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Against All Odds - The Story of Bronze - Part 4
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Where we left off in Part 3, I had just accumulated 7 new horses, and our plot was finally ready for them.
With the horses, we were given some old poles, tools, a wheelbarrow and a hay feeder – just a few useful items to help us out with building paddocks and looking after the horses. The same groom who led me around on Bronze also came along, and became our groom – and a truly fantastic one, I might add. He, at least, knew how to properly care for the horses – though neither my mother nor I did at the time.
We did, however, get help from plenty of knowledgeable people – so the horses were certainly in good hands, rest assured.
The horses stayed at the stud a few days longer while our groom built a stallion-proof, lunge-arena-size paddock for Bronze, to keep him separated from the mares.
Soon enough, it was ready – and it was time to transport the horses. We had to hire somebody to load and truck them. The same man, incidentally, who sold Polo to us. Bronze had never been in a horsebox before, and he did put up a small fight – but in the end he went in, and the horses were trucked in twos to their new home – where they soon settled in.
We gave them a few days to adjust to their new home – and then the fun began!
I won’t go into detail about the others, since this is Bronze’s story, after all.
Once they were all comfortable at The Plot, I began riding them. Country Cousin – the thirteen year old chestnut mare – was a fun ride! She was well schooled, and we later found out that she had done some dressage after her racing career ended. I didn’t know enough to realize this, but was nevertheless delighted when she responded to aids I didn’t know I’d given, and began moving sideways – or cantering on the spot. I taught some of my little friends to ride on this mare – and she was always a fun creature to ride around on.
Cuppi was just as sweet as her temperament suggested. She was calm and quiet, but obedient – though she had no schooling after coming off the track. Still, with a little of my inexperienced training – I soon had this mare jumping up to 1m, and jumping clear over small courses at little local shows. Cuppi, Finola’s half sister, promised to be quite a nice jumping horse, all in all.
Finola was hyper, spirited and fiery. After Polo, of course, I was well able to handle her – but she was by no means easy. She was forever dancing around, and always wanted to run! Still, she took to jumping like a duck to water – and the more I did with her, the more our bond grew, until eventually her sourness had vanished, and she became the lovely mare she is today.
Dizzy Pleasure, Finola’s dam, was something of a joke for me. I loved this funny, scruffy old mare – and though I never rode her ‘seriously’ – nothing delighted me more than leaping onto her and going for a nice bareback canter. We tried – without success – to teach her to jump over tiny poles, by setting a handful of grass on a brick on the other side. Dizzy loved her grass – unfortunately, she also realized that she could just step over the pole to get to it, and not actually jump. The other thing Dizzy loved, apart from grass, was bucking. If I gave her a good kick, she would always respond in turn – not in a savage fashion, just in general old lady grumpiness. Naturally, this soon developed one of my favourite childhood pastimes: Jumping up on Dizzy without tack, turning to face her tail so I was sitting on her backwards, and giving her a kick. She would then proceed to trot or canter amiably around her paddock – throwing the odd buck until I ate dirt. She always seemed to enjoy this somewhat, and I did too, so we became fast friends, Dizzy and I.
And then there was Bronze. Ah, Bronze... Of all of them, he was the only lazy one. Try as I might, I could not get the big horse to do more than a few half-hearted trot strides. Still, my little friend and I loved nothing more than to ride around double on Bronze, while he did his usual placid plodding. Even with two pairs of tiny legs kicking him, he had no intention of moving.
Finally, our neighbour offered a suggestion:
"Fill a plastic bottle with stones, and shake it."
This, apparently, would make Bronze go...
Would it work?
Find out in Part 5 – coming soon! |
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FreeRein
Haha. I do that with my friend on her pony! Except she bucks you right off when you turn around. Haha! It's great!!
Haha. I do that with my friend on her pony! Except she bucks you right off when you turn around. Haha! It's great!!
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Sep 29, 2011
• 5,038 views
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Stay Untamed
Ahh,suspense!! :D Haha! Love the series,can't wait to read the rest!
Ahh,suspense!! :D Haha! Love the series,can't wait to read the rest!
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Sep 29, 2011
• 5,093 views
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Madeirey
Oh I can't wait until part 5!!! XD Dizzy sounds fun, LoL.
Oh I can't wait until part 5!!! XD Dizzy sounds fun, LoL.
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Sep 29, 2011
• 5,037 views
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ImaCoolCowgirl
I love to read your writing Polo!! You make it so interesting and captivating....can't wait to read the next part!!
I love to read your writing Polo!! You make it so interesting and captivating....can't wait to read the next part!!
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Sep 30, 2011
• 5,038 views
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Simplicity
Willit work I wonder hmm.....
Willit work I wonder hmm.....
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Sep 30, 2011
• 5,037 views
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All That Jazz
Love it!
The far left photo is adorable. xD
Love it!
The far left photo is adorable. xD
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Sep 30, 2011
• 5,041 views
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