6.16.23
Over time, we got to know each other very well, Regards and I. She flourished with kindness, good care and down time. In the evenings, I was the one to bring her back to her stall from being outside all afternoon in the winter. Mornings were spent with re-learning how to behave like a proper horse. She learned how to stand to be mounted, how to accept a bit without a big arguement... and so much more. Apparently her former owners had just wanted the results and of course, the money from winnings. Regards had to relearn so much!
She also had to get past being ring sour. The boss's daughter was the one schooling her and they had some major discussions over how to enter any ring even if it was the one at home. It wasn't long before Regards learned being there was kinda fun. This lady had a never ending pocket of sliced apples! Regards was offered one every time she did something correct, no matter how small. Eventually, this big red mare couldn't wait to get to the ring. They practiced so many things that she already knew but had gotten rusty on, like trotting all three speeds of a huge trot, stopping gently when asked, to stand quietly outside and inside the ring...lead changes at a canter and gallop and more. I was amazed at what this mare knew . One day, I told myself, I will know how to ask those things of a horse. One day.
It wasn't long before she was deemed ready for a small show. She'd been gaining confidence and muscle also. Regards wasn't the same dangerous, unpredictable horse who had arrived almost a year before. When I would come in the barn mornings before anyone else was there, I heard nickers, but just one waited to hear my voice... when I would tell them all "Good Morning!!" then I'd hear a get that deep loud whinny saying 'HELLO' back to me.
The day of the show dawned bright and sunny. A beautiful late Spring day for a new beginning. Regards backed off the trailer, looking around as though looking for a friend. We doubted she would find any as this was a very small show, not the bright lights of the big time shows. She stood quietly as she was tacked up and all but put her bridle on by herself. Yes, Regards hadn't forgotten but still looking for something or someone in the distance though. Surprisingly enough, I was told to warm her up in the open ring, so off we went. Oh what a glorious mare I was riding~ anything I asked for, she responded perfectly. A happy 25 yr old and a happy chestnut mare. I was in heaven.
Soon it was class time. Open Jumpers, 3' 6" -- 4'..... There were some huge fences in the ring and now, they were being raised higher. Regards watched the fence crew changing the height of the fences, and seemed to be checking out each one carefully. They were number 4 in the ring. No clear rounds and it was time. They entered the ring at a walk, calmly wandering about through the fences. Regards was soft and quiet as they picked up a canter. a circle and towards the first jump. Over she sailed like it was a beginner jump. The next two were difficult due to some very tight turns and a mistake of dropping a hind toe allowed a pole to go down. She realized that she had made a mistake and corrected it. The rest were clean and clear. The other horses had faults enough to count them out of the competition, so it was Regards and the other horse who had only one pole down. There were only four jumps to take and they'd been raised another 2". Was Regards ready for such a high jump with difficult angles? The clock was set and the other horse/ rider entered the ring. I was standing outside the ring, beside Regards and watching. She was too. As they came to the two jumps at a very odd angle, a pole almost went down..but it held on. There was a time fault though...
It was Regards' chance to do what she'd been trained and bred to do. Win. They again entered the ring at a walk and I heard murmers about how odd it was at a medium level show to just wander about. Her rider asked for a slow canter as they did a circle around to be sure of the jumps... My boss's daughter then aimed Regards at her first jump. The rest was a blurr to me as I watched the time clock ticking on. Last jump of that tricky sequence and they were done. Regard's rider pushed her over the jump as kids learn at those first jumping lessons. " throw your heart over and your horse will follow". Regards kicked into another gear and cleared the jump and as they thundered past the timer, they were two seconds ahead of the other horse!!
As applause thundered around the ring that day, I was cheering and clapping for that glorious red mare who had all but attacked me that first day. Of course, as they did their victory gallop, Regards' head went down and gave a mighty buck, almost unseating her rider, letting anyone who didn't know it that...
" Regards Was Back!!!"
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