A Baby Boomer Dreams of Arabian Horses - Rhythm's Story - Part 7

Part One of the Baby Boomer Series

Rhythm's Story starts here

Trying to manage two horse shows, train and show my own horses turned out to be way too much for one person to do. I had never imagined how much work being the show manager could be until I actually did the job. It turned out to be a year round project. By the time I got done with one horse show it was time to step it up a notch on the other.

The first year I had managed both horse shows, I didn't show any horses of my own at all during that year. How I had thought I was going to show Rhythm even at other shows, I have no idea. As it turned out there was just no way that was going to happen.

The second year, the other members on the Daffodil Board of Directors, and also volunteers on the show, were not nearly as helpful as they had been the first. I don't know if it was because I did such a good job they didn't think I needed their help or what the deal was. All I know for sure is that I was buried with my volunteering and had no time left for my breeding business.

Showing my horse, Rhythm, became out of the question and I was beginning to worry. To sell this horse for the money he was worth, he needed a show record and more importantly he needed to be seen by lots and lots of people. This breeding business of mine was hanging on by a wing and a prayer financially, I really needed to get this horse sold.

Working on the horse shows, I was making lots of political connections but that wasn't going to do me much good if I couldn't even get my horses into the ring. Even with all of the volunteer work I was doing, I couldn't even get my peers to attend my open house, let alone people shopping for show horses. It was clear it was time for a change in strategy if I wanted to get Rhythm or any other horses sold . I resigned off both horse shows and did not run for re-election on the board.

I just kept right on working Rhythm getting the horse softer and softer. He was going so darn cool, I couldn't wait for the next showing season. The horse was going to be five so he would still be able to show as a junior horse in the bosal. I was feeling like things were finally going to come together.

There must be some kind of rule in life that says there's supposed to be bumps in the road when things start to smooth out. At least that's what it feels like to me because the next thing you know there was this funny bump. Rhythm began resisting going into the lope.

It started off slowly. At first I just thought he was having a bad day or maybe a week. The horse didn't do the same thing each time but the fact he was doing anything other than exactly what I had asked was in itself odd.

Then the resistance got bigger and bigger. Before to long the horse was bucking when I asked him to lope. Or crow hopping, or spinning in a circle or I don't even remember what else. But clearly the horse did not want to lope.

At first I couldn't imagine what it was. I palpated his back, shoulders, hips and neck looking for tension. I checked with the horse chiropractor to see if he was out of alignment somewhere. But none of that turned out to be a problem.

It just didn't make sense to me that all of a sudden the horse was developing an attitude. Sure he had one on the ground sometimes, but the minute I threw my leg over that horse, he always went straight to work. Something was wrong, I just didn't know what.........

To be continued.........

Rhythm's Story - Part 8

This picture is Rhythm sporting his bosal. He thought he looked pretty darn cool in this thing! Talk about knowing he's supposed to be a show horse!

I also wanted to mention that my blogging friend, barn goddess has a wonderful old gelding named Scooter who just celebrated his 29th birthday! Way to go, Scooter!


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