Attila The Hun

A small war donkey and his equally tiny human exploring the mountains and the world of classical dressage. || Original content only.

[mountain-pony]

One day I’m going to get my fingers bitten off by my horse because he’s so well trained that I literally cannot get the reins over his head before he opens his huge mouth and tries to grab the bit.

[mountain-pony]

Attila in full tack.

[hellowhoopsmyfingerslipped]

Oh my god that saddle pad I’m in love

[mountain-pony]

It's not even an actual saddle pad, it's just some ordinary sheepskin that I put absolutely everywhere.

[ourarabianaristocrat]

[mountain-pony]

Mona and Attila’s girlfriend got into a little fight over who should stand closest to him, and it ended with Mona throwing a slight temper tantrum and literally just floating across the arena. I have never in my life seen a horse with so much trot. Halter Arabians have nothing on her. She takes her front legs to her chest, her hind legs to her belly, and has so much push that she barely touches the ground anymore. But not in a way that would catapult you into the next dimension if you rode her. Very gently. It honestly looks like she only weighed about 20 kilograms.

I wish I could’ve taken a video. Holy smokes, she is a bomb.

[mountain-pony]

@adam-the-horse: I'm going to turn them out together again when the arena isn't frozen anymore, and then I'll definitely have some sort of recording device ready. I've never seen a horse with an equally beautiful trot.

[mountain-pony]

Blue mountain skies.

[mountain-pony]

Blue mountain skies.

[mountain-pony]

Mona and Attila’s girlfriend got into a little fight over who should stand closest to him, and it ended with Mona throwing a slight temper tantrum and literally just floating across the arena. I have never in my life seen a horse with so much trot. Halter Arabians have nothing on her. She takes her front legs to her chest, her hind legs to her belly, and has so much push that she barely touches the ground anymore. But not in a way that would catapult you into the next dimension if you rode her. Very gently. It honestly looks like she only weighed about 20 kilograms.

I wish I could’ve taken a video. Holy smokes, she is a bomb.

[mountain-pony]

This pretty lady has some issues to deal with.

According to my chiropractor and my trainer, she probably fell at some point and has since developed a habit of tightening all the muscles in her hind end and walking stiffly to cope with her injury [which probably has something to do with a misalignment in her spine]. And here I was, thinking that her shoulder and fetlock conformation were my only worries! 😖

Now it's all about getting her sound and comfortable again. Mainly through classical dressage and lots of slow and straight work at the walk, to help her really feel her back legs again.

Depending on how well everything goes, I might actually have to swap her for a different horse. 😐

We'll see.

[mountain-pony]

I was lunging Attila in the arena yesterday and he threw a fit and all four of his legs disappeared from under him and he just flopped onto his side like a fish in the sand. He stayed there for a few seconds and then got up and continued trotting as if nothing had happened at all, but he looked almost embarassed.

[mountain-pony]

The big summer pastures have closed for this year. I feel sorry for my ponies having to be paddocked some days, and myself for having to deal with their excess energy.

[mountain-pony]

Help, my war horse is trying to devour me!

[mountain-pony]

Trail riding, bareback, in a halter, with a horse I've had for less than two days, who hasn't been ridden off property in several years? Been there, done that.

[mountain-pony]

Attila looking good in his unconventional setup.

[mountain-pony]

Riding day for this young man today!

How do you start when you work your horse in the arena? Do you get on relaxed and carelessly? Do you feel tense? I used to feel quite insecure for the longest time when getting on Attila's back, even though he always stood perfectly still. It's the behavior during our rides that I dreaded.

So how did I change that? One day, I said to myself: "Don't ride. Just get on his back and sit there. Do nothing." And he decided to start walking and carry me around all by himself. Since then, we haven't had any issues and I've definitely gained my confidence back.

Do you let your horse make its own decisions every now and then, too? Maybe let them choose the next path on a trail ride or offer an exercise at liberty? ⬇

[mountain-pony]

I don't want to be too controversial here, but if your horse follows you at liberty with its ears back and looking stressed, you're doing it wrong.

[mountain-pony]

New horse. Yes, it’s from the same breeder. And yes, she’s wearing Attila’s old halter. Her name’s Mona. But I’m always calling all mares “Madame”, anyway. I thought she was 7 or 8 when I decided to buy her, turns out she’s just 6.

[mountain-pony]

@adam-the-horse: Same but I don't think I have the time to teach them. 😂

@gramizar: I have no clue. I'm such a hoarder, haha.

[mountain-pony]

New horse. Yes, it's from the same breeder. And yes, she's wearing Attila's old halter. Her name's Mona. But I'm always calling all mares "Madame", anyway. I thought she was 7 or 8 when I decided to buy her, turns out she's just 6.