What fun it was going to be to go to a Halloween Poker Ride. Launi loves dressing up in costume almost as much as I love to dress him up. The hardest part was coming up with a costume to fit my slightly oversized arabian. After a couple trips to the Dollar Store & rummaging through my closets, we were all set for a fun day on the Halloween poker trail.
I should have known when I went to get Launi that morning that we should have stayed on local trail by ourselves. First he made me walk all the way to the top of the pasture to get him. Then, with his ears & lips in their snarly positions, he tried to bump me & walk on top of me as I led him to the barn. He was in such a cantankerous mood that into the roundpen he went for a warm up, errr attitude adjustment. If I'd listened to my inner self we would have by-passed the horrors of the Halloween poker ride.
I arrived an hour early & the parking area was already full. Great, I hadn't expected such a big turn out so was a little worried that the commotion of so many horses would upset the pumpkin cart, so to speak. Launi can be great in a group sometimes & at others group settings unravel his young, arabian mind. By the time I had Launi all dressed up & ready to go, he was relaxed & compliant. Maybe that should have warned me. LOL
Faye went with us as I planned to pony her for experience & exposure. What a good little mare to just go along with whatever happened. She was eager to see new sights & walked right out next to Launi. She only slightly spooked when parts of Launi's costume blew in the wind, flipping from one side of Launi to the other. Launi on the other hoof could have cared less that his costume was flying all over. We signed in, got the map, & headed out on the Horror Trail.
We hadn't gone far when the trail turned into a bog. A bog as in Faye was in up over her knees. Launi HATES sucking mud & the bog was very unnerving for him. He was snorting, twisting, & spooking, all the while going forward only because I asked. Next was a creek crossing with horses backed up behind one who wouldn't cross. I knew Launi would cross but didn't know what Faye would think. It was muddy going in on a slight down slope & quite a few horses were spooking. I was so proud that both of my arabs went right on across. I really should have turned back then because I was NOT happy about the bog & the fact that we had to cross it again on the return route. But on we went, right across open, rocky, did I mention ROCKY? terrain. Rocky as in baby boulders everywhere. We were literally walking on them to follow the trail, which went up along a fenceline next to a very active train track. We circled around & crossed the creek again, only this time at a very boggy spot with ruts from cattle traffic. UGH!!! And on to the long stretch of Horror bog we'd already done.
Going through the bog the second time completely unravelled Launi. He came out of it in full power mode with me white knuckling the reins to keep him in check. As we went up a hill I could feel him bunching for trouble. I didn't know exactly what he was going to do but I could feel the explosion under me. All of a sudden he slung his head to the left & took off. Yes, as in trying to run away. As we shot forward Faye's lead rope was jerked from my hand, along with the right rein. Faye had NO idea what was happening. I fumbled to not get tangled in the lead & grabbed the left rein with both hands, hoping to circle & gain control. Launi had NO intention of listening, he was just going. There was a group of 5 riders in front of us & I had visions of crashing into someone. One rider moved out of the way but another moved her horse as if to block our path. Was she crazy???!!! It wasn't necessary because Launi slowed to a stop before we got to them. He'd only run away for about 50-60 feet so fortunately never got a full head of steam. Then he stood quietly like nothing had happened while Faye came up & I reach for her lead. Faye was so good, she didn't know what was happening but she didn't panic or run. And she came right to Launi once he stopped.
The BIG BRAT knew exactly what he was doing & I have no doubt he thoroughly enjoyed himself. He wasn't spooked or panicked, he just didn't want to behave & walk any more. I was going to continue with the poker ride but after walking a short way, Launi started to act up again. He just wasn't in a walking, slow ride kind of mood so I ended the ride & returned to the trailer. I'm still pissed at his behavior because it was deliberate & ornery. Although it shouldn't surprise me because Launi excels at being ornery when it suits him. He just doesn't realize how much I wished I'd had a gun. Next Halloween I'm dressing as a gunslinger, just in case I need a gun. LOL
