The More You Do It, the Less Impossible It Seems

It was freezing, wet ground, windy and blustery this morning so I thought, it's a good day to ground drive Dewey to the park. Also, it's trash truck Monday, why not add another diversion to test the poor guy. Hadn't driven him a week, and put on his harness and for some reason he had a little freak out like he was suddenly surprised he didn't like the harness on his butt, and bounced around a little in the barn but he didn't really go anywhere, so I kept harnessing him up and checked all his straps and then we were off to the park. In the driveway there is a huge chocolate brown tarp that is billowing up over the bicycles and a ladder on the other side, and Dewey is eyeing it all but he walks past it. We head out the gate, and he's still feeling the wind, and being a young TB, but I start driving him and we settle in. I decided when you ground drive you have to pretend you are actually on a carriage ride, and act accordingly. So you keep an eye out for danger, keep your horse moving forward, and feel his mouth on the end of the rein. He's trusting you. Dewey settles in alongside the trafficky road, and next to the dogs barking at houses we pass. We take a different route to the park, and once in the park we pass white plastic bagged trash waiting to be picked up, and we trot through the park on a route we don't usually go - I make a loop through the trees, and along the outline of the park and you know what, Dewey loves to work. He loves to do nothing MORE, but when he's all harnessed up, he wants to go somewhere. We go into the park arena, and I unharness him and let him roll. The sun feels so good I sit down in the middle of the arena on the drying wet sand from rain last night, and I lie flat on the ground. Then I look up and Dewey is laying flat on the ground too. It just feels good. I go over and sit on him, the big warm cow that he is, and we reflect on how we're doing that day. Or at least I do. Then chase him around so he can gallop and stretch his legs. Harness him back up, and we head back out down the road, past flapping tarps. On our little sidestreet I forget to watch where we're going, I just feel him. I feel his head relax down, I feel him moving forward freely, I guide him side to side, to make our connection solid and gentle. A huge trash truck comes barreling at us and I wave loudly at him and he stops and cuts his engine, which I wish he didn't, I just wanted him to slow down. Dewey passes the trash truck with no problem. We walk home as one horsepersonanimal - driving is the same as riding because Dewey is waiting to see what I want, and waiting to fulfill it. He's also happy to just be out exploring. On the secret path right before our house is a long skinny bamboo that's fallen across the path. Dewey stops and wants to turn around, but he just stops. I pet him and let him stand there. Then I encourage him forward. He's still saying uhhh, that stick is blowing in the wind. If I step on that stick it will move. I will be scared. I stop and let him relax, like we're not going anywhere. We're just going to stay here. We stand there for awhile until the fear goes away. Dewey does not want to go over the stick, but I gently pick up the reins and say come on, let's just walk over it. He walks over it. I'm getting better and handling the whip, and tossing it over him so I can help speed him up or guide him that way. Before it felt very heavy and awkward. Practice is helping. Yesterday I put two kids on him double for the first time in his life, and walked them around. Four legs on him and he was fine with it. He likes to be part of the family. He knows he belongs. What a pretty nice thing for any of us to have, right? As for driving, it is helping to do each step - I had him pulling chain for the first time last week. And I walked him with PVC pipe against his side to get him used to shafts. It's exciting to be getting him used to all the things he'd have to endure as a driving horse. Mostly, though, it's nice to learn from off his back, that this horse will do anything I ask him. He will try. He's trusting me. So it's only fair to ask him to do things he can succeed at - then we both can build our confidence. Blustery trash truck freezing day - go out and do it. The more you do it, the less impossible it seems. I can even see doing a parade. Because then the noise is just part of the ride. If you say it's okay, your horse can be worried, but if you keep him going, then he will see it's okay. Then it's just part of the day.