I'm Back!

Well. I was struggling a bit this past summer with some issues unrelated to the horses and I rather lacked the energy for blogging. Autumn is here, things are great, and I want to write again. I can't exactly catch the blog up with every ride I've done, so I just have to start fresh with what I have done today.

First, we need to meet Inigo. Inigo is a three-year-old Rheinland Pfalz Saar gelding. This means "fancy German horse" for those of you who are unfamiliar with the language. Actually I have no idea what it means but I have finally learned to pronounce it so that's a start. Inigo was orphaned at birth so he was hand-raised (I don't recommend this) and will always be quirky because of it. He struggles with horse language and since most effective training is based on the horse's own method of communication, it doesn't work on him. It's been incredibly frustrating trying to work with him at times, because I've had to make up a training system based on trial and error. It's a good thing he is solid black and drop dead gorgeous or I may have given up. Everyone has to have some redeeming qualities, right? I was actually very surprised and pleased to see him pin his ears at Teddy today. This is the only time in three and a half years that I have ever seen him do this, and it gives me hope that he might learn other horse things as well.

I have ridden Inigo about six times now. If I had been blogging all along I would know the exact count... but it's somewhere around there. He is a half-brother to Isabelle but is nothing like her under saddle. Isabelle is hot and sensitive and forward, and Inigo is dull and slow. Today was the first time I rode Inigo in the arena with other horses. Sarah was hacking Phoebe for me and Jordyn was on her horse, Fly. Inigo was very good, although a little more explosive than usual. Whether this was due to the horses passing him, the cooler weather, or the fact that he hasn't been turned out in a while, I don't really know. We did some accidental cantering and some little bucks, but nothing too bad. He is actually a little off on his front left which is somewhat worrisome. He is a little thrushy so it may just be that, but it's kind of scary when a young warmblood comes up sore because the first thing your mind jumps to is OCD. I'll have to keep an eye on it.