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The First RIde

© Marta Towne

Well folks, it is finally official; Reena is broke to ride! Yep, as of last Sunday, I have ridden Reena for the first time. I am so jazzed that I can hardly sit still to write this article. It all started when I sold Prism to a friend, who just happened to be a wonderful trainer. He agreed in exchange for Prism, he would train our horses, all of them!

Mom's mare, Shanali was first. She was moved over there a couple of weeks ago and the Trainer started working her immediately. In about a week and a half, that being last Friday, he was convinced that he had her calm enough for mom to ride. And she did! She was so happy she cried. Shanali, on the other hand, did not rejoice as loudly. As a matter of fact, she was quite vocal in her complaints! But ride her mom did, and so did my daughter and I, much to Shanali's disgust.

Well, then we moved the rest of the horses over there, and the same day, the trainer got on Reena. He rode her for about 45 minutes, then came back and asked me, "You want to ride her?" Now, you tell me, is that a trick question? OF COURSE, I wanted to ride her! So he saddled up Prism, and I climbed on Reena and away we went. There were a few moments of argument, and even out right refusal. But, in the end, we went where Prism led, and I rode for two hours! During one of the worst times, I "gently" reminded Reena that she was a Beast of Burden...SHE was the beast and I was the burden! She thought that was quite insulting, but at that point there was really nothing she could do. Though she stored it all away for future revenge, I am sure.

We rode up the road, up pastures, down trials, through the woods, everywhere. And I have to tell you, after everything Reena and I have been through together, I was so excited to finally be up on her back, and have her keeping four feet on the ground! Though, at one time, it became obvious that her idea was to change places; SHE would ride ME for a while. Luckily, we dissuaded her of that notion..quickly!

When we got back to her temporary home, I climbed off and removed her bridle, praising her, petting her, making a HUGE fuss over her, then I offered her a cookie...and she glared at me as though I was offering her poison. She was highly annoyed at me, and she was making it obvious! For those of you who have read the story of Reena, you KNOW, she doesn't turn down food of any kind; but would she take a horse cookie from me? NOT bloody likely! I tried to walk her out, groom her and she just glared at me. Nothing I did was going to make up for the heinous crime I had committed against her horsey person. I had RIDDEN her, and not only that, but I had ridden her for TWO hours! How COULD I?

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