We had a good weekend at the Metamora CDE with Luke as a Single. Doing Training Level which let him look and learn, without high expectations. His whole world is “different now” than what was ever expected of him before as a working farm horse.
He was wonderful! No stallion noises or displays. Did as asked, with better than we expected marks in both CT and CDE Dressage tests! I got photos of him ACTUALLY bending in his tests!! Learning that was very hard for him, stretching his muscles to flow around corners and circles instead of 90* corner turns. Husband has been working on improving Luke’s bending all summer. Holding the bit with light contact, instead of no contact. Some pictures were very nice showing soft hands and reins.
He was good on Marathon, taking in the unexpected with confidence. Husband said he had forgotten making Luke walk bridges on our road, but horse remembered! Stopped to walk each of the several bridges on his own, just like at home! He did as he was trained! We laughed about that and blamed it for the extra 28 seconds over time on course. One quite funny photo that looked like a decorative Minion was driving Luke with groom standing behind! Minion totally covered husband in the picture! Ha ha We threw a lot of cool water on at both Vet Checks for cooling and he recovered pretty quickly. Deep body horses hold a lot of heat we need to get rid of before doing the last section with hazards and when totally finished. He stood very well for cold water throwing. Practice at home helped, so he knew what was happening.
Cones was the third day and he was entered in both the CT and CDE, so he again went twice. Husband said any errors were his fault, Luke did what he was told. Luke got to watch a couple rounds before his turn. I think he was a bit amazed at the QUANTITY of cones out there! We had practiced at home but never that many and they were RED, not yellow. Course was quite tecnical, tight, and it seems quite small with a big horse. The antique carriage is sweet to drive, turns short as needed for getting to some of the gates, high enough to see ahead of the horse if looking for the next gate. Husband is still learning when to turn on the bending without bumping a cone. Big horse really fills up the spaces! But this is the new thinking, to make Cones more important in the final numbers. Two balls down on the first round. I remarked to husband that the Four Fresians had to drive the same course, they got thru though they had ball down. Just a new way of doing things. Second round went better, Luke knew the course! Much faster time, with only one ball down. Luke looked quite pleased with himself after finishing! Ha ha
Fun to visit with friends, walking the marathon and hazards. Such different thinking and route planning than with a Pair. Just kept Luke’s hay bag (small holes let hay last longer) full, buckets full and he was happy. There was one little pony, very cute palomino gelding, that Luke nickered at when it went by a couple times each day. Pony never answered, but Luke liked him. We did have to warn a couple people with horses to not pass while we harnessed or unharnessed, ALWAYS the most dangerous time to get distracted with any horse or the Multiples! Maybe they don’t know any better? He never acted poorly, but the chance remains, which is why they always want people using headers.
Most folks never noticed he was a stallion, just admired his looks. He does seem to have charisma, drawing folks over to look at him. We have had a couple others like that in years past. People spot them and are drawn over like to a magnet! Funny because they were handsome but not pretty. Yet it seemed no one could resist getting closer to look at them! Both had great eyes, always seemed interested in their admirerers.
Ribbons were the whipped cream after husband put in so much time with Luke this summer. He really has enjoyed using him.
Doing hay this weekend. Baling today. Then he can drive on the hayfield. Hoping to get Luke paired up with Hawk, then Wicker as Wicker’s leg finishes healing. He broke a splint bone which is healing nicely, but the soft tissue swelled and split the skin, which is healing slowly. No lameness, but keeping it covered to prevent scarring has been difficult. Wicker is NOT happy being stalled most of the day AND night. He is turned out a couple hours with a friend in a small paddock, mostly grazing, but some antics because he just feels GOOD! It can be like leading a kite in and out!
