SubscribeGift a Sub
Enable cache 100

Caught on Camera: Wally at Work

You know it had to happen. Eventually I’d get my hands on a camcorder that would allow me to upload videos onto this blog. Lord knows I’ve watched countless videos of everyone else on their horses. Now you’ll be subjected to watching me on mine.



It’s too bad I don’t have filmed footage of Wally when I first bought him, for comparison’s sake. Originally he was a very angry, unhappy horse. Though he had years of professional training, something had gone wrong along the way. Maybe it was too much drilling and nitpicking or perhaps he had been competed to the point of rebellion. He could’ve finally said, “Enough with the fake tail and the coat polish. Just let me roll in some poop and grow whiskers.”



Then again, Wally has a dominant personality combined with a lazy temperament. He could’ve just hated working for a living. At any rate, he was incredibly arena sour when I bought him. He was fine on the trails, but as soon as I rode toward an arena he’d get all jacked up and start bouncing around. He’d arch his neck, hyperventilate, and then start bucking. Once I figured out that he wasn’t athletic enough to unload me, I marched him into the arena and then worked on getting him to settle down long enough to realize that I wasn’t going to beat on him or school him to death. I just wanted to do a little rail work and then we could go back out on the trails.

Patience and peppermints are what worked. I didn’t ask much of him in the beginning, and then he was rewarded with a little candy for behaving like a gentleman.  Believe me, it took a while, but eventually my method paid off.  So watch this video with all that in mind. Oh. And you’ll have to look past the whiney tone to my voice (it’s no wonder I never went far in my college theater group!) and the fact that I wave my arms around a lot when I speak. Now I know why people back up whenever I become engaged in a conversation. They’re liable to get walloped as I gesticulate. Thank goodness I’m not sitting on a spooky horse!

Back to Life with Horses

View Comments

  • I love Wally! But then, that's my favorite kind of horse, a big ole Paint gelding with a heart of gold. He seems happy in his new life -- what's not to like, after all? I think that's why I'm such a fan of Paint geldings..I've never met one that couldn't be won over with the promise of a treat and consistent kindness. Happy trails!

  • Wally is adorable!!! Just like my horse, Wally also! (besides the name their completly different)He seems very sweet!

  • I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT ABOUT THE HELMET, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PASSION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. YET I DON'T WANT MY BLOG TO END UP BEING SWOOPED UP IN THE DEBATE.
    BUT IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENT, I'LL SAY THIS: I GUESS I'M NOT AS HELMET CONSCIOUS AS I USED TO BE SINCE I SWITCHED FROM RIDING HUNTERS AND JUMPERS TO RIDING PRIMARILY WESTERN ON A RATHER DOCILE BEAST LIKE WALLY. HOWEVER, JUST FOR THE RECORD, DURING THE PERIOD WHEN I WAS RE-SCHOOLING WALLY I DEFINITELY WORE A HELMET. YUP, THERE I WAS, IN MY BILLY COOKE WESTERN SADDLE AND MY VELVET COVERED, CHARLES OWEN, ASTM-SEI HUNT CAP.
    I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT EVERY TIME WE SWING OUR LEG OVER A HORSE'S BACK WE'RE TAKING A CALCULATED RISK, WHETHER WE'RE WEARING A HELMET OR NOT. I CERTAINLY HAVE TIMES WHEN I ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE I DON'T RIDE MANY YOUNG HORSES ANY MORE, I DID SIT ON COWBOY A FEW TIMES WHEN HE GOT BACK FROM THE TRAINER, AND I WORE MY HELMET. WHEN I GO HORSE SHOPPING AND GET ON AN UNFAMILIAR HORSE, I WEAR A HELMET. IF MY TRAIL RIDING PLANS INCLUDE ROUGH TERRAIN, I WEAR A HELMET. OF COURSE, I ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET IF I RIDE ENGLISH, BECAUSE I USUALLY HOP OVER A SMALL JUMP OR TWO. SO YOU SEE, WHILE I MIGHT NOT ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, I HAVE MADE PERSONAL CHOICES ABOUT WHEN IT'S PRUDENT TO STRAP ONE TO MY HEAD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WOULD ALWAYS ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO FEELS INCLINED TO WEAR A HELMET TO DO SO. I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK ANY LESS OF SOMEONE'S RIDING CAPABILITIES BECAUSE THEY'RE WEARING A HELMET. OR NOT. EXCEPT FOR YOUNG RIDERS. THEY SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET WHENEVER THEY RIDE A HORSE OR PONY. WHY? BECAUSE I'M THE MOM, THAT'S WHY! :)

  • YES, BAILEY, I DO LIVE OUT WEST! I LIVE IN A SMALL, HORSEKEEPING TOWN CALLED NORCO, WHICH IS INLAND FROM THE BEACH COMMUNITIES WHERE I GREW UP. WHAT GAVE AWAY THE FACT THAT I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? THE DUST? THE PARCHED LOOK OF THE HILLSIDE? THE LEATHERY TANNED APPEARANCE OF MY SKIN? HA!

  • I hope you'll keep putting a few videos in your blogs! I really like these. Wally is so cute. It's the face. haha

  • Great to see videos of Wally. Looks like he's come a long way. I don't know how I would make my horse canter so slowly without breaking into a trot!

Recent Posts

2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Cross-Country Day

In a day of heat, then rain, followed by blazing sun, the sun indeed shone brightest on the British riders…

15 hours ago

2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Dressage Day Two

Tom McEwen of Great Britain had a big day under beautiful skies at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.,…

2 days ago

2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Dressage Day One

Dressage is halfway complete at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event CCI5*-L. Currently in first is Yasmin Ingham of Great…

3 days ago

ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Uroncillo

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…

5 days ago

Introduction to Showing Sport Horses in Hand

Read the full article about showing in hand in Horse Illustrated’s June 2024 issue! Here is some great content we…

6 days ago

Treatment and Recovery of Founder in Horses

Plenty has been written about the prevention, causes, and treatment of founder, but less information is available on whether or…

1 week ago