The big day arrived. The river was very low, the temperatures were so chilly that we knew the park would be very quiet, the road was closed to traffic and there were very few planes in the sky. It couldn't be a better day for Ellen's maiden voyage (for the year,) across the river into the main part of the park.
Since Ellen and Dante have been practicing on the hill, leading along the road and riding down the hill were no big deal at all. This made it much easier than in the past. Everything went perfectly.
She wanted me to cross first as I always do. I rode Cole across, turned him around and waited anxiously on the other side.
Ellen rode him to the edge of the river, let him look down at it and asked him to take a step. He did without any hesitation. He didn't even try to attempt the slow spin that he usually does on his first ride. I started to do the "happy dance" in the saddle, but then I stopped abruptly. What if I startled Dante?
Then I watched Dante step very carefully but steadily across the water. I have never seen him cross so well. Truly, I was in awe. Ellen did click him because he was so good, but he ignored her and didn't stop for a treat. Crossing was more important to him, but since he was doing so well,we didn't worry about it.
He got to the other side and Ellen had a look of disbelief on her face. I had a look of great joy. We did it!
We walked for a little bit. Dante looked all around. Things have changed since the last time he was in the park back in December. There is now loads of wildflowers and the trees are starting to get leaves. I know there were some new logs, too. He did look crooked at the sign in the grass that says to stay 6 feet apart. I guess he didn't know we were supposed to do that.
Ellen asked him to trot, and away he went--in his quiet, steady manner. He was back to his old self. This could have been July--that's how good he was. We turned back at the next river crossing and headed home. To be on the safe side, we kept it at a walk. Besides, it was just such a wonderful ride, we didn't want to shorten it by going too fast, after all. The only thing left to worry about was crossing the river to get back home.
Of course, Ellen was concerned. She wanted to go first, like we always do. Her biggest concern is that he would try to run up the bank. He did that a few times early in the season last year.
Once again, he went into the water willingly and walked like a gentleman. This time, he did stop for his treat when she clicked him. When they stepped out of the water, she stopped him and clicked him for it. She gave him his treat and asked him to go forward--and he refused! At that point, she realized that running up the bank was very unlikely. She persisted in asking him to walk. When he went a few steps, she got off him and led him the rest of the way.
The ride was a total success! Everything went so well--Ellen seemed to be in shock. All of her anxieties were for nothing. There were even a couple of planes that went over us, and Dante didn't care!
She said that her nerves were really doing a number on her before the ride, but she came up with a visualization to help her shut them down. She pictured a brick wall with her anxieties on one side and her on the other side. Once she started picturing the wall, she was able to settle her nerves down.
I hope that wall is so strong that it will keep those anxieties where they belong!
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