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Post by Sam on May 22, 2009 22:53:56 GMT -5
Horse Tempered Passion
Handler Sam Lettington
Purpose Getting use to saddle
The young stud chewed and chomped on the grain provided in a bucket rather happily. He snorted once into the bucket as he eyed the saddle, which he has seen many times before. I picked it up and gently set the saddle pad upon his back and slowly put the saddle over it to keep it from blowing away. He shifted a bit, but didn't seem too worried over the new things on his back. I took the girth and carefully latched it one side before moving over to the other side and latching it there. Carefully and slowly, I tightened the girth, one notch at a time.
The stud stopped his chewing and lifting his head, unsure of this new sensation. When I just patted his neck to try and reassure him, he just huffed a bit before he went back to his grain.
Once the girth was tight and made sure the saddle wouldn't shift, I took the grain bucket away. He stood there, chewing his mouthful he had left and watched me leave with a slight worried expression. I returned to the center of the round pen and grabbed my stiff rope. I clapped it against my jeans, making him turn towards me.
Then it hit him. He jolted forwards, bucking and throwing himself against the round pen's fences. He snorted, eyes rolling as he continued to buck and panic. I threw the rope out to him, making him run away from it. If he was to buck, he was going to work.
He continued his bucking fit for two more laps until finally he calmed slightly. His neck and shoulders were lathered in salty sweat. I threw the rope out once more before I forced him to switch directions.
He jolted and turned sharply. He bucked once more and immediately the rope chased him. He ran from it and started to have a small understanding that bucking was bad. Of course, it would take days for that thought to get through his mind completely.
After another lap or two, I allowed him to slow and then stop. He watched me as I coiled up my rope and picked up what I had brought with me, gave him a pat on the neck, a rub on the forehead and then promptly left with him still fully tacked. He was going to get use having a saddle on his back the easy, old-fashioned way. Wear for a few hours each day until it became nearly like a part of him
For days, we continued this until finally he had grown accustomed to the saddle and didn't waste the energy of bucking and then having to run from the rope that always made him work right after.
Word Count: 462
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