Post by MELODY LIRIT on Nov 13, 2012 3:23:28 GMT -8
The best thing about trail riding for Melody was that Boo seemed to like it too. The horse's ears would prick up and her pace would quicken slightly when she saw that they were heading out on a trail. It never failed to amaze Mel how alike her and Boo's sense of adventure was. The Arabian 4-year-old mare might be overly fussy but she was by no means happy with a sheltered existence. But then again, she had trained Boo from birth. Maybe she'd magically imprinted a piece of herself onto the horse somehow, or maybe her own adventurous streak had been brought out by Boo. Animals, especially horses, had a way of doing that to Mel. While working with them she found characteristics she never considered she had in herself and develop the animals personal ones as well.
"Come on, Boo Boo," she encouraged as Boo picked her way daintily over a pebbly part of the path, gently nudging the horse's side with her heel. When Boo didn't respond to the usual commands Melody tried again, nudging a little harder and making authoritative clucking sounds that in Mel-and-Boo language meant second strike. However Boo just tossed her black-brown mane defiantly and continued picking her way over the path with elaborate and unnecessary care. Mel could tell she was just being contrary, which was not how she'd been trained at all. Her horse just didn't understand that any misbehaviour reflected badly on Melody's part more than Boo's. God forbid any students came along and found her walking slowly on this relatively easy trail, unable to assert authority over her own horse.
"Boo!" said Mel sternly, using the strike three voice and firmly nudging the horse forward. "Don't make me use the crop." They'd managed to go almost a month and a half without using the crop, and Mel wasn't keen on breaking the record. However, as Boo continued to ignore her, she had no choice. Sliding the crop out of her saddle bag (which, incidentally, also held water, food and a first aid kit, just in case), Mel gave Boo a tap on the rump. It wasn't very hard or sharp, with little more force behind it than a poking finger since Mel didn't like using the crop as a rule, but Boo sprang into action immediately. She broke into a rather grudging trot, and Mel quickly stowed the crop away with a quick "Good girl" in the rewarding voice. Now they could actually start enjoying themselves.
"Come on, Boo Boo," she encouraged as Boo picked her way daintily over a pebbly part of the path, gently nudging the horse's side with her heel. When Boo didn't respond to the usual commands Melody tried again, nudging a little harder and making authoritative clucking sounds that in Mel-and-Boo language meant second strike. However Boo just tossed her black-brown mane defiantly and continued picking her way over the path with elaborate and unnecessary care. Mel could tell she was just being contrary, which was not how she'd been trained at all. Her horse just didn't understand that any misbehaviour reflected badly on Melody's part more than Boo's. God forbid any students came along and found her walking slowly on this relatively easy trail, unable to assert authority over her own horse.
"Boo!" said Mel sternly, using the strike three voice and firmly nudging the horse forward. "Don't make me use the crop." They'd managed to go almost a month and a half without using the crop, and Mel wasn't keen on breaking the record. However, as Boo continued to ignore her, she had no choice. Sliding the crop out of her saddle bag (which, incidentally, also held water, food and a first aid kit, just in case), Mel gave Boo a tap on the rump. It wasn't very hard or sharp, with little more force behind it than a poking finger since Mel didn't like using the crop as a rule, but Boo sprang into action immediately. She broke into a rather grudging trot, and Mel quickly stowed the crop away with a quick "Good girl" in the rewarding voice. Now they could actually start enjoying themselves.
