Horses, Life, A Touch of Geek

Rodney Objects

Rodney is not happy. I have been taking long-line/ground-driving lessons at Stepping Stone to improve my groundwork at home.

Rodney is having to cope with pressure. As I improve where I stand in relation to the horse, I am better able to push forward. Rodney doesn’t like the pressure. Suck it up, Cupcake. If we are ever to get anywhere, I have to be able to talk to you without you curling up like a shrimp. This is the least possible amount of pressure that would still register on the scale.

Rodney is having to cope with me. The upside of being an amateur’s horse is personalized attention. The downside is occasional moments of infelicitous rein-handling.

Rodney is having to cope with using his brain. It is SO much easier to give him space to sort himself out when I am standing on the ground 10 feet away rather than sitting on his back.

Rodney does not like having to cope. On Friday, he ran off once he was dismissed. He hasn’t done that in years.