Posted by Penny_Louise on Tue 19 May 09, 10:41 AM to Penny_Louise's blog.
Being led out, the chain and metal work clanking in the box, the smell of leather and oil escaping. Already falling into pony space, that troublesome and endless human thinking fading mercifully away.
No longer looking at the humans with me, but either gazing into the distance or standing with eyes closed, the collar goes on first, and then the pellon bit, with a rein clipped on so that I'm safe, held, my trainer just by my left, sweet talking, rubbing, being there.
The rest of the kit, slowly restraining, slowly comforting, pushing the pony space deeper. Thankfully, the arms tight behind the back, how can you be a pony with those stupid arms dangling around? Getting a little twitchy, wanting to move, the odd walk forward, testing, making sure I'm under his control, wanting to be held back, wanting to feel his sharp reprimand followed by his caress.
A tap on the inside of the calf, the kit is on and it's time to stand well, to be a good pony. A slight pull on the rein, lead off on the left, no thinking, just response. A pull, 'come by', a turn, then a tap on the thighs, not been lifting my legs enough, where did that pony pride go? It's back now, high stepping, posture good, head up and back, breasts forward, stomach in, bum out, legs lifting, knowing this looks good, revelling in the beauty.
The trainer moving away, the rein the connection, still to the left, then the brush of the lunge whip, time to connect in this different way. Getting a little warm, a little pony sweat breaking out, the air moving past the bit, drooling a little.
Then slowing down, stopping, then backing between the shafts. The weight of the sulky felt, the extra restraint as the waist harness is secured to the shafts, the different balance, the feeling of being part of something, the readiness to pull and respond. The extra weight and the movement as the trainer boards, the need to stand well but still balance the shifting load, the need to serve well and proudly.
The new connection, the reins over each shoulder, the soft commands, the touch of the whip, the crack of the whip, the turns, the need for some speed, the call for more.
Dragging breath past the bit, drooling freely, tossing the head slightly to clear the way, one or two commands becoming confusing, a 'get by' whispered but the whip on the right, then the counter, a pull to the left, needing to change direction when already set to pull right, a toss of the head and a little pull up to show I'm not happy, then settle to the left pull and hope the trainer has caught up.
An easing of the need for speed, a chance to catch breath and not have to force the muscles so much. A little human thought sneaks in 'How much longer can I keep this up?' and the feeling of hopelessness that there's no way of telling my trainer I'm getting exhausted. I just have to trust that he is alert and caring.
He does slow down then stop, dismounts and comes to feel my chest, to see how I'm doing. I feel glad, and can now slip back to pony land, I don't need to worry again, I can trust that I won't be asked for more than I can give. Another caress from him, another gentle word, at that point, I would do anything to please.
Starting again, another few circuits, then the hand over, a novice driver is to be taught how to drive me.
--------------------------------------------------- --------
'Well, we had a right one today, George...'
'Those two guys and the girl with the estate car I saw you taking apart in the Customs bay?'
'Yes, came off the ferry laden right down on the springs, they did. 'What you got in there, then?' I asks, and they tell me they've got a pony trap in the back. Might have got away with it, too, if they didn't add they had the pony in there too...
'She said she was the pony, like, and I reckoned they were just having me on, 'till we found the pony boots. And all the leather kit, makes me blush just to think about it!'
Edited Fri 5 Jun 09, 6:51 PM by Penny_Louise
