A patient princess

I was a little nervous of getting back on Sofie after a week holiday on spring grass. I expected to come back to a round Haflinger full of beans. I had visions of us careering across fields with no breaks. Turns out I was once again unfair on Princess Sofie who is turning out to be a lovely gentle soul. I get back on after a week off and she plods along on the buckle enjoying the warm spring evening. She hasn’t even put on weight, and there is no heat in her feet so she gets to continue to enjoy grazing without her muzzle.

She is so lovely and calm that I trusted her enough to take Tonto out on a ride and lead by myself.

I think point I should make a little confession. I hate riding alone. Not only do I have no-one to talk to – anyone can tell you I hate my own company – but I also start to fret about what would happen if I had an accident. This puts me into an uncharacteristically anxious state (well on horseback at least) and an anxious rider makes an anxious horse. I have never ridden Sofie alone.

So deciding to ride out Sofie alone with Tonto in tow was a tad optimistic.

I guess my thinking was I was not really alone, there are three of us. At least the horses can gain confidence from each other. I also really wanted to take the old boy out. He’s spent all winter only pottering from his field to the yard and back. Not much variety for him, and Mr T is a smart horse who enjoys exploring the world. He seems to be relatively mobil, providing he is walking on a smooth flat surface. Luckily the field next to the yard is more or less a bowling green so now the ground has dried out I thought he would enjoy a potter.

I decided to lead past the scary plastic, knowing full well Tonto would be a knob about it – he was – and I wasn’t sure I could handle him whilst riding. Once safely in the field, where few things can jump out at us, I jumped on board Sofie. We walked up the long side of the field. Sof was a bit confused by the whole thing. Who was this hairy dishevelled cob and why was he stalking her. Tonto was his usual helpful self and kept on unnecessarily switching sides, forcing me to have to keep passing the lead rope behind my back. Sof was getting a bit upset by the rope touching her princess bottom and my arms flapping about. She also could not work out if I was talking to her or Tonto when I kept on asking T to walk on. Tonto Finally decided to walk next to Sofie, but I could see his expression turn to mischief. I could tell he was plotting to tank off when we turned to home. I decided best to jump off and lead on foot before I get into trouble.

Once on the ground both ponies walked happily next to me. Was really nice to have them side by side, ears pricked, enjoying life. I tried to take some photos, but this was nih-on impossible. Besides Tonto had the muzzle on to stop him from snacking as we walked which is hardly a photogenic look.

going for walkies

 

T trying his chat up lines

 

happy ponies

I feel a bit guilty thinking this but Tonto does really look ugly standing next to beautiful Sofie. He is not in his prettiest stat atm. His long winter coat is dark and course and he has a full beard which hides his noble head. Come summer his coat will change to a beautiful copper colour and I will hack away his beard. I still think Sofie is prettier, but T isn’t bad looking under all that fluff. I hope to have a little photo shoot with them once they have both lost their winter woollies.



Anyway after our walk I decided to take Sofie with us on the way back to Tonto’s field. I didn’t want to break the golden ‘you do not leave Sofie’ rule, especially as I have just got her calm again in the stable. She was super patient as I put Tonto back in his field, and so calm I decided to ride her back to the yard. Now we really were alone. I was expecting her to jog and spook but she was an angel. What a good little horse. We then went out for a second stroll with Gem and Harry, making the most of the lovely evening.

 

 In fact thinking about it Sofie was the epitome of calmness and patience today. She went in and out of the stable, lead filthy old men round fields, went out and back and out and back to the yard, posed for photos. Not one complaint. How far she has come from the horse who you could not leave waiting for one second only a few months ago.