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"Gremlin"

Gremmy and Bee

Gremlin can get up and go, but never seems to lose control. The first time I rode him, Bee and her husband Don had just taken him out into the large arena. They asked if I wanted to hop on and I said, "Sure!"

Right after I had mounted up Sharon, who was outside the arena, noticed a small problem with the headstall. Don, who still had the reins in his hand, started to make and adjustment and the headstall fell off. Don bent down to follow the headstall, which sent Gremlin off.

We started out at a trot and I attempted to turn him around using my seat and outside leg, however Gremlin took that to mean a canter depart so there I was, bridleless on a new horse that I didn't know, cantering laps around the arena.

I finally worked out some steering with my legs and seat, so I would call out some instructions to Bee, Don, and Sharon as I would pass by (who were spending more time laughing than anything else): "In a couple of laps..." (pa da dum, pa da dum, pa da dum...) "I'm going to bring him down the center..." (pa da dum, pa da dum, pa da dum...) "and one of you get a rope around his neck..."(pa da dum, pa da dum, pa da dum...)

Finally I got him down the center of the arena, headed for the gate. The other three were scattered about the far end so Gremlin slowed down and Don got hold of his neck. Gremlin took it all in stride, and once bitted up, we had another nice ride... but with steering this time!