A Life's Story

Wednesday, 13 December 2000


As usual the lesson started around 7 PM. I was the only novice student in the lesson, the other one being a lady that has a horse there at the barn. This time I was not with Juby, I was riding Asterix who behaved himself most of the time. We did some trot, sitting and rising... the usual. Being alone (the lady I told you about was training lateral work in the middle of the arena) meant less difficulty in the corners. Without the lure of horse-butt to follow, Asterix was paying more attention to me.

The difficulties started with the canter, by the end of the lesson, as I was having problems getting Asterix to do it. Francisco had to leave for a while, so I stayed with the other student, trying on my own. After a couple of unsuccessful experiments, the lady (I heard her name dozens of times during the lesson, and still managed to forget it!) offered some advice, which I promptly accepted. I tried one more time, and still no go. She then offered to trade horses, so she could give it a try. Faced with the possibility of riding another different horse, I could give no other answer but a resounding "yes"!

The lady asked me not to trot her horse and I was more than contented to follow her wishes. Since I wouldn't be doing anything more bouncy, I didn't even bother with the length of the stirrups. I got up in the saddle, and her horse just waited patiently. He only took the slightest brush of legs to start walking. Knowing Lotus (the horse in question - his name I remember! ) would be used to a light competent rider, I made a special effort to keep the reins in the softest of contacts. As I was to remain in walk, I decided to experiment with the use of the seat to control the extent of the gait. What can I say? It was absolutely beautiful! If I'd follow the motion a little more energetically he would immediately extend the walk. If I tensed up in the seat he would slow down. I had to do it four or five times just to convince myself that I wasn't making it up. At this point Lotus wanted to go into trot, but the slightest increase of tension in the reins was all it took to slow him down. Meanwhile, Francisco returned to the arena, smiling at the scene, so I could boast of my trading skills !

After trying herself, the lady's verdict was to do everything as I was supposed to do, but also tap him softly in the back to get his attention. I tried again, according to this new plan, and it worked. Asterix would perk up with the tap and move on to canter. The problem was that having both reins in one hand and your body twisted, is not the best way to start a canter if you're unsure of seat. By the time I had the reins properly held, had gotten in phase and was paying attention, Asterix would have slowed down to trot. Understandably, it was not a very productive lesson.

A pensive Lotus on the school's paddock looking at the outside arena.

After we were finished, and while Francisco did an introductory lesson for a couple of new students, I struck a conversation with the lady and yet another student who was there. She told us her and Lotus' story. She had bought him about a year before, when he was five. The previous owner must have abused him trying to get results, for she soon found out that he would not trust humans. He would lower his head and stick out his nose at the first sign of pressure on the bit, would ignore the legs and the hands. He would just fire at a gallop carting her around (his nickname at the barn was "lávai" - something like "therehegoes"). He even hurt her by stepping intentionally on her foot once, breaking her toes.

At the time she was not very experienced and the purchase had been an impulsive one, so she was soon doubting her mental health. With great patience and lots of time, she managed to create a relationship with Lotus, getting him to trust her. She would spend time "grazing" with him in the paddock, giving him blades of grass from time to time. He would respond to voice, so she resorted to talking him through schooling. After one year of this it is hard to believe this calm obedient horse is the same one she described. I guess Lotus was very lucky to find someone who took the responsibility and the pains to recover him as she did. Its a shame what horses have to put up because of owners who, due to ignorance or inability, cannot get the results they want and instead of learning or getting help, blame the horse and mistreat him.

At least this story has a happy ending, with Lotus looking fine and willing to learn new things. Besides Lotus we also talked about the school horses. Some of them have only basic training (like Asterix), others are more learned (like Catraia). The problem with Catraia is her excess of personality, if she senses you're a novice she'll be suddenly afflicted with amnesia - "What's that you want me to do? Leg what? Leg yeast? That sounds ghastly... I'll have none of it!" .

With all the chatting, horse feeding and even more chatting, I ended up leaving little before 11 PM! A new personal record! If it weren't for the weather, I might consider pitching a tent in the school's paddock .


Pedro Fortunato
Lisbon, Portugal