Meanwhile, back at pony central…

Vin (who has managed to tug off one of his shoes as a sign of protest) has a new friend.

Due to one of those peculiar coincidences that occur, from time to time, on public transport, I met K.

K is a very experienced American equestrian-type, who is studying for a DPhil at Oxford and is keen to get 16 hands between her legs on a regular basis.

Last weekend I arranged to meet K at the yard. I walked her around the cross-country, the show jumping, the outdoor arena, the indoor arena and the lunging pen, introduced her to a bunch of people and then took her to meet The Great Carrot Eater.

I tacked Vin up, we wombled over to the indoor arena, sat on and worked-in for about 20 minutes. He was mostly good with occasional squally showers of tantrum.

Then I asked K if she wanted a go (which was a bit of a stupid question given that she was in boots and jodhpurs and almost champing at the bit to crack on).

I love watching someone else ride Vin – but not too often! It’s a learning experience to see how *this* evasion manifests itself, or what *that* looks like when he does something else.

And he has quite a few evasion tricks up his little orange sleeves.

K got his measure straight away.

She worked with his head, showing tremendous patience and understanding right from the start.

After 25 minutes K had him going brilliantly. She has the softest hands I think I’ve ever seen. She has tremendously fast reactions and her initial instinct is to give away not take back.

Sammi looked in, saw what K was achieving and gave an appreciative semi-silent whistle.

Vin was looking excellent.

Later, with Vin showered off and everything put away K and I were sitting in the tack room having a cuppa when I asked when the last time she rode was.

Two years ago, she said.

Now that was just spiteful. To be able to take two years off and come straight on to a not-straightforward-ride like Vin, work with his head and have him going like a Dressage Star?

Spiteful I calls it.

K has said she’d like to ride twice a week. I’m not sure Vin thinks it’s a good idea but I’m more than happy with the arrangement!

The excellent news is that K loves Vin to bits, she won’t stop gushing about him.

Funny how these things work out, eh?

Of course, having K on the scene to help keep Vin ticking over means I can look for an Eventer with just a bit more impulsion.

🙂