So… solo handwalk #2 to the orchards did not go so well. We got further than last time, but then she saw some people in the distance and her brains fell out of her head. I got the full-on Morgan mare Dragon Snort ™ and a lot of jumping around, tail flipped up over her back etc. Even when we turned around to go back to the barn, it continued. She shoved me with her shoulder and I got after her and it only made things worse. She did calm down when we got back to the entrance and I let her stop and graze. She was eager to get back to the barn, but polite about it.
And we did not go fully back. Instead I led her up and down the barn owner’s driveway to the road and back, and briefly onto the road, until we were both bored and she was paying 100% attention to me. Probably about 10 times. This is the thing I thought I could do a few times a week, but it’s hard to get motivated.
I think she just really doesn’t like being solo with no other horses. She can get nervous when she has a buddy, but is so much better. I was told there was someone at the barn where I bought her that took her out alone all the time, but my guess is that person had nerves of steel - which I definitely do not - or the whole thing was a lie.
Since solo trail riding is one of my requirements, though it doesn’t have to happen right now, this whole thing may be a loss. I actually like going out with others, but Feronia could be quite ill-behaved to other horses, and she was willing to go solo, so that’s what we did. I’m still handwalking her solo several times a week. It’s also hard to get multiple people organized for a trail ride.
That old thing about buying the horse that already does the thing you want is hitting me pretty hard today.
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