This morning I took Zelador up to the arena. No saddle, no bridle, just figured we’d play around a bit. He had a lesson scheduled with Christi at 1:00 and I just wanted him to loosen up.

Allen Pogue says, “Never underestimate the importance of walking your horse around your work area before you start.” I follow this advice religiously. Yesterday I started my walk and noticed an oddly shaped leaf on the floor. I got closer and realized it was a turtle (six inches long). I fetched a plastic shavings fork and relocated him outside the building. Today I paid close attention to anything that seemed a bit different on the floor. But there were no surprises.

Zelador and I enjoyed our walk. I turned on the radio and decided to ride him bareback. I’ve never done this with him. My first challenge was to get on this sixteen plus hand high horse. I’d taken off Zelador’s halter when we entered the arena and decided to leave it off for this first ride.

I called him over to the tall pedestal (18 inches high), stepped up on it and attempted to position him so I could ease onto his broad back. Zelador stepped up onto the pedestal beside me. Harrumph! I jumped off and got him off. I tried again. Within seconds of me getting on the pedestal, Zelador was up there, too. He quite liked this new game of mine! The fifth time I tried to outmaneuver him I placed the small portable mounting block on the tall pedestal. I figured I could step up on it and get onto his back with no problem. WRONG! He climbed up, saw the small mounting block, realized there was no room for him, me and it and somehow was able to place his feet on the pedestal without knocking the block off. I got down, he got down and I rescued the mounting block.

Double Harrumph!

I abandoned that approach, fetched the halter, tied the lead rope to both sides and led him to the low platform. Up he went. I regrouped and started screeching. Every horse on the farm could hear me. Too bad I’m not an animal communicator! However, the rest of the farm must have “spoken” to Zelador. Something along the lines of, “O.K. Zelador, you’ve had quite a bit of fun. It’s time to stop teasing Winnie! Just stand where she tells you to stand.”

I placed the portable mounting block on the low platform, led Zelador to the edge and he stood like a statue. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. The boy was a saint. He stood quietly while I got my leg up on his back. He didn’t flick an ear. I took this as a positive sign and slid onto him. Instead of wiggling and shifting his weight in an attempt to get used to this new feeling, he waited patiently for me to tell him when to move. I asked for a walk. He walked. After a few turns we stopped and I slid off. Zelador had never been ridden with a halter to guide him and only one other person rode him bareback. For that lady he was very energetic and she said, “Whoa!” quite a few times.

On October 25th every person and horse at Winsong Farm is going to be in a “show”. For ONCE we’re having a get-together in NICE weather (we’ll also have one during our traditional time… February…). Bill’s working with Kye. He’s introducing him to a yellow hula-hoop which is placed over Kye’s head and used to steer him. Bill will be riding in the bare-back riding pad which both he and Kye love (with any luck we won’t be dialing 911 during their performance). Today he rode with the Bitless bridle and bareback pad. Bill and Kye did a three-loop serpentine at the canter with flying changes on the centerline. Horse and rider were as smooth as silk. (Bill started riding when he was forty-five years old.)

Sophie will jump with Blue. Allen will ride Kye in Working Equitation. If the weather cooperates Randy will ride Mudpuddle (a Thoroughbred racehorse) outside in one of the large paddocks. It’s a thrill to watch that beautiful horse almost FLYLING! Airosa, Socs, Pax, Picasso, Robin, Dart and Denali will show tricks with Z and Z finishing things off at liberty. Both boys love cantering around me together, totally free. With any luck I can keep Zeloso focused on ME and deter him from nibbling on Zelador’s rump. Z and Z love coming into the centre when I call them. They’re beautiful and seem to delight in halting with a flourish… about two feet in front of me.

We’re charging for this “show” and every penny goes to the OSPCA.