Sunday, August 17, 2008

The mysterious mind of the Grey Mare

I have always thought I had the Grey Mare pretty well sussed. We have a good relationship and a fabulous bond. I usually know what will worry her and what she will take in her stride. But sometimes she surprises me.

Today was one of those days where she surprised me big time - and in a fabulous way. Today we went to our second dressage test. And we came second!

After the fiasco of our first attempt a couple of weeks ago, and her naughtiness and 'I'm not listening' while schooling this week, I was prepared for more of the same. I was even more concerned about our chances because due to the sodden ground, our test was in an indoor school. The Grey Mare has been in an indoor school once in the six years I have owned her and that was three or four years ago.

However, she was in a gorgeous huggy mood yesterday and seemed pretty happy this morning. She warmed up well in the field outside at the venue, I managed to stop her seeing the pigs near the school (many horses have a pig phobia) and we went into the indoor arena, complete with its scary white boards. An initial circuit of snort-snort-snort while we dandered round before the test began, then suddenly, she switched into soft, lovely dressage horse mode.

She behaved beautifully, worked well and I was utterly, utterly delighted with her. And we got a lovely big blue rosette.

I adore that wee horse!

11 comments:

Karen said...

Good for you and the Mare!

Did you see Mock The Week last week? David Mitchell was talking about the medals that we Brits are able to win at the Olympics and he said that the only ones we were good at were posh ones "that Africans couldn't afford to do such as miniature yachts and horse dancing".

Whispering Walls said...

Bravo - hope you'll make the London Olympics

@themill said...

Such a proud Mummy moment, but surely the rider on her back deserves some of the credit too? Well done both of you...

Expat mum said...

Ooh how impressive. I've been on a horse once...but we won't talk about that. My husband likes to tell the story, but he gets the Paddington bear stare when he starts!

Iota said...

Well done to you both!

Hadriana's Treasures said...

Well done to you both! Why do horses have a phobia of pigs? (Just curious.)

Gill said...

congrats! I don't get the whole horsey dancing thing but I know it must take a lot of skill from both of you.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, my mare would be the same, snorting at the boards! She can work really well sometimes when we're schooling, but I don't think we'd manage a competition. Well done you :-)

Mopsa said...

Isn't she a doll?

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Thankyou all, she is an utter babe!

Rural Diaries said...

Just happened across your blog and spent a pleasant hour mooching through your posts .. shame you're not about much these days.

So lovely when they realise it's work time and switch on. Very well done on the rosette.