Pony Dreams

Last night was a non-barn night so no new news on Megan, but I'm really looking forward to tonight and riding her again. I'm on the verge of becoming obsessed! :-) It's actually a great feeling and one I haven't had about my horses in recent years. My last horse was a very nice fellow, but we just never really clicked.

Vinnie was 1/2 Trakehner 1/2 Percheron/TB and all enormous. He was also mouthy and impertinent as all heck -- not my favorite traits. He was a lovely mover and was really coming into his own as a dressage horse when I decided he just wasn't for me. He found a lovely home with a teenager who thinks he hung the moon. I had a couple of OTTBs in the interim but never really bonded with either of them. I think when it comes to horses I really just like girls. My old mare was my buddy and so personable and attentive. Megan is developing along the same lines. She has more self confidence than Lucy but we've definitely bonded.

My friend Katherine and I spotted Megan in the paddock with her mom shortly after she was born and I was entranced. She was little liver chestnut spitfire and built like a brickhouse. I still had Vinnie so I lusted after her a bit and then moved on. Fast forward 18 months and I am horseless and looking. The lady who bred and raised Megan is a horse dealer and she had a 3 year old gelding that was under saddle and going that I went to try. He was a nice sort, quiet and agreeable, but not terribly athletic when we free jumped him. He was actually probably a great choice for me -- adult ammy, with not a lot of time to ride. I was all set to make the deal when Katherine and I set off down the hill to take one last look at Megan. We walked into the field and I started babbling about all the reasons she wasn't right and I should buy the gelding. K called me on it and basically said if I didn't buy her I'd always regret it. She was right and the gelding was forgotten.

That's not to say that I haven't regretted the decision a time or two. A year and a half is a long time to wait when you don't have anything else to ride. She has certainly been groomed to within an inch of her life with lots of beauty parlor days. Mostly it's been fun to watch her grow... and to dream. There's kind of a sweet spot right before you start them under saddle when you (or at least I was) are consumed by the art of the possible and what might be. You dream of how they are going to ride and what fun they are going to be. You haven't yet sat on them and felt them stagger like a drunk or tried to steer them about when they are totally clueless to the reins and the leg. But those dreams are what carry you through the next few months (or years!) of green as grass-ness. You just know someday she'll lift into the trot round and powerful just like she did on her own prior to being ridden, but you'll be lifted along with her and feel that power and you'll know your '76 Chevy Nova with no power steering (ask me how I know how THAT feels) has turned into a serious sports car.