High expectations, and 16 weeks left....

This pic is one taken at home, when husband is mounting up. No problems, calm horse.


These two are a little different. He's so tense!

It's 10 weeks till the baby, 16 weeks until I can ride!

Last Friday husband and I took Tex and Sonny to their first event- a team sorting practice in Port Allen, LA. Tex loaded like a champ into the trailer, as usual, and Sonny gave husband some trouble with trailering, as usual. They seemed happy to be together and had no problems on the trip.

When we arrived at the arena, Tex was the first one off the trailer. After all four feet landed on the ground, he went nuts! He charged past me, swung his rear end from side to side, raised his head, whinnied, stomped, and pretty much acted a fool, in front of all the other horses and a few people. This was not supposed to happen! My horse is the calmer one on the ground normally. Sonny is usually the one who is scared of everything on the ground.

Tex's behavior didn't improve the entire night. We saddled him and left him at the trailer while husband rode Sonny during the warm-up time. Later, I held Sonny while husband went to get Tex, just to lead him around and let him see things. That didn't help matters either. At one point, Tex violently kicked three times out at a SHADOW. Poor thing, he was a nervous wreck.

I would have liked to just tie Tex up at the arena, but there really wasn't a place for it, and I was afraid he would kick someone coming by. So, he eventually went back to be tied up at the trailer for the rest of the night.

Once again, I cried. Apparently the end of pregnancy is when all my emotion-causing hormones have set in. My expectations for Tex in public were so high, and he disappointed me greatly.

However, it made me realize something- Tex doesn't stand still when he's tied very well, even at home, when Sonny isn't around. Therefore, every day this week, he's been tied up far away from Sonny and Breezy, until he settles down. I have a few worn down circles around trees now, where he's paced and pawed until he couldn't do it any more. Too bad I didn't use him to plow up my garden! He's improved every day, and calmed down faster and faster. It was a much needed lesson for him, and for me.

High expectations are what got me in trouble. I expected him to act like a charm, and he was just the opposite. This is a lesson that I hope to carry over to other aspects of my life....