We’ve talked about what your horse doesn’t like to do, and I don’t want to confuse this with that. I’m not talking about personality quirks or training foibles. Tell me: if you could change something (or things) about your horse, what would you?
Nothing, my baby is perfection!! We are talking about my pibble, aren’t we?
Oh we’re talking about the horse. Okay. Number one: feet. Murray’s RF wants to be upright and his LF wants to be a pancake. Not a fan. I have legitimate concerns about his long-term soundness because of this.
I don’t mind that they aren’t the world’s largest feet, but I would love for his front feet to be a bit more… similar. His hind feet are, according to his farrier, lovely. Fortunately, I don’t struggle with hoof quality, just shape. Le sigh.
Murray is a pretty perfect size for me, but I might give him a touch more height or maybe some slightly sturdier legs. Last year especially I was a little worried about the kid wandering around on toothpicks. It’s a little less the case this year.
Twigs I tell you!!
The last thing I’d change is his scope. I’m not sure where it is, but since I revealed last time that I’d like to do a 1* some day, it would be nice for pony to be able to come along and be competitive at that level. That would be pretty badass.
And that’s it.
I know, I know, you long-time readers are like “you wouldn’t change his BRAIN? his weirdly sensitive GIRTH AREA?”
I am quite sure this is the Murray equivalent of the bird.
Ok so I might change that girth area thing. And his likely proclivity for ulcers.
But for real, Murray’s got a good brain buried beneath all the suspicion and generalized distrust. He’s smart, he’s honest, and he knows how to work when asked reasonably. He’s quick on his feet — a credit to both his feet and his mind — and knows what his job is. If he didn’t keep me on my toes I would be lazy and probably wouldn’t try as hard, and we wouldn’t be where we are now. Plus, it gives me a perverse sense of pleasure to know I’m one of the few people who can/wants to/will tolerate this bullshit for all the good that lies beneath. I’m a masochist, I know.
Thank goodness he doesn’t have a pig eye!
Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Management 