Master and Commander

Speaking of thoroughbreds of the future, or rather, speaking of Buck.....

I thought I'd talk about how I learned what a lead change felt like which has everything to do with Buck, the school horse, but then I realized I should just explain the horse and the lead change bit will make sense later.

Buck is a school horse teeming with personality.

That's the best word I can come up with to sum him up.  In case you've forgotten, this is Buck.

This is how he looks a great chunk of the time. Not a lesson day goes by where he doesn't try to bite me while he's crosstied.  He is a bona fide crabby guy. However, sometimes, on rare occasions when he's happy or you have an apple in your non-camera hand, he looks like this.

Before I go into the list of things Buck dislikes (which is long), I thought I'd go through the list of things Buck actually likes (which is short.)

Buck likes:

1. Treats, specifically apples, but regular treats will do
2. Beginners. When my coach first told me that Buck loved beginners, I did not believe her. Now, I've seen it with my own eyes and I'm a believer.  This cranky, bitey, fussy horse turns into a complete babysitter with a newbie on his back.  He trots over poles with his nose poked out, he lopes around without so much as swish of his tail. Little kids can cling to his neck or goose him in the ribs and he will patiently continue on, utterly unflappable.
3. Jumpers.  Like Eddie, Buck is a cranky school horse who was once somebody's jumper.  Also like Eddie, Buck loves to relive his jumper past.  As soon as the oxers get wider or the turns sharper, he starts to get excited.  He will charge boldly down to a jump, yank his knees up to his ears, and round his back so hard suddenly your nose is in his mane.  On the backside he will execute a 180 degree spin rollback to the next jump at the slightest cue. His little ears are permanently forward and you can almost hear him saying, "Now THIS is an appropriate use of my skills."

That's it for what Buck likes.  So, here's the list of things that make Buck cranky.

1. Grooming
2. Wearing a girth or having it tightened
3. Non-beginner riders
4. Going in a frame
5. Bending through corners
6. Being asked to go forward if he's feeling lazy
7. Corners again
8. Trailering
9. Having people jump on his neck
10. Getting told the wrong distance one too many times

The last two are pretty understandable (what horse would like that?) and he's usually pretty generous the first three or four times it happens.  After that, and especially if you commit more than one cardinal sin concurrently, all bets are off.

Although, there was that one time I borrowed Buck for a clinic and was assured that he hated loading, hated trailering and was horrible the first day in a new place.  He loaded first time, rode quietly, unloaded like a dream, and worked all weekend like a rock star.  He even did bending exercises! If I hadn't known any better, I would have sworn that he winked at me when I returned him home.  Just when you think you've got him pegged, he throws you for a loop. He is quite possibly a mastermind.

How does the mighty and noble Buck express his displeasure?  His ears will be flattened against his head, his tail will wring furiously, and he'll stark kicking in his lead changes with more and more gusto.  Yes, there's the lead change tie in.  Many a time I've let out a "oof!" as my body is flung slightly forward.  One time, I think I even heard my back crack.  I must say though, Buck has taught to sit a lead change well.  That's what a good school horse does, teaches you to ride without being dangerous.  So Buck, quirks and all, is really an excellent teacher.

Now I need to go to my lesson so I can give him the treats he knows he deserves.