When I found myself at a loss for topics for today, Tracy came through with inspiration. Then, Olivia joined in on the hop to officially make it a party. If you haven’t checked out their versions yet, do that first!
Behind The Stall Door With: All I Need
Behind the Stall Door with: To Be Frank
The partnership between Emily O’Leary and her horse, May as Well, began about as unconventionally as any horse partnership could.
“I was debating just selling my current horse and taking a break for a while. No matter what though, I knew I wanted a plain bay gelding.” Emily admitted, before continuing. “Then, I drunkenly made a trade offer on the internet for a short, yellow mare named Krimpet.”
It turns out, that their first ride wasn’t even that magically. “Oh, I couldn’t steer at all, and we didn’t jump anything higher than maybe 12″. My first thought was that she would probably easier to sell then my current horse.”
However, the two have stuck it out and entered the sport of eventing together. Going from W/T tests and crossrails up to a recognized horse trial at the Beginner Novice level. Let’s open up the stall door and learn more!
May Really Didn’t Steer
While there definitely were videos of May navigating around courses in her sale ad, it didn’t immediately translate to her new role as Emily’s mount. “During our first lesson, she tried to run out of the arena, and she couldn’t make a 30M circle.” It was a steep learning curve, where May learned that life was just easier when she went along with whatever crazy thing Emily asked her to do.
She Was Always Show Perfect
At May and Emily’s first competition together, they did an elementary level combined test. “I remember being terrified because the warm up for SJ was in an open field, and I hadn’t yet ridden May in an open field.” Emily had nothing to worry about, as May was a total pro.
She Has Some Non-Negotiables
May is pretty laid back about everything. Does that new OTTB need a horse to pony off of? May will do it. Did the new dog at the barn just do a zoomies through May’s feet while she’s on the cross ties? She probably didn’t even wake up. However, there are two things that May simply cannot handle.
Fly spray is best delivered through wipes, thank-you-very-much. May lets all her handles know through snorting, wide eyes, and prancing in place that the act of heedlessly spraying her with STUFF is not to be tolerated. Meanwhile, clippers should be avoided at all costs, unless they come with cookies at LEAST the quality of Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses. Sugar free substitutes will not be tolerated.
She Is Often Underestimated
It has been assumed that May is a Dressage-only horse, a companion horse, and a retired broodmare before. She will sleep on the cross ties, wander around on the trails, and sunbathe while other school XC fences around her. However, when it is time to go to work, she is all business. As one Equine Dentist once said, “Wow, she really gets up there. You wouldn’t think that just looking at her.”
You might not know it just looking at her, but those that have ridden her have never forgotten it.
She does get up there! And is the cutest possible in the process. What a good girl.
Thanks! If she’s going to do the thing, she is determined to do it well. 😉
bahahahha….made a drunken offer. OMG Dying laughing. This whole article is hilarious. Great job. And i always say bring Remus out on a cross country course and i will show you a horse that grows to 16 hands easy LOL 🙂
May is the cutest. Bay gelding pfft…you got what you needed 😉 And then some…HA
Apparently I am now a mare person. Go figure!
Hah, I LOVE THIS! Thank you so much for jumping in on the impromptu blog hop!!
Yay! It was such a great idea. Hoping to see more people jump on. 🙂
She certainly does! May is just so cute! As per mares she certainly has her no-no things lol
Love this!! May is such a character, love that girl <3
I love May. What a great personality: calm and cool but ready to get to work once it is game time. The perfect drunk decision!! This blog hop is awesome
Sangria has never done me wrong! hahahaha. She really is a fun horse to own.
Oh I love this so much!! I’m going to have to do this! May is such a cool mare
Thank you! Can’t wait to read yours! 🙂
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