tonka's wild ride

Didn't get a chance to blog yesterday because of schoolwork.

Yesterday's barn drop was less than satisfying. My mom was late in returning home, so we got at the barn at around 1 30 - when Bonnie was ready at 1 15. If we'd come at around 1PM, I might've had fifteen minutes to spend with the filly - as is, I would've had around five. Only, I didn't even get that. You would expect the barn to be nearly deserted on New Year's, but apparently not. So many girls were there! The back-barn is kind of off-limits when other people are around. Bonnie trusts me, so Jen lets me go back there - but the little kiddies shouldn't go. What will happen is they'll go "Ooooh, horseys!" and start poking them, and then they'll get their fingers bitten off and we'd all die. So, even though there weren't many tikes around, I refrained, anyway - the older girls at The Barn weren't really welcome at the back barn, either; although they have a lot more sense.

Anyway, I didn't get to see her at all. However, since my mom was late, I didn't have time for a lesson (Bonnie was going camping w/ her dad at around 3 30, and she hadn't packed yet), so we went for a trail ride (my first in months, since she started school! SO much fun) along the canal outside her house. You go down the road by their house until you reach the main road; then there's a long stretch of grassy canal that's great for trail rides.
After a short encounter with some dirt-bikers and two obnoxious girls in a canoe, it was my turn to ride (having only one horse, we switch off every 15 min). I normally canter up and down an especially long stretch of canal, and then Bonnie gallops the way back (and, since Tonka refuses to stop, normally more than that).

However, Tonka got... excited. He completely tuned me out, and began galloping down the canal. I tried to turn him in a circle, but I got dumb and thought he'd run into the canal (I knew it wouldn't happen, but it freaked me out, and so Tonka knew I didn't mean it). Trying to turn him the other way crashed him into trees, and so he spooked at them and went faster. We were nearing the road, and I was scared, but exhilerated - and having the sick sort of fun that comes with an adrenaline rush.

I was hopeful Tonka would stop when we reached the road, but he turned the corner and galloped onto the hard road (I say that because he excellerates when he runs on concrete). I was freaking out by then - although, strangely, I had the time to send up a quick thanks for having a helmet securely fastened. I had thought about doing an emergency dismount, but I didn't want Tonka galloping around the neighborhood riderless.

I suddenly realized I was leaning forward, clenching the reins. I sat back and relaxed my spine, pulling back my shoulders, and spoke soothingly to Tonka. It almost worked - he slowed his gallop. But then a dog barked, and he spooked and was off again. He galloped a few more yards before I soothed him again, and he fell into a trot, then a walk. I was so relieved, I hugged him and told him he was a good boy, anyway. He obviously wasn't.

I turned him around and met up with Bonnie in her socks (she couldn't run with boots! *laughs*). We took him back and I trained him; trotting down the canal, and then back the way I had come before (this time, Bonnie was standing there so in case he began to gallop, she would stop him. It's funny to watch; she stands in his path and throws her arms up and yells, "BLEUUUUUH!" and Tonka gets so freaked out). Then I cantered down and trotted back, and finally cantered them both. We then walked back to her house - because of the incident, we were waaaay late for Bonnie packing.

I was very proud of myself, though - that's the second time I've ever galloped, and the first time he ran away with me at a gallop. Bonnie was proud, too - she's an amazing rider, and she said that she always used to fall off around the corner when Tonka did that. Granted, he was probably bucking at the same time, but I was so happy I had stayed on - and stayed calm, even though I was panicking inside. It was... fun. But I wouldn't want to do it again for a couple of months!
After that, though?
...Sure. ;)