It has been a busy summer full of travel for me, which I love! I have made two trips to the Northeast to visit clients who winter in Aiken. It’s been great fun to see the horse and the people in there “home” environments. Everyone has been so wonderful and hospitable, I swear I am blessed with the nicest clients!
I am back home on the farm this week and I have had such a great time working with students here who call Aiken home year around, as I do! Although I usually don’t take in horses for training in the summer, especially when I travel, I couldn’t help but to have Carolyn Griffin and her newly adopted horse Ringo to come for some help. Ringo was a stallion up until a few months ago and had been at Aiken Equine Rescue for a little while. Ringo was part of the horses that were brought in after the Cocheran family tragedy. For more info on that click here.
Carolyn had taken an interest in him as the caretaker at the Rescue. Something connected between these two and Carolyn adopted him despite my advice to find an easier horse that was proven to be ride-able and safe. It is unknown if this horse has ever been ridden and the guess on his age is between 10 and 12. Consider he was a stallion for all of his life, many of his behaviors are strong-willed to say the least. When he is led, he is apt to bolt and knows his angles quite well. I will admit to a few rope burns while loading to bring him to my place.
When they arrived on July 15, it seemed that he was somewhat agreeable. I helped Carolyn with some basics and gave her and my assistant Tiffany Morgan a few projects and hoped they would do well while I was traveling. A few days before I got home Tiffany called with an urgent message, “Get home before Carolyn get killed by this horse!”. And so I did! More on Ringo and Carolyn in the next blog!!