Alys: Raudi, what’s up. Your ears are back.
Raudi: Darn right. And they’re going to stay back until we get this issue resolved.
A: What issue?
R: I smell other horses on you. You have spent most of the day with other horses.
A: I would not deny that.
R: Furthermore, I know all these horses. I can smell the Icelandic mares, Giff, Katla, and Jokla. I can smell their offspring, Hroun and Indy. I can smell the other gaited horses, Rowdy, Mojo, Tink, and Zorro. And I can smell Rio.
A: You got it.

R: Why? Why? Why? Here you go, hanging out with other horses on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, leaving us all behind. This isn’t right. It’s wrong. And you think that tossing us an occasional tree limb will suffice. It isn’t even willow. It’s birch. Ugh.
A: Let me explain.
R: (Pawing the ground) You better have a damn good reason for your actions, especially since you have been telling everyone that I have been doing so good on the trail.
A: I was over at the Saddle Up arena, you know, where we did the Centered Riding clinic.
R: I was there and . .
A: Don’t interrupt me.
R: And?
A: I was instructing the above horses’ owners, doing what we do, working on the Centered Riding basics – breathing, soft eyes, centering, alignment, grounding, and clear intent.
R: Did you ask the riders to picture balloons attached to their heads?
A: I did.
R: I liked it when you got on me and were carrying those balloons.
R: Why are you doing this?
A: Well, I’m attempting to better the lines of communication between the horses and riders, while drawing upon my teacher training and my knowledge of TTeam and Centered riding techniques.
R: Why?
A: Because I’m at heart a teacher and because I feel that in this way, I can make the world a better place for riders and their horses.
R: You can make the world a better place by staying with your herd.
A: It’s this way – I spend lots of time with you, Hrimmi, and Tinni. I feed and clean up after you – you have the cleanest pen in the Mat Su Valley. I get you all out every single day, and either ride, walk, or do agility. Yesterday, for instance I got you out before I went to teach.
R: True. But you could spend that time with us.
A: All right. The instructing that I’m doing. It’s going to benefit all of us here. Those who I worked with yesterday are our riding buddies. They’re great friends, to a large part because we are on the same wavelength about horse care and training. If we continue to work together, we’ll reduce the odds of their being a trail mishap.
R: But we’ve never had any trail mishaps.
A: The bees, remember the bee incident?
R: Oh yeah we nearly had a stampede.
A: Nearly, don’t want no stampede?
R: You think spending your time with these horses and riders is going to prevent a stung horse from running off when they’re stung by a bee?
A: Perhaps. If a person is using their soft eyes, they’re more apt to see what’s ahead. And that might be a bee’s nest.
R: That nest was in a hole. None of us saw it.
A: But we might hear the bees if we are attuned to it.
R: That’s soft ears.
A: Dang Raudi, you are on to something – soft ears. I am going to use that in lessons.
R: How come you aren’t taking us with you to Saddle Up?
A: Because Buffalo Mine Road is slick. We don’t want to risk having a trailer accident.
R: So the plan is to resume trail riding with the others come spring?
A: Yep. That’s the plan.
R: You sure?
A: Absolutely. Raudi, have I ever lied to you?
R: Not to my knowledge.
A: Well then, hang tight while I prepare for future adventure.
R: Since you took the time to explain this to me, this isn’t a problem.
A: I just got a call from Deb Moore – she’s bringing the posse over for a ride. Are you up for this?
R: I am.
A: Let’s go.
R: First I have to finish my lunch.
A: And keep me waiting.
R: Yep. All things in their time.

Next: 18. 1/18/16: Horse Training Log Entry: Riding with Deb Moore’s Posse