After Henry went XC schooling on Friday afternoon, he seemed a little confused to see me again bright and early on Saturday morning. Bobby was going on a very low key, informal XC school and I figured I’d tag along too, just to ride off-property and also to act as Bobby’s Scraper if he fell off and died.
I will now explain how the day’s events unfolded, and why Henry thinks I have committed the ultimate betrayal.
He unloaded, looked around, and went “I KNOW THIS PLACE! I RANFASTJUMPEDBIG HERE AND WON RIBBONZ! HENNY EXCITED! XC TWO DAYS IN A ROW? BEST WEEKEND EVER!”. Then I started tacking him up…
and he went “Wait a minute… mom, dis the wrong saddle…”.
Then I got on, Bobby went off on Halo to warm up, and I… well… I made Henry dressage.
In the XC field.
The very XC field where he attained (in his mind) glory, fame, and riches.
First he was confused, then he tried his very best eggbeater trot, then he neighed for Halo to come save him, then he just gave up and dressaged. But with the saddest, grumpiest possible demeanor, of course. What fresh hell was THIS? Once he gave me some good work I trotted him over a tiny log, which made him a little happier, then finally I just went and parked him in the water jump. His ears immediately went back up. Because standing in water = going XC, obviously.
Then he supervised Halo while Bobby galloped and jumped some fences
and gave me the nastiest glare when we went back to the trailers and got off. We came all this way to dressage? When there were perfectly good fences to be jumped? Obviously I must hate him.
After a few handfuls of cookies he seemed to forgive me a little, but he still made it very clear that I completely ruined what could have otherwise been a fun time. Worst. Day. Evar.
breedrideevent.com 
Poor Henry. You are so mean!
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He’s accepting applications for a new owner. Fee is one million cookies.
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Wow! You really are the worst! 😉
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I am. Sorrynotsorry.
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omg isabel would never forgive me! just trying to trot her out roundly in our own small field (home to a minimalist assortment of baby log piles) is blasphemy.
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I do some very dressagey conditioning rides out in the fields so it’s not a totally foreign concept, but this is the first time I’ve hauled him to an XC venue and not jumped. He says it is not okay.
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This is hilarious! Too bad Henry had such a bad time, but thanks for the laugh.
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Obviously you need to do your dressage in a flooded arena like Ingrid Klimke does. It’ll be just like doing it in a water jump, so Henry should be happy as a clam.
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I wouldn’t mind that at all, but I think my barn owner’s might kill me if I did that to their new arena…
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You are cruel and unusual! Dressaging where you are supposed to jump and run?!
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Love the post, hilarious!
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Phew, the title made me think Henry had had an accident!
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Uh, Halo’s butt isn’t disgusting! Well… his tail bag was…
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it wasn’t either of the horses that I was referring to…
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You shouldn’t self shame.
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my butt’s not in the picture, idiot!
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Irrelevant, you took the picture. Don’t hate on yourself.
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I’m never doing anything nice for you ever again. Give me those unicorn socks back. Clean, please.
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LOL. Giggle.
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You’re such a meanie! 😛
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Poor Henny.
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Wow, Henry is looking GOOD. 😀
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Oh poor Henry. 😛
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Poor abused Henry. What a tortured life he leads.
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Its hard for horses in this day and age. He had his expectations so high only to be shut down
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