10/18/2026
Last night after feeding, I had time for a ride before dark. I wanted to pony Secret so shes getting conditioning, but hadn't decided whether I wanted to take her with Santana, my steady eddy, or try it with Jane for her first time. I stood in the yard and asked the herd who was up for it. I thought I was talking to Santana and Jane. Apparently Finley had something to say about it. He poked Jane with his nose. Of course I was like "whatever Finley, nobody asked you"
I went and grabbed Santana's halter because I thought the chilly weather might make Jane too fresh and it would be safer for me to take Santana. When I walked out of the barn and headed to him, he left. What?
I turned my head to look at the rest of the herd and Finley again poked Jane, as if to say "yeah, you understood what I said, she's ready."
When I took the halter to Jane she put her nose right in it. Easy peasey. Santana was off in the distance looking on.
I rode Jane and ponied Secret from her back. She offered a couple temper tantrums when we were close to the front of the woods, eager to head back to the farm, but we worked through it. She is a super forward horse and its clear she won't be a beginner horse any time soon. I like a forward horse. Its fun to go trail riding and have a horse who wants to go, but I know most people like pokey quarter horses who are robotic and react slowly. They call it pleasurable. I call it boring. Go put a penny in the Meijer robot horse for that kind of fun.
This morning I was texting with Jane's owner. She shared some really insightful information with me. I'm glad she didn't share it last night or I may not have chosen to ride Jane. Jane has been somewhat feral and majorly reactive most of her life, being passed around from owner to owner to find someone who can handle her.
Tada! Here I am, the crazy old lady who rides her out in the woods while ponying a 2 year old filly. And i ride her in a Parelli hackamore.