Post by hunterjumper on Aug 4, 2005 15:51:47 GMT -5
Prince had only been to the cross-ties previously once, when he first came to Ocean View. He was a little spooked by all the excitment going on there. I held him still at the entry-way and stroked his neck, trying to calm him down. He ears were straight foward and I could see the whites of his eyes. I turned him out and walked him around outside a little, regaining control. When I felt he was ready, we went for the cross-ties again. He was a little be more relaxed, not quite where I wanted him to be, but enough to get him to the back. I clipped the ties to his halter. Prince was dancing around uneasily, pawing and tossing his head. He starded to back up and almost broke the cross-ties. I ran for him and undid them and clipped his lead rope on. "Easy boy, easy. Its okay. Shhhh. Relax" I said to him. I found Allie and asked her if she would hold him for me while I got tacked up. She said she would, but she couldn't stay long, since she had to tack up Lightning, too. I quickly walked into the tack room, grabbed a body brush, a hoof pick, and a cloth. I brushed him down really fast and quickly picked out all four hooves. I ran over to the nearest hose and dampened the cloth. His nose was running from all the excitment, so I rubbed his nose and around his eyes. I gathered everything off the floor and went back into the tack room for my tack. I put the brushes into my tack trunk and grabbed my hunter green saddle pad, fleece bounce pad, Pessoa saddle, girth, and running martingale. I went back into the aisle and put everything but the pad on the ground. I put that at exactly the right spot, then the bounce pad, and last the saddle. I slipped the martingale over his head and neck and slid it through the girth. I did up the girth loosed, just in case he was cinch-ie. I went back in the tack room for a final time, grabbing my Pessoa my GPA Titanium helmet, SSG Leather Show gloves, Eskadron front jumping boots, and Ariat Crowne Pro half-chaps. I snapped my helmet on and put my chaps on before going back into the aisle again. I went out and laced my gloves on a shelf near where Prince stood. I took the lead and thanked Allie for holding him, but asked her if she could just a little longer until I had his boots on. I did up the throatlatch and noseband and tightened the girth. I grabbed on boot and put it on his left front leg, then the right. I put my gloves on and took Prince from Allie. I thanked her again and let her get on her way. I led Prince outside and did up his girth a final time. I gave him a pat for being so patient (well, sort of) and led him to the jumper ring...