I started the new year with a goal of participating in more ranch riding horse shows. It has been something I’ve wanted to do for a few years now; however life has gotten in the way. This year I’m determined to turn the page and get started on this goal.
In January, I started taking weekly lessons with a local trainer who specializes in ranch riding. I set up an obstacle course at home and practiced on the days in between the lessons. A local show was scheduled for the first weekend in February, so we made that horse show our first target.
I decided to ride my seasoned gelding Derbyas he has many more miles than my new mare. After not riding consistently for two years, I need to get back in the saddle again with a horse I know well. While Derby has many trail miles, his maneuvers needed some tuning up, plus there are some trail obstacles he has not been exposed to regularly.
The trainer and I got to work making sure he would do the basic ranch riding requirements of backing up and not hitting ground poles, side passing over and near objects, crossing a bridge with distractions around it and more. The first couple of lessons he was very obstinate and didn’t want to work that hard. By the final couple of lessons he was doing his maneuvers fine.
The week of the show I was feeling good. My horse was ready or as ready as he could be with some intense practice. The weather on show day was going to be nice, 65 degrees and sunny. Living in Southern California, riding during the winter, is something we enjoy. However, during the few cold, rainy and windy days I usually sit it out. After years of riding no matter what the conditions, I now ride when it’s a pleasant experience only!
At the show location Derby was a little excited. Not unusual as the grounds are filled with new things. Unknown horses, mules, pop-up tents, loudspeakers, baby strollers and two new obstacles that were not at the lessons, nor set up a home. However, I was confident he would settle down. He’s not a spooky horse and takes things in stride.
I hand-walked him around the grounds and through the trail course to expose him to everything. He calmed down so I tacked up and started warming up for our first class. The announcer called for the trail walk through with the judge and we headed over to the course. Derby was fine. All was going well.
Then the wind picked up and the two new scary objects, that a few minutes before he had walked by without a care – a small windmill and tee pee started to make noise. He lost it. I could not console him. He wouldn’t go near them. Started bucking and spinning away from them. He nearly hit the other competitors who were also there for the walk through. I could not believe it was the same horse. My horse. I dismounted and tried to get him to walk closer to the windmill which was at his eye level spinning and clanking. He snorted and exploded again, almost running me over. I walked him to the tee pee, which was only a few feet from the windmill and the flapping tarp that was the opening to the tent sent him spiraling even further.
At this point, it was getting closer to my first pattern class in another arena, so I made my way over there. He seemed to calm down once I got him away from the scary objects. I thought that maybe by the time it was my go in trail the wind would disappear and we could do our run.
Well, it wasn’t in the cards for us to show this day after all. The minute we got to the pattern class arena an advertising banner broke loose in the wind and that was it. With things flying around and making unfamiliar noises, there was no way my horse was going to calm down and be safe to ride let alone do these patterns. He was a keg of dynamite exploding at every turn. I had entered only four classes that were back-to-back in the morning. I needed to scratch for my safety and the safety of others.
My horse was not the only horse to have issues with the wind and obstacles on this day. However, the other horses were able to overcome the reactive side of their brains and get to work.
As disappointed as I was, my horse was not using the thinking side of his brain, so I needed to use mine.