Trina in Vermont
----- Original Message -----
From: sassyme808
To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 11:29 AM
Subject: [haflingerfriends] Update on my journey with Charlie
Happy Saturday! I haven't given an update for quite awhile, so I thought I would let you know of our progress. I use the term "our" because Charlie and I are on a journey together, to meet in the middle, where we can finally become riding partners. A few weeks ago the trainer kindly had a heart to heart to talk with me and my DH about the future of me and Charlie. After working with Charlie for 60 days, and me on lessons with his horse for a couple of months his conclusion was that Charlie would make a wonderful horse for someone younger and much more experienced, but not for me. He was afraid that a tremdous spook from Charlie would send me flying again, where a younger rider would have a better chance of riding one out. I was devastated. I had sleepless nights, and lots of tears, had a tough time concentrating at work, etc. The trainer and the barn owner both offered to help me sell Charlie and find a confidence builder horse for me. (I can't afford two horses at this time.) I set my heels. Charlie's not going anywhere. He and I are bonded, and that's that. Just running my hands over his coat and smelling his horsey smell melts away any stress that I have, and I've never met a sweeter, kinder horse. Plan B. I went on a search for the perfect person to put some miles on Charlie for me. I found a sweet 19 year old college student, experienced rider, fearless, and in need of a horsey fix. I paid for her to have a session with Charlie and the trainer, and it went really well. She's been riding him in the arena about twice a week for the last few weeks. She puts in about two hours at a time, and Charlie is getting mellower and mellower under saddle. He's had nary a spook, even with dogs barking, tractors scooping gravel, and an air compressor with nail gun at work right next to the arena! He has a tremendous work ethic, and stays at a trot until he's asked to walk. He remembers all of his training, and collects, stops and backs very nicely. (The trainer is a pro-reiner.) I have worked really hard in my lessons, and the trainer is really happy and surprised at my progress. I'm trotting tightly around barrels, trotting down the rail and doing roll-backs, side-passing, and everything but loping. That's coming soon, as soon as he sees that I'm not showing any signs of the nervous hunching over the horn that I still do at odd times. He admitted the other day that if I continue in the same manner, and Charlie gets lots of miles on him with his new rider, that he thinks Charlie and I will be suitable to partner up in a few months! I gave him my word that I wouldn't hop on Charlie until he's certain that it will go well, because we both know that if my confidence is broken again, that would probably be the end of my riding dreams. Meanwhile, in between lessons on the reiner's wonderful horse, I've been riding a mare who's owners gave her up to the barn owner because they could no longer afford board. She's grumpy and lazy, and makes me work to get her to work, but it's good practice. I'll update again later.
Marlene (stubborn as a mule) in Oregon
and Charlie (who's stuck with me!)
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