(no subject)

[endlessrarities]

I have just survived an encounter with The Evil One, aka Softy.  I was supposed to be riding Molly, but she was so lathered up after the last lesson that she was pulled at the last minute.

Softy is a very attractive piebald cob.  Her markings are striking, and she looks like she should be taking part in The Big Country.  But she's got white around the eyes which gives the impression that she's a bit wild and untrustworthy.  It's not far from the truth.  In my experiences with her, I've found her to be a lazy wilful minx who gives riding school horses a bad name.  She has two speeds only:  zoom, and dead slow and stop.  And if you get on her wick, she is the archetypal Immovable Object.

Last time I rode her was three years ago.  Our hour long Battle Royale culminated in a hissy fit and four hooves parked solidly on the ground.  Nothing I could do would budge her. 

Today, I survived my encounter unscathed.  We had a few hairy moments, but there were none of the hysterionics from the last time.  I guess I've learned that an outright confrontation with Softy just does not work.  If you try and bully her into doing something, she will not do it.  Psychological warfare is required.

We walked, we trotted, and Softy was grudgingly obliging.  But my leg position went completely to pot and I felt like the experience put me back weeks.  If your whole philosophy is to be at one with your horse and to be a fluid partnership, you're on a road to nowhere if one member of the duo just does not want to be there and will not be persuaded otherwise,

But looking on the bright side...  At least it was better than last time:-)