The original phrase was “ride ‘m like you stole ‘em,” which made no sense to me. This might have meant ride fast and get out of Dodge, but this is not right. Fair better to “ride ‘m like you Own ‘Em”; meaning, treat them kindly and with forethought.

This is what I am attempting to do with my horses. I used to be far more reactive than I am now. I would ever so often whack the horses when I perceived that they’d done something amiss.

Lined up eating

Over time, I began in certain instances to think things out and explore more options. For example, rather than getting bent out of shape when they get into the enclosure hay barn closet, I instead give them a few minutes to graze before going to one of the three and gently asking them to back.

After the horse in question takes a few steps backwards I click with my tongue and give a reward.

I also wait now, with hay in hand, outside the gate, for them to go into their feeding area before entering and laying out hay. When they’re all lined up – Hrimmi, Raudi, and Tyra, I go in and put the hay in front of them all.

In the mornings they are at the far gate, in front of their respective yellow bucket lid targets. I walk in, toss them some treats, and leave the gate open. They go out the gate, make a sharp right, and race over to the hitching post where I have already set out a flake of hay. Or sometimes I merely toss the hay over the enclosure fence.

I put down hay in the enclosure shelter while they are eating, clean up the poop, then open the gate and call them. They come in one by one, stopping to get a treat.

I have learned something really valuable in doing this. Horses do not want to squabble over rations. They prefer to go to and eat their hay in peace. So they will do this, when given this option. For example, Raudi might pin her ears back if Hrimmi or Tyra rush into the area where the hay has been laid out. (This is called resource guarding and has nothing to do with dominance.) However, she visibly relaxes when the other mare or mares start to eat.

I don’t put halters on the horses when they are loose around the property. I do put halters on them when they are on their way to work, say going from the enclosure to the hitching post.

This said, when I see photos of horses with rope halters on them, I know that something is amiss. These owners don’t have an affinity with their animal or animals and vice versa.

The above translates to out on the trail. Today I rode Hrimmi – and as I did yesterday with Raudi, I focused on my body in relation to hers. As with agility, I could feel her mental wheels turning when I asked her to walk, trot, tolt, and canter.

And so, like yesterday, when I rode Raudi, riding Hrimmi was the high point of my day.

Next: 304. 11/5/23: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs