lyin' to the races

Yesterday my mom and I headed out for a gorgeous November ride on Pie and Sovey. Our temperatures have been in the 30's overnight, but warm up to the 50's by noon. The boys are a fuzzy black color (the photo above is from October) and love the cooler temperatures. It was so pretty around the farm with the yellow leaves and mellow sunshine. This was my mother's third ride since her fall in July. Unfortunately, we both almost fell off yesterday!

Our near catastrophe was probably due to my lack of riding for a few days. Maizie had off school on Monday so Brian and I took her hiking. On Tuesday, I took a day trip to Virginia with a girlfriend to buy benches for our farm. Both days were fun, but horse-less. Pie was feeling festive and fiesty because of this break in our routine. Mom and I started out in the pastures to make sure we were safe. Pie was indignant about riding inside the pastures and he was not listening to me. As soon as we got on the trails in the woods, though, he calmed down and acted like a good boy. He, like all horses, feels confident in his routine, and any changes to it, upsets his apple cart. The woods were amazing in color. The angle of the sun just makes everything golden. Sovereign is the best boy, riding behind Pie most of the way, and occasionally leads when Pie is unsure of something. We made our way around the trails and out to the field. I was so happy that my mom was having a good, safe ride. As we headed back to the barn we had to walk by a line of high trees. A flock of birds flew out of the trees and Pie bolted out from under me and Sovey did the same to mom. I saw her flying to my right and I said "Hang on!" I realized that Pie was still skittering around and I really needed to concentrate on getting him back together first, and then worry about her. Neither of us fell off, but it was only because we got lucky! Our reins were flying and we were both caught behind the motion. As we finished the ride, we talked about what is going on now. When the horses first came to us, and for about a year after that, Sovey was not really bonded to Pie. They lived together, but Sovereign never put much credence into Pie's reactions. Pie would buck, bolt, shy, wiggle, fold-up, and half-rear with me on him and Sovereign, with my mom on him, would spoil her by not reacting at all. I know I had remarked about this in an earlier post. It was uncanny, because usually horses do what the other guy is doing. Not Sovey. I don't think he actually trusted Pie back then. Now, though, they are bonded. Sovey does pretty much whatever Pie does, albeit with less fervor than the baby Pie-Pie. When Pie shies now, Sovey shies. I can ride Sovereign out alone and he hardly does anything. But, together with Pie, he reacts like a normal horse now. I have to be more consistent about riding Pie every other day if I want anyone else to join me on rides!