So I've been hacking with Ernie for nearly a year now - though for much of that time mainly as an escorted school horse.
When I started thinking about buying I looked up some useful sites on the internet with key questions that should lead the prospective purchaser objectively to the correct decision. Not far into the list were the questions: does he rear? buck? bolt? - well what could I say, he ticked all boxes, especially when riding out and not just once! Decision made.
Yes he's been a bit of a character in the woods and certainly has earned himself quite a reputation, which slowly became more and more apparent as my escort started to bring lead ropes and get very uncomfortable when I would suggest taking the lead; this then further emphasised by comments such as "well I hadn't expected him to be that good" to the more extreme "if he did that to me I'd be on the floor now". There were times I admit where a good hack simply constituted all four feet remaining on the floor, or least never further from the floor than expectation within the measure of our employed gait.
What can I say, clearly we were meant for each other. But for all this I never really felt him more than high-spirited or playful, at the end of the day you can feel the difference between when a horse wants to do something and you're holding it back as against it's decided to unseat you.
So when he was vetted, what was the answer to, what would be his principal proposed use ..... Yes, you guessed it!
And then I brought him, and he has become Mr chilled, the equine manifestation of "Yeah, whatever..." So here I am with what seems to be the a dream hacking horse, who is equally happy alone and in company...... Famous last words.
Anyway so the I have a growing list of observations on Ernie's view of the world which I am compiling from experiences when riding out with him ....
What doesn't spook him: Gates; Girl guide troops flapping maps; Parrots in cages; Parrots not in cages; Cars; Llamas; Big lorries with cranes on them, passing him in a narrow country lane; Other horses misbehaving; Bikes; Joggers; Other horses cantering away from him; Golf carts, small dogs.....
What does flap him: Other horses cantering up from behind him (this is the life before your eyes moment usually); Ramblers sneaking through undergrowth; Plastic bags in trees; Children on the rope swing in the woods by the Joyden's gate; Other horses treading on twigs; Golfers in play (then again I never liked 'em either, even when I had an eight handicap!)....
Lets see which list ends up the longest ... the ones i'm not looking forward to trying (but previously experienced) helicopters, dog going for legs, quad-bikes and other spooked horses bolting past .....
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