No, Duke is not a tall, muscular thoroughbred, nor does he have dark shinning coat like Black Beauty. He's your typical schooling horse, shorter than your average horse, maybe abit on the fat side, light brown with white sprinkles.
But underneath that facade, lies an absolutely beautiful personality.
I've started horse riding back in 2012 when a friend brought me riding lessons from Groupon at a horse riding club about an hour drive from my house. Note: this is not where I met Duke. But I was continued horse riding in this club for a year. Throughout that one year, I've met many types of different horse personalities:
- The typical mare.
- The apathetic gelding.
- The easily spooked horse
- and many others.
After a year of riding, I've decided to move to another riding school nearer to my house. It was 30 minutes drive and was located next to a race-course. It was a quiet school because it was not heavily advertised and full of greeneries. Before you join any group classes, you are required to take a 1-1 assessment. I was assigned to a short, white pony. I forgot his name. Apparently, he's assigned to be an assessment horse and a pony ride horse. Why? Simply because he's short and safe. Why remembered clearly it was a 'HE' and not a mare because he was the ONLY stallion in the riding school. You know when mares goes on heat right? This fellow, the assessment horse, is the ONLY horse that will get all excited and will make all kind of funny noises. It's really funny because he's the shortest.
I was assigned to Duke on my second class. Initially, you think that he's a Spooky Horse because he's really responsive. Give him a few leg taps and you go from 1km/hr to 80 km/hr. I was really digging this horse and you thought that you will have smooth sailing from now on. Have you ever ride different horses? Sometimes you have good times and sometimes you have bad? Then you tell yourself, the horse is the problem. Same thing if you lose in go-kart. When you lose, you blame your kart. When you win, you think your have fantastic driving skill.
I was a horrible rider back in my old riding school. Also, the old riding school teaching method is flawed. The horse is not lazy. Horses don't response if they don't respect you. Whipping the horse harder or louder doesn't make the horse respect you.
My third class with Duke was a serious self reflection. I have poor body control and have no stamina at all. My body was built for computer gaming. Horse riding is the first and only outdoor activity that I enjoy. In horse riding, you suppose to navigate with your body, not entirely with your arms like a motobike. The horse feels all the small nudges that you make with your heels on his body. With such poor body control, I was definitely confusing Duke with my body flapping everywhere. Most importantly, my mind was not clear where I wanted to go. Halfway through my class, Duke completely disregards my commands and stops. My instructor yells "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!". Suddenly, I came to a realization that.... I've been pushed around my entire life.. Now, an easily spooked horse is bullying me. Then I started. Yes, can you imagine, a 24 year old adult crying on a horse.
I'm not going to quit on something I'm passionate about. So, on my fourth class, 1 week after the incident, I mentally prepared myself. I was determined that I will not be bullied and maintain a clear mind. To my surprise, the class when on smoothly. I WAS BEING SCHOOLED BY A HORSE!
Few weeks passed, and one day, I saw a young girl riding Duke practicing for a dressage competition. The instructor told me that the girl has autism. Can't walk, doesn't talk. Yet, could complete a dressage competition effortlessly.
How is it possible? I always thought that horse fear humans that's why they listen to us. I'm twice the size of this young girl and Duke was definitely was not afraid of me.
Secondly, I've certainly never heard of horses remembering dressage routine. But Duke definitely remembers dressage routines. There was one time that I was practicing a dressage routine, Duke remembers! He turned before I asked him to turn! There's 16 novice dressage routine, how can horse remembers any one of it! To be honest, I only remember 1 routine. By the way, Duke was formerly a Cross Country horse.
Duke is certainly a special horse and have a special place in my heart.
I've not been riding for the pass 3 years. I'm writing this because I recently found out that he's now retired and have a large field. Who knows that school horses get to retire too! And from the video, he found a girlfriend! The same color as him! So happy!
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