Henry Adventures

There's only so much I can write about walking and trotting, so how about a cross country adventure? 

Henry and I got to go to Rocking Horse on Saturday. We arrived a few minutes after 8:30 and (mostly) beat the crowds. We still didn't beat the heat, but let's be honest, that's not really a thing in July in central Florida.

As per usual, Henry was a delight. He eyed the coffin like riveted ditch under the upper level trakehner while we warmed up, and I promised him we definitely would NOT be jumping it. Once we were warmed up, we looped across the acres Rocking Horse has to offer and popped a few fences in each area. Henry is potentially the most fun I've had cross country since Zinger. If you ride him anywhere close to appropriately, he is willing and steady.

Pardon the ridiculous background music I put to the video. Avoiding copyright issues.. 

I did mess up twice on our last loop out. We were headed slightly downhill to a fence with a sandy takeoff. He'd been generous with taking the longer spot a few times already, but when I let him lengthen the last 5-6 strides past the appropriate distance to either a cruddy chip or a long spot/big effort, he declined. I repeated the mistake before I wised up and decided if I couldn't ride better I'd at least change the circumstances to make it easier. We picked up the BN size fence on the reverse (uphill) approach, circled around and did the N fence that had been causing me problems uphill, and then called it good. I could definitely feel Henry going "Silly kid, I think she needs to learn something" as he opted to not bail me out and then nodding with satisfaction when I got it right. 

Best boy headed home, Ft Presto ears

He has the easiest, steadiest canter out cross country. He's happy to go a bit more forward or just lope steadily, but really requires very little input from his pilot to maintain set speed and direction. It's a nice change from Ben who did a lot of sideways, Goggles who would've gotten there but was green, and Butterball who doesn't necessarily see the point or joy in a nice long canter-gallop. The joy of a good thoroughbred out for a canter or gallop cross country is truly unmatched.