Gypsy

J, the owner of the barn I frequent, owns several brood mares. It's been several years now, but she used to breed some of these mares each year and would usually have 3 or 4 foals each Spring. Now, she only breeds a mare perhaps once every three or four years, things just aren't like they used to be. Anyway, the brood mares are really living the life. They are in stalls during the hot days of summer and turned out together at night. Vice versa in the cold winter months. They are grained twice daily, wormed and vetted of course, shod and trimmed accordingly and groomed when needed. Some of them are broke while others are not. They are all very well behaved however. Each mare is a registered Morgan horse, and ages range from 6 to 23. There are 3 palominos, 1 buckskin, 1 black, 1 chestnut and 4 bays. They are my beauties, even if they don't belong to me.

One mare in particular is my favorite (though I love them all), and I made it a mission to get her started under saddle a few years ago. Gypsy (Nashboro Gypsy Wind) is a plump light colored palomino mare, foaled in 1994. She has a refined head and a sturdy, curvaceous Morgan body with a lovely archy neck. Best of all, she's sweet as can be. She is not athletic in the sense that she really struggles with her canter. She kind of goes around, very quickly with barely any bend to her front lets- she's my peg legged Petunia! This is due to many factors I'm certain - never being worked under saddle, being over weight and genetics have something to do with it.

At 14 years old, Gypsy learned how to walk, trot, canter and whoa on a lunge line. She learned how to wear a surcingle, a bridle and snaffle bit. She felt a saddle and then a rider. All of this without one single buck, rear or balk though it took me many weeks to acclimate her to all of this. I had Gypsy to the point where she was going along pretty well, steering of course, she sets her head, walks and jogs on cue, but that darn canter is something else.

It's been a year since I've really worked with Gypsy, but last weekend I decided it was time. I pulled Gypsy, all fat and sassy out of her stall, and a riding we went. I figured I'd take it slow since it had been a while for Gypsy. I saddled her slowly, tightening the cinch bit by bit. I put in the snaffle bit, her halter and then attached a faded blue lunge line. She started off nervous and snotty and she attempted an awkward fat horse buck or two. After about 10 minutes on the lunge line, she settled right down. Some time later, I got up on her and began our workout. Things were going great, I was bending her and getting her used to my legs and steering (remember it's been over a year, and she wasn't fully broke where I left off). So, things were going great until J (the barn owner) shows up. GOOD GRIEF! J begins telling me to set her head and not let her fool around. Slow the jog down, kick her when she does anything wrong! UGH, I just wanted to tell her to SHUT THE F UP! I am in no rush to get this poor out of shape mare show ring ready. In fact, the last show I went to with J (in June of 2009) I made a vow that I would never again show with her involvement (I'll tell that story later). This means I need to find a new barn and start looking for my own horse FINALLY!

But, back to Gypsy - Other than the unsolicited instructions, I really enjoyed being back up on sweet ole' Gypsy. She took everything in stride and I really hope that we'll be getting that canter of hers in working condition before the summer is out. I plan on riding her Sunday, so I'll get some pictures if I can.

Back to J though, I don't want it to seem that I dislike her. I've known her all of my adult life and have mad respect for her as a horse woman. I volunteer my time for her (meaning work for free) and this work includes, riding, clipping *body clipping* grooming, cleaning buckets, stalls, hay, turning out horses, bringing in horses, bathing, etc, etc. What I get out of it is simply my horse fix. When I go to shows, I pay my way including trailering and all show fees.