Camryn here:
This past Sat. we were going to have a horsey play day at my neighbors arena. They'd had on before when we couldn't go and it sounded fun. They'd ride up take a hat off a pole, then run the arena to put the hat on another pole. Play musical mats, take a ball from one side to the other and a bunch of other stuff. So Mom n me were pretty excited. Mom saddled me up and led me over. Johnny and his person were there waiting, Levi, Jesse and there people came over behind us, then Teddy's person brought him out to play too. Me no four boys, wow sounds like heaven. It wasn't!!!! Mom had her camera but, since we didn't end up playing games she didn't use it at all.
First they were talking about turning us all loose together. Our persons were supposed to keep us in control and do a "join up" with their horse. Mom was like "WHOA, only two have been turned out together, I was the only mare with four geldings, plus I hadn't been turned out with nobody forever. NO WAY was we gonna do that". She was contimplating just saying "see ya" and heading home. Danette had been doing something and hadn't heard the plan. She vetoed the turning us all loose together, Mom was relieved. So instead we'd be turned loose one at a time and our person had to keep their horse in control for the "join up". While the others would stand back, keep their horse on their long line, and keep the loose horse away while keeping their horse in control. Mom still wasn't sure but, Lori volunteered to help her.
First Johnny got turned loose and of course guess where he headed? Yup, to the one and only girl me. Mom spun her rope at him, and I turned my butt to him. If he'd have come any closer I was gonna double barrel him for sure. He ran around like crazy, bucking and veering every where. I was his ultimate goal, Mom was way stressing out and not liking this game at all. Finally Johnny got his jollies out, went to his human and did the "join up" I did realize after Johnny that Mom was on my team and I could trust her to keep the boys away from me.
Next was Levi, and guess what, he didn't head right for me. He headed for Jesse his pasture mate (Jesse was standing beside us), then Levi tried to come between Jesse and the wall to come to me. Momma held him off a few times. He didn't have to get his yee ha's out much and after a few attempts to hind behind Jesse and/or come to me, he "joined up" real nice like.
Jesse was next, and he came right for me too. Though he didn't have a "it's a girl" look in his eye like the others. His look was more like "Hi can we be friends", Mom told him to go away so he did and "joined up" with his person right away. Mom finally quit stessing and felt more "empowered" by now which was good.
Next was my turn. Mom wasn't quite sure of herself so Levi's person had Mom stand beside her while she "tried" to do a "join up" with me to show Mom what to do. Mom knows how to do it but, not in a small arena, with me loose and one of the boys standing in the middle of the arena. So, they turn me loose and while Levi's person sends me off with the rope. I was not happy one little wee bit about this scenario at all. I did my turbo trot, round n round I went with some bucks thrown in for good measure. I didn't bother with any of those boys either let me tell you. I just wanted to be done with the whole thing. Mom stepped in and took over, I did the "join up" but, was shooting Mom some pretty dirty looks. Levi's Mom said I wasn't respectful, I was thinking "yeah you got it". Mom n Me did some at liberty stuff which I don't mind at all. None of the boys were loose anymore and I understand that kinda stuff.
Next Teddy took his turn, he's an older guy and much more respectful of a gurls space. He came towards me a few times, but Mom's rope kept him a distance and he wasn't really trying as hard as the first two. He joined right up with is person. Jesse n Teddy did the bestest of all of us.
Finally the torture was over, and our peoples all saddled us back up and we rode around the arena. Mom told Jesse's Mom later that maybe Me n Jesse could be turned out together, then another time with Levi till we all got to be friends. AND that while the games would be fun, doing a "join up" surrounded by other horses isn't something she's gonna be comfortable with at all. Plus all things considering I did really, really good onced I knew Mom wasn't gonna allow any of the others to get to close and cause me problems.
While it all turned out well, looking back Mom really wishes we'd just headed home. That all in all it wasn't a good safe idea at all. Her normally doesn't succumb to pressure of her peers like that. And wishes her hadn't then either. I think she's right, do you?
Later
