By Andi Chupp
Last week my trainer was on vacation. When my trainer is on vacation or out of town that means Lavender is too. Well, Lavender doesn’t get to go anywhere on vacation, it just means she is off a week from lessons. Which means we must work extra hard this week during lessons to get her back on track for our next competition, which is in a few weeks. We have several make up competitions since the rain has cancelled several events.
Being off a week can mess up a horse’s routine, just like anyone else. Horses thrive on a routine because they are creatures of habit, and a routine provides them with a sense of security. A consistent schedule helps keep them calm and relaxed. If you have a nervous or highly strung horse sometimes even the smallest break in their normal habits can cause them some anxiety. I have learned this by experience with Lavender.
Here are some other things I have learned about horses that may surprise you:
• Horses thrive on routine, and their amazingly accurate internal clocks make them much better timekeepers than their human caretakers.
• Horses can’t breathe through their mouth.
• Horses can sleep standing up.
• Horses have excellent hearing.
• Horses have a nearly 360-degree field of vision.
• Horses have lightning-fast reflexes.
• Foals can walk and run within a few hours after birth.
I have lessons two times a week and sometime three, which gets Lavender some good exercise. If my schedule doesn’t allow me to ride that many times a week, my trainer will ride her for me to keep her in a routine. Our plan was when we got Lavender, we were going to lease her out to other students to ride during their lesson times. That meant Lavender was going to be working four and possible five times a week. But that did not happen. Lavender is very high strung because of her career as a track horse. So, I am the only one who can ride her and handle her. She has made me a stronger and better rider. I am excited to see where we will go together as a team.
Andi Chupp is nine years old and will be entering 5th grade at St. James Catholic School this fall. She loves all things horses and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.