Remembering How To Be A Horse Again

Zaz was restless today. His nerves shot up as soon as I turned him towards the track. I felt his whole body tense and he seemed suddenly uncertain.

I pulled him to a stop and he waited patiently, though he kept shifting his weight in anxiety.

My mind was already made up.
He wasn't going to go on the track. Not today, anyhow.

He's gotten so winded up from running in circles, he just needed to remember how to be a horse again.

Our last ride we had galloped through the fields and since then, Zaz had become quite relaxed in the round pen. His top line barely held any tension and he seemed excited when I put the saddle on his back.

Now, the tension returned at the pure sight of the track.

With a strong, steady pull on one rein, I redirected him towards the trails. In an instant, his body relaxed under me and his ears pricked forwards. I smiled and gave him a pat on his neck.

I gave him a nudge at his sides, he trotted forwards.

I decided to go for a different trail this time. My stables had several trails, some went through the fields, some up mountains, and one went by a near by lake.

The lake, I decided, would be good for today. Normally on windy days, I avoided it since around the lake was where it was the windiest (with nothing to stop the wind, it caught plenty of energy over the cool water).

I turned him down towards the stables, to the trail that laid beyond it. Zazzy was utterly confused and faltered in step but continued on again.

Once more, his top line grew stiff. I figured it was from him simply not knowing what was going on.

Zaz really was just a big worry wart.

As soon as we passed by the busy stables, he grew even more worried. His strides grew short and his head rose high. By now, we've been trotting for a good fifteen minutes and was insight of the trail which started by winding up a hill towards the forest.

I decided to do what worked last time and gave him the cue to run. And once again, Zaz bulked at first in utter surprise by the sudden command to run before taking off like he heard the ringing of the starting gate.

Once again, his nerves disappeared as he galloped. Soon he eased into a slow pace, which was considering I thought a gallop along the lake shore would be nice for him and it was a small bit away.

His ears pricked at the sight of the forest but he didn't bulk, in fact he sped up and powered his way through the trail.

The ground was flat and I could see the shimmering waves through the bare branches of trees. Zazzy apparently saw this too. His strides grew longer and his ears were straining forwards in wonder.

I smiled and let him quicken his pace until we were finally on the sandy shore- though it was much smaller and less marvelous then the beach, it was perfectly fine for me.

His pace quickened dramatically, finding his liking in dirt surfaces on the gritty, packed in sand. Both of his golden ears laid back slightly to block out the roaring wind, as he drove himself faster. His strides grew longer in length and quicker in pace. His legs stretched wide and bundled tightly.

I smiled and gave him some rein, knowing he had no intention of leaving the trail any time soon.

His sprint began to die just as the forest began to engulf the trail. With a smile plastered on my face, I pulled Zazzy up. He didn't seem to mind one bit as he had grown tired from his gallop on the shifting sand of the shore.

-Incomplete-