Post by Emily on Aug 13, 2009 14:43:58 GMT -5
It was mid-afternoon on a relatively cool summer day and I decided to spend this rarity with my precious yearling, La Luminosita. I walked out to the paddock of yearlings and stood for a moment watching their antics before opening the gate and calling for Lumi. The filly immediately raised her head and nickered to me then began to meander in my direction. I rubbed her star as I hooked the halter over her head and began to lead her back to the barn. She seemed a little confused to leave at this hour but happily followed at my side.
When we got back to the barn I tied Lumi up and she watched intently as I methodically brushed her petite body. I then tacked her up and led her out to the round pen. I hooked the reigns to my saddle and clipped a lunge line to her bridle then asked her to trot. For a few weeks now we had been working in here to improve her trust in me. I had her trot several laps in each direction then canter a few before I unhooked the lunge line and mounted her. I let her walk for a lap then trotted a little before heading out to the track.
Lumi snorted as she saw the vast area of grass in front of her, beckoning to her. I pet her neck reassuringly and asked to to trot off. She pranced a moment but was quickly acclimated and I let her open up into a smooth canter. Lumi obliged and we began to turn the corner. As the view of the long stretch of track came into her view, the filly perked up and began to tug at the reigns, asking to go faster. I smiled, happy that this filly who seems so low key would have the urge to run. I let go of my grip on her face a little and just let her have at it. At first Lumi seemed reserved, like she wanted to make sure it was okay, but a slight squeeze of my leg and she was off. I got low on her neck and kept a constant pressure of my legs with just a slight feel on her face so that she could just run however she wanted and I could learn a little about what her future racing style might be. Lumi started out just creeping into a gallop but got increasingly confident and was in a full out gallop with her little nose stretched out and ears pricked for the last furlong of the stretch. I let her stop with that and scratched her golden neck lovingly as we walked. You were great out there sunshine I whispered to her.
When we got back to the barn I tied Lumi up and she watched intently as I methodically brushed her petite body. I then tacked her up and led her out to the round pen. I hooked the reigns to my saddle and clipped a lunge line to her bridle then asked her to trot. For a few weeks now we had been working in here to improve her trust in me. I had her trot several laps in each direction then canter a few before I unhooked the lunge line and mounted her. I let her walk for a lap then trotted a little before heading out to the track.
Lumi snorted as she saw the vast area of grass in front of her, beckoning to her. I pet her neck reassuringly and asked to to trot off. She pranced a moment but was quickly acclimated and I let her open up into a smooth canter. Lumi obliged and we began to turn the corner. As the view of the long stretch of track came into her view, the filly perked up and began to tug at the reigns, asking to go faster. I smiled, happy that this filly who seems so low key would have the urge to run. I let go of my grip on her face a little and just let her have at it. At first Lumi seemed reserved, like she wanted to make sure it was okay, but a slight squeeze of my leg and she was off. I got low on her neck and kept a constant pressure of my legs with just a slight feel on her face so that she could just run however she wanted and I could learn a little about what her future racing style might be. Lumi started out just creeping into a gallop but got increasingly confident and was in a full out gallop with her little nose stretched out and ears pricked for the last furlong of the stretch. I let her stop with that and scratched her golden neck lovingly as we walked. You were great out there sunshine I whispered to her.