I hacked Radar up to a friend's house for tea this afternoon. He was very, very forward, just wanting to MOVE.
About half way there I decided on a test. We were at a small triangle of grass where the road goes in three directions - home, downhill, uphill. I dropped the reins and took off my leg. Did he turn around and go home, which is a normal hack he is used to? No. Did he head downhill, the easiest option? No. He trotted all the way up a very steep hill for a quarter of a mile, and he would have cantered it if I had not stopped him from doing that.
Worse still, once he had been allowed to exert himself that way, all he wanted to do was more of it, and he was an unsettled, jogging pain in the butt all the way to my friend's house!
Now how many horses would have made that choice, I wonder???
C
ps he was SO happy to have been working, you should have seen his chirpy look when I went to tack him up to bring him home again.
Aw, got to love him. Clearly Radar needs to be ridden. So, I guess you are going to be super fit. and happy as all get out just to be able to "get out" and about on such an enthusiastic partner. Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteThat is really adorable. Lots of lovely hacking for you & Radar then :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd actually prefer my hacks to be a bit more relaxed Sarah, but he is what he is :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd the enthusiasm is kinda infectious Jean.
C
Do you think he will chill a bit once he is going out regularly - is it just the excitement of being back having a job to do making him go at warp speed?
ReplyDelete