Risky business

So.

Last week I asked the resident instructor (for now, read below for that shit storm) ... if she had time to give Hampton a trace clip. She said sure. (I don't have body clippers and really don't have the time to do it at the moment ... and I'm lazy)

On Monday I get a text that said "Your horse is a fruit loop when you turn clippers on. I'll have to tranq him. I'll try again later this week."

Ok, so he has never heard actual body clippers before so I figured he was probably just startled by the noise. Plus an unfamiliar person. Sometimes he CAN and DOES still act 5 years old.

So today I go out to ride.

I go to put the saddle pad on like I have been for 3 years. Hampton freaks out, pulls backward and snaps the baling twine tie I have. He snorts and prances around me like I have the saddle pad of DEATH. Which he has NEVER done, EVEN AS A 2 YEAR OLD WHO WAS NOT BROKE TO RIDE.

Weird. He finally settled and licked and chewed and I tacked up and rode him up to the arena.

Well I get to the corner where you have to walk past the barn to get to the arena and he stops dead. Neck tense. Snorting. Balking.

WTF?!

I ask him to go forward. He backs up. I keep tapping with my legs. He doesn't throw a major tantrum, but he did rear once (not really that high but VERY unlike him) and also gave his trademark "sit on THIS lady!" buck that he will do when he balks.

I finally get him to walk up to the barn and I dismount. More snorting. Very very nervous. For those that know Hampton, this is VERY unlike him - even when he is fresh and has the stupids.
At this point I realize that his poor brain has just had enough. I take him to the ring and lunge him where he proceeds to gallop, cross canter, snort and buck for a good 15 minutes.

I rode for another 25 minutes or so and mostly did lateral work. He was still tense, but obedient and didn't do anything naughty. It was a bit busy at the farm with tractors and some gardening going on ... but things like that don't normally set him off.

A case of the fall stupids? Or ...?????

Tomorrow it's back in side reins for him. I am hoping today was just a case of freshness.

This weekend I should probably jump him. Although it's supposed to be wet and cold. Wah.



Someone had a flame up their butt ....



In other news:
There's been some barn drama in the past week.
The "house" instructor was evicted. Remember that "perfect" barn I looked at a while ago? The one that is 30 minutes away but otherwise wonderful?

Well the instructor and about 10-12 of her minions current students are moving there Nov. 1. A mass exodus I tell you! :)

I think I'm going to stay put.

I've always done my own thing anyway. :)

And some new opportunities are opening up. Stay tuned!