During the week the boys got their shoes and we headed out to ride on Saturday. Shirley was excited to take Star. It's been awhile since he's been off the place and he is looking good. Lynn and I were a little bit on the--nervous or cautious aren't the right words--but definitely on high alert for shenanigans since we both saw how high those two boys can buck when they're happy and excited.
Of course Ziggy was good and so was Star, much to Shirley's disappointment, but Jupiter? Well, we are having a battle of wills. The good news is I won. I know, I know--I have to. But I still get to boast a little. Jupes has decided that the crupper is too tight. He doesn't like the saddle too far forward; he doesn't like to go down steep hills that pull on the crupper or without it have the saddle slide forward. Okay fine! Get some withers!
Anyway, long story short: I made him go even when he humped and jumped and balked. He threw his head around and acted like Indy, for Pete's sake! But we did it. Then Lynn said, "Stay there!" She jumped off her horse and took off her spurs. She came over and put them on my boots. "Try this," she said, "Just touch him when he acts up."
The next steep downhill we came to, he refused again--only this time, he got spurred. Now I admit I was worrying that he would freak out and throw me to Kingdom Come, but he didn't. He definitely jumped in surprise and I calmly said, "Let's go," and steered him down the bank and away we went. When he hesitated the next time, I gently touched him again and we went down without a hitch. He did not act up again.
Sunday, he was good all day. I never used them even once.
Oh, I did fall off, but it was my fault. I think I got clotheslined. I'm not really sure. All I know is I was looking at a kind of questionable water crossing, kind of planning which way to go, and then Jupiter decided. He leaped across and unexpectedly, I saw my feet in the air and then I landed flat on my back, looking up into Jupiter's face. Except for the limb my head landed on (thanks, Lee for insisting on helmets), it was a mossy, soft landing.
So, hum "I got a brand-new pair of spurs, you've got a brand-new attitude" to the old high-pitched tune of "I got a brand-new pair of rollerskates, you've got a brand-new key," and think of me. (:
