March 3, 2010 – Unflappable?

He's been doing some arena stuff once or twice a week. Basic in-hand leading, halting, turning, backing, walking figure eights over a cavaletti while I stand in the middle, and so on. Last week I took him out and tied the saddle blanket onto his back with a lead rope round his girth. The saddle blanket is huge on him, covering him from withers to croup. I let him loose and he proceeded to run around happily. The rope wasn't tight enough and the blanket started to slip sideways. I called him in, but he kept cantering as it slipped further and ended up under his belly flapping against his legs.

Rory. Didn't. Care. Seriously!! He did one little sidestep as the blanket reached his side, but then he ignored it and cantered calmly around the arena until it got far enough down that he could step on it and pull it loose. Even then he just kept cantering normally.

I retrieved the blanket and then he snorted at it. I folded it a second time and strapped it back on more tightly, and let him go again. Rory still didn't mind it and had his running fix without a worry. He came back to me when I called him in and got lots of pats and praise for his level head.


Side note: Rory's big sister (by Rotspon) walked and trotted for the first time under a rider today. She was very good. I hope Rory is as sensible when the time comes.