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| Maples in full color at Prodigue Farm, Rochester NH |
The warm weather has made hunting my horse these past few weeks a wicked drag. For both of us. I don't blame her. I never blame her, she can't help being a Friesian, but the last hunt we came home from had me thinking again "why the heck do I do this with this horse", which is never a good place for me to be.
It's been warm and humid. Warm and humid means the heavy coated, thick skined, deep veined Friesian horse can't cool down. Which means after the first few runs we must back off the galloping (from first to second and even joining the hilltoppers on occasion!) and slow down.
Yay. I work my ass off, get up early on the weekends, spend gobs of money on gas getting to the hunts and time out of my busy schedule so I can what, gallop for a few minutes and spend the rest of the time watching everyone else galloping and jumping and having a blast? Yeah, not cool. It's started another case of the OTTB's.
They're everywhere. CANTER, Finger Lakes Finest.....and in the hunt field. They're fast, capable, did I mention fast? The finish a hunt as fresh as they start, barely breaking a sweat. It's a dangerous place for me to go, in my head, when I start wishing I had one of those instead of a Friesian. I don't like it there. I love Daatje, dearly, but sometimes it is painfully evident that what I try to do with her is only half as enjoyable as it would be on a more suitable horse.
The past few hunts have been those sometimes.
I don't like "dumbing down" my expecations. I don't like feeling held back by my mount. Sigh. I always will, for as long as she lives, feel held back by her breed and the limitations that come with it.
Daatje loves to hunt, but I feel her frustration level rise too, when her body is done but her mind wants to keep going. I even sense her anticipation of the discomfort she experiences on the more humid hunting days.
Sorry for the dump of Debbie-downer-ness, but I had to get that off my chest.
Tribulations of riding a Friesian aside, we have had some really nice photos taken of us lately, thanks to the kindness of Eric Schneider. :)
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| Mmmm, cider. |
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| A beautiful photo from last Saturday's hunt at Prodigue Farm, Rochester, NH |
I promise to make every effort to stave off the case of the OTTB's, keep the expectations down to Daatje's comfort level and just try to have a good time out with my horse. Jealousy be damned, if I keep this up I'll go mad, or try to sell her again, which will also make me go mad.
Where'd I put my flask again? I could use a swig or ten......
Awwww she can come stay with me!!!!!!! I like nice slow trail rides and I don't ride when it's too hot or cold lol. She is so gorgeous. I love all of the pictures. Especially the first galloping one.
ReplyDeleteYou sound perfect for each other! :) Thanks, I do love the photos and I love Daatje too, it's why I still have her. Just feeling the jealousy lately, that's all. :)
DeleteWe are all jealous at times! I'm jealous of my friends who are getting to take dressage lessons while I can't, so I totally understand. :)
DeleteP.S. I hope the weather turns nicer so you can enjoy yourself more. Hang in there! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteIt's looking that way! Supposed to be 60°F on Saturday this week and not getting out of the 50's the next. Perfect for her. :)
DeleteI know the feeling - they have that short burst of energy and it's done. I've felt those limitations with my kids. It doesn't matter how fit they are.... Sigh...
ReplyDeleteI often say the fittest Friesian in the world is still less fit than a TB sitting out in the paddock! :P
DeleteIt's hard to realize that your horse has limitations and that you're holding each other back. But when you love them so much, as you clearly do, just being able to spend time with them doing what you both love is enough. We've all had ones that we wish we could have just one more moment with but can't.
ReplyDeleteWhat has me so puzzled is I realized she wasn't going to meet my needs about 6-7 years ago. Why the heck is she still in my barn? A practical person would have sold her and purchased something that would take them where they want to go. For me, that is capably jumping 4' and galloping the runs at 30+ mph. A bold horse that could also compete in eventing wouldn't hurt either. Daatje will never be that horse because she is a Friesian. The bond we have is so special, one in a million. But it's that bond that has kept me from doing the practical thing and moving on to a more suitable mount. I love her but resent my inabillity to either a) sell her or b) get a second mount. I usually am pretty good at burying the resentment in the love, but it came out in full force last week!
DeleteWinter is coming which means solitary rides on the weekends in our quite woods. That quiet time alone together, without the influence of my peers, usually brings back the love. :) She is the safest, sanest horse a person could ever sit on. I do appreciate going out for a hack alone, knowing I'll most likely come back in one piece. :)
You could always start riding and hunting side saddle. That would add challenge to your ride :)
ReplyDelete