Most non horse people don’t know what HEAT is. Mare owners know what that word means. It means Fancy’s body wants a Stallion! (Mare cycles generally last 21 days with them expressing signs of heat for 4-7 days. Estrus is expressed outwardly by; raising the tail, frequent urination, “winking” or eversion of the vulva, squealing, and posturing.)
The wetness on her legs was from her “heat”. Oh Lordy. I feel a chuckle coming.
I’m riding in a lesson taught by great trainer, Erin Patterson. Fancy doesn’t want to obey my body command to back up. She verbally tells me, using a squeal, that backing is not acceptable. When she was younger her monthly cycle would heat up and wreck her back. Those things moved around in there! She was placed on a drug which stopped fertility. When she went to Florida this year, her drug was terminated. She is older (eight) now and her body not as “cycle-gullible”.
Fancy is back home with me in all her heat glory. She screamed (squealed) when I asked her to back, I smiled. A few minutes later, the my chuckling started. I chuckled all over the arena. When it was time to drive home, I ripped out intermittent chuckles all the way home. I laughed (chuckled outloud) the rest of the day. Fancy made me laugh all day!
More Fancy news: Us humans always know Fancy’s state of mind. She lets you know. Long ago, she was raised without a herd and had a very bad colt start using pain, fear and intimidation. Her owner didn’t want her hurt by the herd and raised her in a stall and with solo turn out. Her early life affected her as it would for humans in the same pain, fear and intimidation situation. Fancy became rideable after her second colt start, but she kicked three farriers and the husband. My currant horse had developed EPM and Fancy was loaned to me. She struck me with her front foot the first time I took her to the near by arena
Fancy is a mouthy horse and always bit me , especially when I reached under her to get the girth.
Fancy spent her 3rd colt start with Tony Vaught former Parelli certified Horse Develoer. The Vaughts (Jenny and Tony) develop horses using Love, Language and Leadership. Fancy would do whatever Tony asked. Tony loves her. (She did not do whatever I asked upon her return she spent the early part of our ride, arguing. There were many times when she wouldn’t canter.
Here is the amazing present day Fancy. (She recently spent about half a year with Tony Vaught (and won the September 2023 Ranch Horse Reserve World Grand Championship at The Fox Trotter World Celebration.) Yes, I am a bragger!
Here it is December 2023 and I realize something has changed with Fancy. Hold on….
Fancy has become a SWEET HORSE! I told Jenny Vaught (former 15 year certified Parelli instructor). Jenny explained perhaps aging sweetened these horses up. I think it could have been aging, her life using Love, Language and Leadership, and more time with Tony Vaught.