You know how versatile Frankie is. I just recently told you about our fall plans to go out and Do All The Things.
And Frankie really does seem happy to go along with all of these different schemes- the most “bad” behavior we’ll ever get from him is a little sluggishness at the beginning of our rides. The most “spiciness” we get from him is jigging when he thinks we might canter soon. He’s a genuinely happy relaxed dude 24/7.
But see, we have a deal. Frankie carts my butt around and does everything I ask without complaint.
And in return, I never ask him to canter bareback.
That’s his hard limit. That’s his big NOPE. He turns into a total fruitloop, tucks his head between his knees, and dolphin-leaps until you can manage to pull him to a stop. It’s not just with me- he pulled this with the tiny 12yo girl who is WAY lighter than I am (she’s weirdly strong for her size and was able to hang on no problem, luckily).
He’s not back-sore (I checked and had other smarter people check too). He will happily let me sit the trot bareback ’til the cows come home. But he has decided that cantering is for when you’re wearing a saddle, dammit.
Is this something we could work on? Yeah. It takes more than a little porpoising to unseat me, and I’m sure we could work together to convince him to stop being such a banana about it.
But you know what? Frankie puts up with a LOT from me without complaint. So I don’t mind giving him this one thing. Our bareback rides can just be walk/trot/stand around and chat with our friends.
Do you have any “deals” like this with your pony?
hellomylivia 
Moiya and I have LOTS of deals, haha! It’s really her world, I just live in it ❤
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Hahaha gotta love those run-the-world-mares! ❤
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Hahaha my old man horse definitely thought that RIDING was a JOB that was done with a SADDLE. It wasn’t worth pushing the issue with him either.
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It’s so funny what they decide to have opinions about!
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I’ve recently formed a deal with my girl, though perhaps it’s still one-sided in my favor but I think she likes it lol. She puts up with everything from me (western, English, jumping, bareback – to include cantering and spinning – and hauling her around everywhere) and every night when I’m done mucking she gets all the scratches she wants from the muck rake. If I quit too soon and she nickers at me to “OMGmotherpleasekeepgoing” then I get back at it for a bit and continue. I still feel like I made out like a bandit, but considering that scratches turn her into goo, I guess it’s a good deal lol.
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hahaha sounds like a perfectly mutually beneficial deal 😉
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I won’t clip Simon’s ears anymore. That’s his hard stop.
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Oooh yes. That should be in there on my list too- Frankie is an absolute turdblossom about his ears and straight up won’t let it happen. Hooray for bonnets!
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That seems fair enough! My deals with my horses are are more general…. “don’t launch me and I’ll continue to pay for your lifestyle” and “if you are a s@&*head, you’re going to have a bad time”
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hahaha love it!
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LOL! I thought my friend Megan and I were the only ones who used the term “porpoising”! Um yes I make tons of deals with Rio. My current deal is that if he wills his little legs to heal up soon I will gave him 5 carrots a day and let him walk and trot only for the first month of work!
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Tell Rio I’ll send carrots too if he heals quickly!!
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I’m going to need video to prove he does this… he’s and angel I don’t believe it 😂
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Hahaha he can’t be COMPLETELY perfect, right??
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Choose your battles! Jampy and I have a deal about going to end of the ring when it’s dark out. If he goes down there in the daylight, I won’t make him in the dark. He only holds up his end half the time though.
Obviously Rio has the best deal. He can do pretty much whatever he wants as long as he lives forever. I think it’s a fair trade.
Badger and I are still in negotiations.
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Your boys have SUCH personalities on them, I love it<3
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Lol well with mares you usually have about 50 deals ahah
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Hooo boy I remember making a couple BIG deals with the DragonMare 😉
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