began our ride, other horses and their owners could be seen ahead and behind us. The Horse and his friend were very aware of this, and in an unknown field, in an unknown location, they were relying on the behaviour of these horses to determine what they should do.
“Do we walk here?”
“They’re trotting.”
“Yeah but we’re not there.”
“OMG look over there. Those horses are cantering!”
“Can we do that!?”
“Let’s canter!”
“Not yet, this bit is down hill.”
Getting to the bottom of the hill, The Horse and his friend were allowed to canter up the other side.
“Wheeeeeeee! Look at me GO! I’m going so… OMG what’s in that hedge?! …faaaaast!”
Some way along The Horse and his friend could see what everyone was doing next – gallop! They knew that bit of field had potential, but they waited for a signal.
“Are we going to gallop now?”
“Just walk, horse. We need to get to the bottom of the hill first. I don’t want you tripping.”
“Now can we go fast?”
“Ok, trot a bit.”
“Billy’s cantering! Can I?”
“Go on then.”
I lean low on The Horse’s back and hold tight with my legs.
“YAAAAAAAASSSSS!!!”
The Horse flies along the field at break neck speed, refusing to even consider slowing until the gate is in sight.
“That was so fast! I was fast wasn’t I? So fast. Zoom! Fast fast fast!” The Horse was buzzing with adrenaline and so was I.
“That was scary, horse. Fun, but scary.”
The rest of the ride was far calmer.