A short story about Buddy:

On the last day I rode with him, 12/7, I went out to the outdoor ring to bring him in for tacking. It was dark, and I couldn't see that well. When I entered the ring and shut the gate behind me, a couple of the other horses in the ring were standing right in front of me, as soon as I turned around, staring at me, probably trying to get out, or at least get my attention.

All of a sudden, they were spooked by something and scattered. And then there was Buddy walking up to me. He stopped a foot in front of me, head bowed and eyes and ears alert. He had snuck up on the other horses in front of me from behind, and lay claim to his rider.

The proudest moment of my short career as a rider came when I wasn't even in the saddle.

Buddy passed away this December. 

So here's to you Buddy.  You really were too good to me.  Rest in peace.

A couple days ago, I probably had the best day of riding I've had in my short career.  Given that it's only been about a month it probably doesn't mean much, but damn...


Well, have you ever had those sessions where things just seem to line up, and the key components just fall into place?  This applies to pretty much any hobby that takes an ounce of skill (of which riding takes gallons of), so most of us who have hauled our disturbingly obese behinds off the couch to do something interesting can relate.


The reason I'm so pumped now is because the previous week, Buddy had been, well, to put it nicely, a little bit...well, he was being a handful.  I couldn't keep him on the rail (which is probably just as much an indictment against my lack of experience as anything), and couldn't even get him to go straight through a standard.  Buddy is usually super nice to me, and everyone else for that matter, but last week's session just wasn't our day to work together.


This week's though...wow.  For once, I legitimately felt as though we had a mutual interest in doing well.  Working on a team with someone who doesn't speak to you through normal modes of communication is very difficult, even more so when you're different species.


Of course, due to my poor inexperienced form, my lower back and left hamstring are a little sore, but I'm willing to accord that to an occupational hazard.


Although I'm not getting paid, so maybe a "hobby-tional" hazard.


Is that a word?  If it isn't, it is one now.


I love English.

Recently I took up equestrian in my spare time.  While spare time doesn't really amount to much these days, it's still plenty enough time to have the fun one desires and forget the work that awaits you upon your return.

Why?  Well, I've always wanted to work with horses.  Unfortunately, I really didn't have the opportunity or time growing up to partake in such, *ahem* hoity-toity activities.  Honestly, that is the perception many people have of those who ride horses.  

To some extent, the belief is warranted.  Many people who deal with horses regularly have access to financial resources most of us could only dream of.  For instance, the barn I train at currently normally charges $50 for a group lesson.  That adds up quickly.  Thankfully, being a member of the University squad licenses me to a hefty discount (thank you to the good people at RPI of course).  Not to mention the equipment, the clothing, etc...

All in all, it's not a cheap activity.

With the discount in hand, I jumped into this new foray.  I figured that my athletic background would help me pick it up quickly...kind of.  I'm used to walking around on the balls of my feet.  Anyone who has any experience with horses always remembers the "keep your heels down" mantra.  I still struggle with that.

After my instructor realized I had a background in contact sports, she assigned me, with a little chuckle, this horse named "Buddy," a.k.a. "Bulldog."  She told me the reason she picked this particular horse for me was that Buddy has an exceptionally long stride, which means his baseline walk and trot are pretty fast.  Okay, very fast. Thus, he can be a little bit rougher on beginners who haven't quite figured out the horses rhythms and how to move with it.

For a while, it was like trial by fire, and as many people will tell you, this is the best way to learn.  You learned the rhythms quickly, otherwise your nether regions will hate you later.  Not to mention, having poor rhythm frustrates your steed.  And trust me, you do not want to frustrate an animal as big as a horse, especially if you're sitting on it.


It seems as though over the last few weeks, with the requisite bumps and bruises along the way, that Buddy and I are beginning to work as a team.  I feel almost spoiled by the relationship I have with Buddy, especially witnessing the struggle that some of my teammates have with their steeds.


One of the best things about Buddy is his stall etiquette.  He's so calm, so relaxed, a beautiful thing for a beginner who's just learning how to tack quickly and consistently.  While other horses seem to hate the process and let their respective riders know their feelings on the subject, Buddy seems to accept it with tacit annoyance.  Understandable of course, considering you are strapping him with a bunch of leather so that you can essentially try to control him for the next hour or so.


Regardless, it makes everything easy, and most importantly of all, safe.


Getting used to Buddy has been excellent, especially considering the almost pre-natural match we have.  Our instructor commented to me that me and Buddy are "excellent physical matches."  Not sure what that meant at the time, but it's gradually becoming more clear to me.  Buddy is a fairly young horse, and thus has all of this energy.  He wants to jump everything.  He wants to go fast.  With the correct amount of coffee, we have a similar energy level, so we can mesh in that ultimately, I also want to jump everything, and go fast.


But I must say, the most enjoyable thing I've learned about riding are simple moments with your horse.  One of the days after my ride, with Buddy strapped to the walls so I could untack him, whenever I walked away he would try to follow me, only to be held back by his straps.


Maybe he was just trying to make a dash, and had nothing to do with horse-rider relationship.  Regardless, even if it is delusory, I like to think that somehow we're getting used to each other.


Today as well, brushing him down at the end, standing in front of him and touching the top of his head... Buddy would look at me with a comfort that wasn't there a few weeks ago.  For a few moments, he stuck his nose in my chest...and proceeded to leave a big wet spot in the middle of my shirt.


Thanks Buddy.  Glad to see I'm a human kleenex to you.


Never been prouder to be a human kleenex before.