Win, Lose, or Draw

Sunday was a clear, cold day and we got to take the boys out for a short ride up the Hennessey road. It was also Haylee's maiden trek. Haylee is Lynn's newest family member--sister to Alisa's Sammi--they are black Standard Bred Poodles. I have not met Sammi yet, but Haylee is quite the character. She loves life and is always smiling and ready to go. She's very smart and learns quickly. She's also very leery of the horses ever since Buster went after her one day. Thankfully, she escaped unscathed. Now when we are up feeding the horses and they get too crazy, she jumps on the four-wheeler and stays out of the way of their feet.

Haylee wasn't too sure about the whole riding aspect of the horses. She was nervous and Lynn was awfully high up and out of reach! She ran ahead of the horses and waited when Lynn called out to her, which I thought was pretty dang cool for someone so young to understand! Part way, she was pretty tired, so she got her first horse ride! First, Lynn handed her up to Shirley who was on Buster and that went pretty smoothly. Then Lynn climbed aboard Zigs and Haylee was passed over. She did really great and both horses were absolutely fine having her up there. When Lynn put her down for some more running, she tired again and then whined and cried a little--but it was understandable because it was quite the big day for someone so young.

So that was the good part of the experience. My part was not as swell. ): Jupiter needs to be ridden and tired out. He is such a headstrong pistol. I am such an inexperienced rider who just sits there and expects the horse to know how to behave. I have been spoiled by Brady and before him, Kibbles. They were older and knew their job. Jupiter is young and full of himself. He and I are going to have to work hard to get past our current difficulties. Unfortunately, most of the problems are because of me--I have not worked on anything with him. He came so well trained that I have been lazy and now I am going to pay for it.

I know he is too much horse for me as a beginner rider, but I do not want to trade him for someone else. We're family. But I also don't really want to live in a wheel chair or as a vegetable for the rest of my life! So he won on Sunday. I got off and walked instead fighting him and eventually getting bucked off onto the hard road. I know I have to figure this out and I get lots of advice that I need to sort out. "Lace his butt with your reins, " "Use a quirt to sting him," "Kick him really hard in the belly like Alisa did Odie," "Remember cowboy boots are pointed for a reason," "Turn him in circles and keep his feet moving," and "Hitting a horse is really unnecessary if you can get his attention by moving his feet." Ultimately the one thing everyone says, "You have to win. You have to be in charge. He's bigger than you and you have to have his respect." Stuff like that. I need advice for sure, since I am oblivious and ignorant.

But what is going to work with both Jupes' and my personalities? He doesn't care if I yell at him. He got mad and humped up the only time I ever hit him with the reins (but he did stop). He doesn't get his feelings hurt. He throws temper tantrums. He's very expressive and pretty easy to read when he's irritated, so sometimes I have prior warning. He probably knows that sometimes it freaks me out when starts crow hopping and threatening to buck (sometimes I just react and I don't have time to be afraid--it's kind of like dealing with big kids at school!). Bottom line: he doesn't care if he pleases me or not. He's not like Ziggy or Buster who adore Lynn and Shirley. We are in a one-way relationship: I love him and he doesn't really care. Just like a man, dang it! (At least he doesn't tell me I'm fat and ugly!)

So there it is. I had a frustrating, un-fun day and I can't stop thinking about it. I'm bummed. I hate to lose.

On a good note: it's Keota's birthday month! Is he turning six or seven? I hope we get to meet up soon and go riding.