#and also because I can't spin it safely while indoors

[horsesarecreatures]

My terrifying horse.

Someone new came to try Amba today because the girl from last week who I thought was a good match found another horse closer to her. I messaged back and forth with this new lady extensively last night, telling her that Amba is an Arabian and therefore sensitive, and she might be a little forward because she's not being ridden too much, but that ultimately she is a safe, rational horse who doesn't buck/rear/bolt etc. I also made it clear that while this barn has a lot of amenities, it is not a lesson barn, and many of the other boarders don't ride. She said, "Oh that's alright, I've been riding my whole life; I'm from Poland and grew up riding Arabs; I'd love to come ride her." So I said ok and we scheduled for her to try Amba this afternoon.

I met up with her at the barn, and she was too nervous to get Amba, groom her, or tack her up. But she insisted that she would be ok next time and just wanted to see me do it first. Fine, no problem. I got Amba tacked up and brought her to the indoor and rode her for half an hour first. I put her through all her paces and today she actually was able to canter semi-balanced in both directions (by semi-balanced I mean not as uphill and collected as she's capable of without EPM, but no head tossing, lead swapping, or cross firing). She was very obedient the whole time.

I then asked if she wanted to ride. She said she would prefer if I worked her a bit more. Figuring she just wanted me to exercise Amba until she got slightly tired and slow, I rode for another half an hour. We did all the lateral work that she knows plus spins. I ended by walking and trotting her on the buckle with her head down. Then I got off.

The lady said she was too nervous to ride. I said, "Are you sure? You can just walk for today or I could lunge you guys if you want." She said ok to just walking. I lined Amba up perfectly at the mounting block and held her. The lady put one foot heavily in the stirrup, stood there with her full weight in it forever without swinging up, and then shrieked and yelled "I can't do this; she's too nervous" when Amba finally stepped towards the weight. 😠

So all in all she was a huge time waster who misrepresented her ability and is not ready to ride horses outside of a lesson context. Then she said, "Call me when you're at the barn next and I'll try her again!" Like ummm no you will not. It's totally ok to be a nervous rider, but it's very inconsiderate to not be honest about it.