Ambivalence

E is a busy girl. She has lots of school activities and projects as well as being a part of two horse groups and having a weekend job. Next year will probably be even busier since she plans to add debate team and more music/choral stuff to the schedule. She's even talking about trying out for a team sport at the high school.

And some days, she just really doesn't want to go out to the barn. I get that.

But she also has a pony who really needs to be kept busy. He's not the sort you can leave in a pasture for several weeks and then expect to have a good ride. Ideally, he should be ridden at a minimum of three times a week; we usually manage two. And both of those are usually for a club meeting/lesson, not because she wants to go out and practice some skill or even just ride around for the fun of it.

So here's the rub: given the horse she has, along with the big investment we've made in the sport of horseback riding in general, I really think she should willingly, happily and eagerly be wanting to interact with Monte several times a week. I don't want to have to drag her there like I did yesterday. In the end I think she had a very good time out at the barn, but I don't think it's right that I have to initially force her in that direction.

Consequently, I have a bit of a "deadline" in my head these days. If E doesn't get over this ambivalence she has about horses by the end of summer, I think we will seriously consider selling Monte. I can't justify the expense of keeping a horse "just in case" she might want to ride. She has to show some commitment and step up to the responsibility of owning this animal.

(If we did sell Monte, I would be happy to share Zoe with her for those times she might want to ride, btw. I don't want to deprive her fully of the joy of riding. It's just that since we don't own our own property and have to pay monthly board, keeping a horse for those occasional riding moments is too darn expensive!)

Off topic, but when I rode Zoe yesterday she had a major spook moment, dropping and bolting to the side for a few steps before I could stop her. Funny thing is, I didn't really get all that scared. I had a bit of an adrenaline rush, but no lingering fear or racing heart. I stayed on and kept walking her around the round pen, trying to get her to approach the gremlin-spot (not very successfully, I might add). Overall, it was a great ride for me as I saw that I can manage her spooks.