I can’t believe it’s April already. We went away for a wine weekend and when we came back, a mere two days later, the flowers had popped open.
Grandpa and Pilot spend many hours tracking planes, then running outside to see them pass overhead. Grandpa even bought a laminated map for Pilot to see where the airports are located.
When Pilot isn’t tracking planes, he is tracking grandma out at the barn in his dump truck mama got him for Christmas.
Since it is spring break for Pilot, grandma cannot schedule any rides for herself. That is where the Katie Plan comes in handy.
We met yesterday and we will meet again on Thursday for her to ride Tweed. I will go to the park with my husband in the evening, tonight and tomorrow, to do my part. Having someone ride your horse is great, but there is no substitute for building the relationship yourself.
The fact is, there are upsides and downsides to every plan, but one of my goals for Tumbleweed has always been that anyone can ride him. I’m not getting any younger, and if anything catastrophic happens to me, I want him to be able to make his own way through this life. Being able to be ridden by multiple people is a good start.
The downside, as I mentioned, is that there is what feels like a watering down of the direct relationship between he and me, especially on weeks Katie rides him more. It may or may not be a real thing, but there is a part of me that wants to do it all and has a hard time watching from afar.
Then I see her do something like she did yesterday, where she ended their ride going Man From Snowy River style down a steep hill to the trailer, and I’m like, Nope, glad it’s her and not me.
It is amazing seeing what he’s capable of doing with her.
One funny moment from yesterday, though, was when I heard a high pitched whinny break out across the valley. I was like, please don’t let that be Tweed. But there were only two horses out riding so a 50/50 chance it was, indeed, him.
It was.
I asked Katie about it and she said it occurred when they rode past the business area for guided trail rides. A mare there locked onto Tweed through the fence and he wanted to go see her. Katie had him go past with no real trouble, but when they took the trail away from her he grabbed the bit and threw a hissy fit. Katie shut that down quickly and easily with a mere smack on the butt with her rein end, but as they left the mare he continued to call out for her, and that’s what I heard.
Oh, Tumbleweed. You really are a gelding, right? I mean, I saw them do the deed with my own eyes, so…yeah, you are.
Spring is just a beautiful, crazy time. Green grass. Mares in heat. And a young, fresh, good looking stud gelding out in the big world.
Did you read the post by A Horse Crazy American In Germany where she had her gelding tested for his studly behaviour?
ReplyDeleteSpring is always a bit of a test after a winter of less work and fresh hormones at work. Even for geldings!
Lovely to see your flowers blooming.... as I look out the window at the latest snow squall. Sigh .
I found it just now and read it. He probably has abnormal levels of testosterone. That would explain a lot! The mares don’t lie and I think it’s very unusual to have them breaking away from owners to get to him.
DeleteCan you blame that mare? I mean, look at him, he's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteExactly. Haha. Shirley’s point certainly has me wondering now. I’ll be thinking about it and watching. Some geldings have high testosterone levels because the adrenal glands can overproduce.
DeleteLooks like your grandson may (or may not) have already chosen his future career/hobby. Could be a passing faze, but either way it is unique & very educational! Not to encourage more screen time, but my son told me about an app for tracking planes called "Flightradar24" We use it when curious what is flying overhead. Of course, sight/sound ID is fun too.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about Tumbleweed and the mare attraction. Our Nemo shows some stallion type tendencies, but we've only noticed it in the pasture with our own herd.
It seems your trainer is really enjoying riding Tumbleweed. It probably does shift connection temporarily, somewhat similar to sending them away to trainers. However, you are so active with him that it is likely minimal. I get it tho.
Those crabapple (?) blooms are so pretty!!
You know, I often wonder what careers will be left in 10+ years with the coming threat of AGI. It seems like the worst people are overseeing its emergence. Worst, in that they lack the wisdom or even concern about what it means for humanity.
DeleteBut it is good to see him develop mastery in a field and the resulting pride that comes from it. It also helps with his speech development. They use FlightRadar24, too! 😃 It’s his favorite.
We had a gelding who mounted mares and did the whole thing, but he was awesome on the trails. I never saw it affect his behavior with humans. Tweed doesn’t go that far, and when he attracted the runaway mares, he didn’t seem to care about them. (His behavior with Katie was a new one, whinnying for the mare at the turnout they passed.) So, maybe the mares are picking up on something I can’t see. A smell or who knows what.
He is definitely, however, too protective of his mares when we’re out riding. It interferes with his thinking and is something we’re constantly working on, so I am considering that chaste tree berry supplement in the post Shirley referenced. I need to do more research and maybe have his testosterone levels checked the next time the vet is out checking Foxy’s.
Yes, my trainer does seem to enjoy her rides. She said the worst he threw at her was in the pasture at our house a couple months ago. (He is also refusing the bridge at the obstacle course, but that will be the subject of another post.) All in all, she is able to handle his little hiccups and safely push his exposures in ways I wouldn’t. It’s good for me to see her call his bluff and continue on. I fell for some of his bluffs in the past. It’s funny watching Katie imitate his attitude after a ride as she describes it to me. Tweed: “I’m gonna get big and boss you around.” Then the correction, shrug, and sigh “okay.”
So, it is a Kwanzan cherry tree. I should have added that information below the photos. I started that tree from a stick and it is doing really well entering its third year of life. My little miracle stick.
I looked "Kwanzan cherry tree" up. Gorgeous!
Delete