Tuesday, March 11, 2008

If It Weren't for Patchy.....



...Who knows if I'd have Daisy?
Patchy is the little pony pictured above in the first picture. I took one riding lesson every week for 8 years at a farm just outside of our town before I got Daisy. I rode different horses a lot...Maybe, if I'm ever really bored (yeah, right) I'll upload pictures of them...there was Sasha, Dancer, Fletcher, Fred, Peggy, Sunshine, Nugget, Free, etc....and Patchy. Patchy was a Welsh Mountain pony cross, adorably cute (obviously, right?). I rode him a lot in my lessons towards the last years. He was a...Mischief maker? Handful?...I took group lessons, and the other girl I rode with didn't like him...he was a hard horse. He was really talented, but he was a little green. He wasn't very trusting, I guess. A lot of times I'd spend the whole lesson working on stopping-I'd have to walk maybe 3 steps, do a rein give, another 3 steps, rein give, etc. (a 'rein give' is where you let one rein totally loose, and the other you pull around tight to your leg. You wait until the horse submits to you, then you let go.) It was a lot of work, but I liked it. He was different because pretty much all the other horses didn't DARE misbehave, but he did. He also had his quirks with a big plastic tube lying outside the ring-he'd never go near it. Anyway, I really liked riding him, no matter how hard he was.
The first day I went to try out Daisy (Dosie Doe) she was misbehaving. She got spooked of a tarp at one point, kind of half reared, and backed into a water trough, which scared her more. I was scared when that happened (I was too proud to admit it then...). I wanted her though because she reminded me of Patchy. I had wanted to buy Patchy, but I knew I'd outgrow him, and he wasn't for sale anyway...I thought with Daisy, I'd be like having Patchy;a challenge, something to work with, not boring. So I got her. That's why, almost everyday, she totally surprises me with her intelligence and training. She's very well trained, and after riding her for awhile now, I really know her, and she almost never misbehaves. I can't say I'm disappointed! Like the other day I got her to do a cantering side pass! It was really cool because I could feel her legs kind of shuffling back and forth. I believe now that it was God who put Daisy and I together...when I look back now, I have no idea where in the world I got the guts to buy her. Thank you, Jesus! She's a great horse....couldn't have asked for anything better.
Sorry for the long post....but maybe it'll 'hold you over' until the next one!....;-)
Oh, btw, the second picture of Daisy was taken by her old owner...I think it was a pic. used in an ad on a website....

13 comments:

Danni said...

What a fun recollection of your earlier riding years...you've been riding for a long time. Do you have plans to do other things with horses (compete, maybe?) as you grow older? Do you ever see Patchy any more?

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I know what you mean about a misbehaving horse. The horse I ride is JUST like that and I know someone who didn't like riding him because he is like that, but I love that horse (Abel). :)

Mellimaus said...

I'm actually going to compete Daisy this summer at our local county fair and the state fair, in barrel racing and western pleasure. She's supposed to be really good and stuff like that. I'm REALLY excited!
I don't see Patchy anymore...:-(..I was going to keep taking lessons after I got Daisy, but I never got around to it...He was for sale, I saw his ad on the internet once, so I don't know if he sold or not....I do miss him sometimes.

Danni said...

Barrel racing! How exciting - I think it would be so much fun to do something like this. sigh. I'm much too old now, so I shall just live vicariously through you!
I don't know what "western pleasure" is - what are you rated on?

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

I so loved reading about your earlier riding experience and how one particular horse brought you to buy your beloved Daisy.

I think the horses that mean the most to you, tell so much about what kind of person you are.

Its obvious that you are not afraid of challenges, and have a soft spot for sensitive and bold horses.

Daisy has the most lovely and gentle face. She also has a feminine look to her as well.

Yes. Thank you God! You are truly blessed, Mell!

JO said...

I am sure that God did give you Daisy :)

Misha said...

Wow! You're going to compete? That's great! Patchy sounds alot like Billy, a horse I rode last summer. He was always putting his nose on my back or stomach, and then he'd push real hard to make me fall over!

Anonymous said...

Off the subject, but I love the picture of your cats.

Wanda said...

Don't you love it when God delights to make US happy. We loves to surprise us that way.

You and Daisy Mae are a good team.

Loved your narative ~~ it wasn't too long. Very interesting.

Wanda said...

oops ~~ I meant to say "He"

Priscilla said...

I think it is so great that this animal brings you such joy!!!!

Misha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
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