My and Woody’s First Ride

This day at the barn was so chock full of good stuff I don’t know where to start, I mean besides with that picture, cause if you have a picture like that you’d be insane not to lead with it. 

First, My mom came out to the barn with me, which ALWAYS makes me happy.  She’s the bees knees, AND she took pictures AND video.  She’s the bestest.

Second, I will update you on Woodford’s social status, for it has taken QUITE a turn.  It turns out Heather #1, the HEAD Heather, has decided that Woody is her boyfriend. 

Now, I understand that this is because she is in heat, and the second that she is not she will reject him like I was rejected by my 8th grade heart-throb (he asked me out on April Fool’s Day… I’m not kidding.  And to make it worse? I didn’t know he was.  Kidding that is).  But for the time being they are in love.  I almost had a heart attack when my mom and I pulled up to the barn and saw Woody in the run in.

Turns out there needn’t be any concern.

The mare is the dam of the other TB mare in the field.  She hurt her knee years ago when she got cast in her stall.  Woody sees past her handicap. 

The big grey is not all about The Woods just yet, but I now feel more comfortable that they’ll sort it all out… at least as long as Bunny stays in heat for the rest of her life.

When I brought him in and put him in his stall (and far from his girlfriend) he showed his ass a bit.  Circling in his stall, hollering, telling me the sky was falling.  So When I took him out, I had a chain on just in case.  Now I don’t know if it was BECAUSE of the chain or not, but as soon as I clicked the lead rope on, Woody settled right down as if to say “Oh, OK.  You’re here now so I’ll stop with the theatrics.”  He didn’t make another peep.

We then began the tacking up process which of course was completely non-eventful.  Woody does make faces though, which is totally funny.  Although you can see the tail end of a lip wiggle, this is not his funny face, this is his “Holy Crap I’m one cute pony” face.

Anyone who knows me knows that I HATE having my picture taken and I will hide behind anything available… Including Woody’s face.

Now We’ll get on with the riding.  My plan honestly was just to spend most of the ride working at the walk and start the bending process, and maybe trot a little bit. 

Yeah, Woods is an over achiever.  He was such a good soul not only did we walk, trot AND canter, but he Cantered on BOTH leads… and they were the CORRECT ones.  He was of course unbalanced and both ziggy and zaggy, and I am certain he’ll forget both leads and only cross canter or Tranter next week, but he was amazing TODAY!  The only way to show you is well, to show you!

We Mount, we trot about, we maybe even canter for the first time…

To the left, to the left The first Wooo you hear is when I almost ran over the cat in the very beginning (even after a couple of “KITTY!” exclamations), and the second one is when we almost ran into the fence.     Woody remained unfazed.

And to the right, to the right

I did stand still for a couple of pictures after our fabulous ride.

Psst… Woody, You’re Super-Cute

The Beach is THAT way!

I was just a little happy… Truthfully, I was happier than I’d been in quite some time.  Horses are amazing.

 

He desperately needs a new bridle.  All my others (which I have finally found in pieces) are Ozzy sized… which was decidedly far from Cob, which is what Mr. Facesocute needs.  Something to shop for at Rolex!

And to end the day, because no one can anthropomorphisize like me, Woody and his girlfriend, a play in one act: