Performance Horse

So, yesterday I finally found and acquired a saddle that fits Strider.

From the brief ride I took in it, it tips me forward slightly, but I know I'll get a good seat in it.  Strider acted up, did his little "bunny bucks", which might have been because of my seat being tipped, the light saddle, just a combination of things making it odd for him.

But, while we were fitting him, once again the saddle fitter had me come and actually physically FEEL how much better this saddle fits him compared to the ones on Sunday.  And, while doing so, she had her friend hold Strider for me.

Now, Strider is an asshole.  No, seriously.  I love him, but as his "mom" I let him get away with things I KNOW I shouldn't.  He won't stand still (tied, on a lead line [unless he's grazing or being groomed]), he's an animal constantly in motion and constantly needs to be distracted if you want him to be still.  It's draining.

Anyway, so she tells her friend that he's a performance horse.

I kind of mentally blinked, told her that it still really isn't an excuse and I really was sorry he was so rude.  But she just shrugged and said "Performance horses get a little bit of a pass because they're athletes."

Performance horse?  What?!  My mind revolted from this concept. 

He's not a performance horse!  He's just a trail horse!  My prospective endurance mount, but he's NOT a performance horse.

All the way home I talked this out to myself (am I the only one who talks to themself when alone?  Helps me think for some weird reason). 

In my mind, until he breaks through that magical "50 miles" number, he's NOT a performance horse.

But that's not being fair to him.  It's really REALLY not fair. 

He's technically logged 75 AERC miles (even if 25 of those aren't on the books, he OT'd but still COMPLETED them).  We're logging miles on the weekends to condition (now).  I'm starting to think in terms of getting him prepared to become that 50 mile horse.  I'm preparing him to BE that 50 mile horse.  And we're working towards that goal.  Not just in outfitting him (and myself), but in the miles I'm putting under his feet.  Even the "casual" trail rides are mentally gearing him for race days. 

By the time I step out of the saddle tomorrow, we'll be 3 weeks in to our 12 week conditioning schedule.  23+- miles under his feet.  And more to come. 

He's never going to be a top-competitor.  Do I dream of winning a monogrammed hay bag or camp chair? Of course I do!!  I would LOVE to do it on my Paso. 

But I don't think he'll ever Top 10 or ever be asked to stand for BC.  And honestly, I AM good with that.  I'm doing this for the miles.

Oh, and the shirts.  Don't forget the shirts!!  :)

But honestly, we're working towards him being a performance horse.  I'm starting to treat him more and more like a performance horse.  Granted, we're not working HARD at our job, but we are working at it.  He'll never be a "professional" athlete, and I'm no professional coach, but even if he's an "amature" performance horse, I think I'll always be proud of that. 

He's nothing super-duper fancy.  I've been told I could take him to a Paso Fino show and certainly not hang my head with embarassment with the horse beneath me.  I've been told that he does trust me.  That I could have broken him to ride completely by myself (I did do all the ground work, and had actually ridden him around at a walk before he ever went to a professional trainer).  And that he's a good trail horse.  I know he's all of those things. 

And, then there's that super small part of me that just smiles when Strider gets out there and rocks it.  Because the ex said he wasn't worth anything and wouldn't ever do anything useful.

Oh yeah?  Well eat it sucker.  We're out there DOING things.  What're YOU doing?  That's right, a whole lotta nothing.


I loved it at the Off Road Warrior ride, when I went to vet in, the ride photographer recognized him as "The little black Paso Fino."  I was so proud of that moment.  Only our 3rd ride, and the ride photographer knows who he is. 

Of course, he won't recognize him at the October ride.  He's very sun faded right now.  And when he was younger, I was vain enough to toss paprika as a top dress on his feed to keep him black.  But I just don't care anymore.  It's too much work to try and keep his coat a dark color.

Solid feet.  Solid legs.  Solid muscles.  Solid heart.  Solid back.  And solid try.  If he gives me all of those things, I can ask for nothing more of him.