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Featured School Horse: Woody
Staying Ahead of Your Horse - The Hard Way
By Dan Ramberg
Dad drove my brother and me to a farm. We had no idea we were going to look at a pony. I was the first to ride him. I rode around the barn yard for about fifteen minutes (at this point, it will help to picture a typical barnyard with the buildings set in a circle, the barn, the machine shed, corn crib, etc.). There was an opening between the barn and the machine shed. Because the pony was to be for both my brother and I, it was now time for my brother to take a ride, too. My dad put George up behind me on the pony. I was told to stay in the barnyard, a likely request.
I was becoming really comfortable about that time. At the same time, I noticed Baldy, the pony, kept looking out between the barn and the machine shed in the opening that led to the hayfield. Thinking Baldy just wanted to look at the hayfield, I steered him out that driveway. I remember the sequence of events like it was yesterday.
As soon as Baldy's nose got turned toward that driveway, I could feel him want to trot. I thought "How cool!" because up until then, all I could get him to do was walk. He trotted down that short drive and I was all smiles. We no sooner got past the buildings and the trot quickened -- from then on it was all over but the crying. Baldy put his head down and gave what was to become his signature move, the neatest buck. Both George and I went flying!
We were both crying like only ten and eight-year-olds can, only George was crying because he was scared and I was crying because my pony was running away. I was sure that was the end of my pony.
After Baldy loped the field several times, he came back to the barnyard, just like my dad and the farmer knew he would do. Much to my surprise and delight, my dad said we would take the pony. We loaded Baldy into the trailer and headed home.
On the way home, I must have asked a thousand questions. One of which was: "Why did you buy him after he bucked us off?" Dad's answer was, "You won't hurt the pony, and he will teach you a lot." Little did I know at the time how right he was.
The day was not over when we got home. We tied Baldy in a large garage; we had no stall yet. Of course the first thing I wanted to do was feed my pony. I brought him a bucket of oats and he nickered and seemed really pleased. As I started around him to brush and pet, he kicked me in the knee. At that point, Dad sat me down with the first of many talks about how you have to keep thinking ahead of your pony.
