The Howie Chronicles

Howie might as well speak English. It is so obvious, sometimes, what is going on it's like being hit with a 2 x 4. I'm not sure whether to start at the end and explain backward, or go back in time, and get you caught up? So bear with me while I unravel this story. When Howie was 3 and just getting broke to ride, I had a broken ankle that required surgery to fix. So the first time I rode Howie, I climbed up on a 'bar stool' to mount him. I couldn't put my booted foot in a stirrup, and all we did was walk up and down my friend's aisleway. I was a little wobbly, but I was riding and I was happy. What I did notice, but just filed away in the back of my mind, was that if I got out of balance, Howie would stop wait for me to re-group, make sure I was ok, and then start walking again. Little did I know. Later, as we progressed, it continued to be obvious that Howie was not comfortable if you got too far forward or just out of balance (he'd stop or slow down). Try riding in two point on a horse that doesn't want you forward, umm yea, difficult but not impossible. Makes you a better rider, right? Keeps you aware of your position. So last lesson we are having a nice time, all is well, and then.... There are flower boxes on both sides of the jump. Now Howie has jumped flower boxes before, jumped them that night, but they are usually just on one side of the fence. We are cantering up to this single jump, all is fine, and then we are right over the jump and I see him crank his head all but under his belly to look at the flowers on the other side of the jump! (He does have a rather long, flexible neck.) And just that quick I know I am doomed. So as his head goes to the left, his ribcage goes what feels like 3 feet to the right. We land and I have nothing underneath me on the left side! I'm already starting to laugh, reaching up grabbing mane, I almost got his left ear, my left foot is on the dashboard, and I'm thinking can I stay on or should I just fall off? Fortunately, Howie the Saint stopped in 3 strides, I stayed on, we all had a good laugh, but poor Howie was certain Mom was not ready for that jump and did not want to jump it again! He was not stopping to stop, he was just so shook up because I got so off balance and almost fell off, that he wasn't going to do that again. Bless him, but what do you do with that? Ride better I guess. And be thankful! I love my horse, and thank you Dottie for however you taught him, not to hurt his Mom!