I had been planning a show for friends and family to demonstrate what Muffin and I had been working on over the past year and a half. I wasn't nervous, but had lost the initial thrill of the idea when I learned that my grandpa, Muffin's true owner, wasn't coming. I was dying to show him what she and I could do together.
But the day of the show soon arrived. Our close friends from College Station came down to visit, along with grandparents and family members. Muffin and I were ready.
But I didn't realize how ready.
Everything went perfectly. A perfect flying lead change under bridle, gates opened and closed with ease. Every loop I threw, standing still or on the approach, was caught, something we had never accomplished before. And the best part: Bridle-less.
Guided only by the flag in my hand, we worked through the cones, over logs, leg yielding, stopping, and even backing up. Then I urged her into a lope, gentle and soft, almost as if I were riding on a cloud. I barely touched the flag to her neck, changing direction, and with a nimble hop she switched leads, so softly I barely noticed. We did this twice! I couldn't have been more proud of my filly.
This experience made me realize two things: One, that no matter how I was feeling about the situation with my grandpa, no matter how disappointed I could've been, Muffin came through. She never let me down, and I believe she knew what was going on. And two, that no horse is too far gone. A lot of people could have labeled that mare as a lost cause. But in only a year and a half, that wild, untouchable horse is accomplishing feats bridleless that many horses couldn't do with aid of the reins. Our work together paid off, and has renewed my dream of one day rescuing, retraining, and repurposing horses who were once considered hopelessly lost.
Pre-show
Ground work
Into the arena
A successful day
Later edition: I made this music video just after the show using all the photos taken ;)
Comments