You know, I've always wanted to name a horse Legacy. I haven't because the best barn name from that is Gacy (who wants a Legs?). Not really sure I want a horse named Gacy because as someone who reads a lot of true crime, Gacy isn't the greatest name. Remember John Wayne Gacy? Yeah, Legacy really isn't that great a name after all.
But I digress from the real story. DC Reindeer Dippin is the spitting image of her dam, DC Kobayashi Wrain. Dippi's bigger & more substantial, but that's about the only differences. I've always known that Dippi, who by the way is named after a world champion bucking bull (another digression), would be a spitfire & a spunky ride. She's super forward, looking for the next trail & absolutely thinks she can trot before she learns to walk. Yep, that's Wraini all over.
Today I rode Launi & ponied Dippi on my favorite local trail. It was 2 hours of Mr & Ms Toad's Wild Ride. The 2 toadies were bent on challenging each other, seeing who could faster & who was going to be in front. Wait a minute, Launi SHOULD be in front since he was being ridden & Dippi ponied. Dippi wanted to go faster & I had to keep telling her to NOT bite Launi's butt. Oh she'd shake her head is disgust. Quite a few times Launi pinned his ears & even half lunged at Dippi in a mini attack. My hands were literally full & 1/2 in control of a ton of horse flesh. Up Sycamore Hill we went with Dippi trying to stay even on a single track trail. Really she would like to have passed & taken the lead. At the top I dismounted, signed the log book, & started to lead the toadies down the other side. I had a brief thought that the 2 of them could prove to be a bit much for my short legs but I pushed that thought aside. The next thing I knew I was slamming my left knee into the ground. Launi had stepped on the heel of my right shoe when Dippi tried to shove by him, sending me writhing on the ground. I spoke loudly in French but only the toadies heard me. To his credit, Launi did sniff me in remorse. That ended my walk for the day, Launi was just going to have to pack me down the hill.
While I rode today I reflected on Wraini & the awesome gelding who not only raised her, but who gave me the best trail years ever. I had ponied Wraini off Wraff many, many miles over the years. She was always pushing him to go faster & was never satisfied being behind. Wraff was always giving me the ride of my life while I tried to hang on to 1800lbs of horses. Many days I spent riding up the Coffer Dam in Auburn, ponying Wraini on a lunge line so she could blaze out in front of us. So many times today I looked at Dippi & remembered her mother. 3/4 of the way through the ride I found it was actually easier to let Dippi lead the way. She was easier to control with one line than Launi was with both hands on the reins. It was deja vu for me riding along on my 2 best horses, just like I had so many years ago. Today, as it was then, both were fractious & eager to fly, & I was having a time just hanging on. A few times I even caught myself calling Launi & Dippi by their predecesors' names. What a gloriously bittersweet day. While Wraff & Wraini are gone, they will both be remembered every time I'm brave enough to ride Launi & pony Dippi. Every time I'm CRAZY enough to ride Launi & pony Dippi. Thank you Wraini for leaving me the best legacy ever, DC Reindeer Dippin. Happy trails to me.
But I digress from the real story. DC Reindeer Dippin is the spitting image of her dam, DC Kobayashi Wrain. Dippi's bigger & more substantial, but that's about the only differences. I've always known that Dippi, who by the way is named after a world champion bucking bull (another digression), would be a spitfire & a spunky ride. She's super forward, looking for the next trail & absolutely thinks she can trot before she learns to walk. Yep, that's Wraini all over.
Today I rode Launi & ponied Dippi on my favorite local trail. It was 2 hours of Mr & Ms Toad's Wild Ride. The 2 toadies were bent on challenging each other, seeing who could faster & who was going to be in front. Wait a minute, Launi SHOULD be in front since he was being ridden & Dippi ponied. Dippi wanted to go faster & I had to keep telling her to NOT bite Launi's butt. Oh she'd shake her head is disgust. Quite a few times Launi pinned his ears & even half lunged at Dippi in a mini attack. My hands were literally full & 1/2 in control of a ton of horse flesh. Up Sycamore Hill we went with Dippi trying to stay even on a single track trail. Really she would like to have passed & taken the lead. At the top I dismounted, signed the log book, & started to lead the toadies down the other side. I had a brief thought that the 2 of them could prove to be a bit much for my short legs but I pushed that thought aside. The next thing I knew I was slamming my left knee into the ground. Launi had stepped on the heel of my right shoe when Dippi tried to shove by him, sending me writhing on the ground. I spoke loudly in French but only the toadies heard me. To his credit, Launi did sniff me in remorse. That ended my walk for the day, Launi was just going to have to pack me down the hill. 
While I rode today I reflected on Wraini & the awesome gelding who not only raised her, but who gave me the best trail years ever. I had ponied Wraini off Wraff many, many miles over the years. She was always pushing him to go faster & was never satisfied being behind. Wraff was always giving me the ride of my life while I tried to hang on to 1800lbs of horses. Many days I spent riding up the Coffer Dam in Auburn, ponying Wraini on a lunge line so she could blaze out in front of us. So many times today I looked at Dippi & remembered her mother. 3/4 of the way through the ride I found it was actually easier to let Dippi lead the way. She was easier to control with one line than Launi was with both hands on the reins. It was deja vu for me riding along on my 2 best horses, just like I had so many years ago. Today, as it was then, both were fractious & eager to fly, & I was having a time just hanging on. A few times I even caught myself calling Launi & Dippi by their predecesors' names. What a gloriously bittersweet day. While Wraff & Wraini are gone, they will both be remembered every time I'm brave enough to ride Launi & pony Dippi. Every time I'm CRAZY enough to ride Launi & pony Dippi. Thank you Wraini for leaving me the best legacy ever, DC Reindeer Dippin. Happy trails to me. 
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