09/07/2025
First and foremost…yes, our daughter’s leg is too far forward. We are working on riding effectively and comfortably safe. Keep your opinions to yourself…I’ll stick to what an Olympian instilled into my brain as a young person.
Kass has, since she could walk, had a true and genuine fascination for Daisy. Probably cause she’s mama’s heart horse. She’s ridden her solo a handful of times and been ponied endlessly but as she gets older and starts to really learn more about the finer parts of riding…she has BEGGED to ride Daisy. I didn’t let her until I knew she could TRUST Daisy and her extremely sensitive and responsive nature under saddle. Because all Daisy needs is for the rider to trust her and stay out of the way most of the time. I also wanted Kass to develop a DEFENSIVE LOWER LEG! Which is why her lower leg is so far forward. (And we might’ve forgotten her good half pad because I forget my Daisy girl is getting older and changing a smidge lol)
A defensive lower leg is not only something I’ve learned from Denny Emerson as well as the immense amount of horses I’ve had the pleasure of training/riding through the years since I had always chosen horses w “problems”. And like Denny always told me…”effective is not often pretty and pretty is not often effective…you must figure out the times where one or the other is needed and when to combine the two…and that takes time”. So…today I let her ride Daisy. She had to ride w a defensive but quiet lower leg, THINK about what she wanted from Daisy instead of telling or even asking. She had to TRUST her. So she went around on a long rein (Daisy’s preference) and then let herself let go…sit and relax and get her to come to a walk. Daisy used to do tons of tackless riding but it’s been years…however she is and always has been a horse that has a fantastic memory. So while the “big whoa” wasn’t quite what she got since Kass wasn’t totally sure how to REALLY as for it…she still came back down for her. Then, of course, Kass asked me “how the HECK did DAISY do in Dressage”…I always say…”well it’s EVENTING Dressage, it’s a little different…and…we did OKAY…stadium and XC saved us.” But she insisted she wanted to see if Daisy could get into an extended trot for her and…while it is SO far from perfect due to Kass not entirely knowing how to ask for it and Daisy being 17, out of shape and not having done it for probably…9 years now…it didn’t go too terribly and they both seemed to try really hard. Plus…gotta LOVE the giggles. And lastly…THIS. THIS SMILE, THIS excitement, THIS pride she displays in herself when she canters Daisy for the very first time is EVERYTHING and then some to me. To watch Kass…my savior, my amazing and talented little girl who I can’t and won’t imagine life w out her in it…riding my “horse of a lifetime” quite literally made me tear up. I’ve always said “if I have kids, I want them to grow up w Daisy as her back starts to sway, she gets a bit more grey and my kid/s will learn all the things about how to love and respect these animals on the ground and under saddle. Because Daisy is a teacher. She is incredibly intuitive. And while everyone knows her as the fire breathing dragon that scares them…Daisy is and always has been so, so much more. To see Kass’ face of excitement when she’s cantering and to watch her throw her hand up and give Daisy big pats….man that really made my day. I could watch these videos all day, every day. Thank you red mare…for always taking care of whoever I throw at you, even if you’re grumpy. 🥰 And thank you for being so intrigued by Kass that you will let her do a hell of a lot more w and around you than literally anyone else except myself.
And no worries! Daisy got lots of cookies (as if she needs them 😂) a nice shower, lots of bug spray and bug protection, some more cookies she doesn’t need and was praised and thanked by Kass. Always pat your horse. And she always pats her horse and then some.
