Pony Training in the Sunshine State
In winter, the equine world slows down to a crawl. However, spring is a totally different story. The everyday chores reach a fevered pitch in spring, the ranch becomes as busy as a beehive. Spring comes early in Central Florida, the pastures and woods green up from winters nap, the day is warm, and the robins return north. Most years this happens in mid-February and 2007 was right on schedule. My name is Foxy Davis, and my wife Sherifox and I own and manage the Foxden Ranch, a training facility for human ponies, a place of transformation from human to a well-trained and admired pony.
We currently had our ponies in a stable for training. Firefox and Finefox were two of my Florida Foxtrotters; Starfighter was a wild and spirited pony shipped over to us from France. Starfighter was a well-trained pony, however she needed to "have the rust knocked off" and then be evaluated for advanced training techniques. The fourth pony was Blackie. Blackie was pony from the east coast of Florida and very well trained. All that was needed with her was a tune-up before the busy show season. A busy show season for sure, my ponies were already slated for events in Georgia, Maryland, Washington D.C., New Jersey, Colorado, and Texas. These shows coupled with all the local shows in Central and South Florida meant my ponies needed to be put in tip-top form. As a trainer, the ponies' performances reflect directly on my abilities, so I expected and required perfection.
One of the best places to work the ponies, I think, is at the beach. The sun and sand style the ponies' style and stamina, the breeze and fresh air do wonder for the lungs, and the scenic backdrop adds to the entire package. With this in mind it was time to gather the tack, load the ponies, head the truck and trailer east, and, as the saying goes, git 'er done.
The beach grooming kit includes most all of the standard items needed elsewhere. However, several things are very important. The two most important things are sunscreen and fresh water. Sun burned ponies don't do well in harness and the health risk of dehydration is obvious. At the beach, vet wrap is also required for wrapping the ponies' legs. The soft sand is a major contributor to bowed tendons. Since a bowed tendon would ruin a ponies career, all safety precautions are strictly adhered to. Items usually not needed are fly spray and fly masks, since the ocean breezes tend to make the training sessions a bug-free zone.
The tack was the same tack each pony was used to being worked in: bridles, harnesses, hoof boots, corsets--no changes were necessary. No saddles were needed today because we would be training show and cart ponies. Sherifox had ridden Starfighter previously, but today all the ponies would be worked in the cart. One major effect to remember was that the same sun and salt air that improved the training was also damaging to leather. Leather tack items should be oiled beforehand, then thoroughly cleaned and oiled again back at the ranch with attention being paid to metal buckles. Rusted shut the buckles are worthless. Since we took a cart on this trip, the cart required maintenance work also.
We arrived at Apollo Beach early in the morning everything was going as planned. A warm day, outgoing tide, a little windy, but we would manage. The first pony to be unloaded and tacked up was Firefox. Then it was Finefox's turn. The two Foxtrotters were tacked up in matching purple and black harnesses and headstalls. My Foxtrotters were shown as a pair, so I always tacked them the same and trained them together. Knowing I could catch my Foxtrotters easily, they were turned loose on the beach to run free, run and burn off the piss and vinegar so they will settle down for a learning session. Two ponies tacked, now I turned to Starfighter. Tacked up in red, black, and white we kept her restrained and under control at all times. Starfighter was somewhat flighty and a runway was possible. Bringing Blackie near Starfighter settled her down. Starfighter remained calm while we tacked Blackie in a all black harness and headstall.
Blackie was a joy to work with. Her ground manners were correct, reflecting back to her initial trainer. Ground manners are a very important aspect of pony training. A spoiled pony, one that rides herd over the trainer and not the other way around, is not only undisciplined, but dangerous. Not many trainers or other ponies enjoy kicks, bites, or unruly behavior.
Catching Finefox wasn't too much of a problem, but Firefox was a different story. Too much pent up energy from the winter's rest. After a brief battle of wits she was caught and I put her in the cart at water's edge to wait her turn. Having to stand still seemed a just punishment for wanting to run wild.
One by one each pony was ground driven, working on the slow gait basics. I feel the foundation for doing any and all of the gaits requires correctness in the slow gaits. The faster gaits are based on the slower ones, so if the basic gaits are flawed, then so will be the advanced ones. We worked each pony to the left and then to the right. What is done to one side should be done to the other side for balance. It didn't take much for all the ponies to remember correctness. Starfighter was settling down beside Blackie and the Foxtrotters were happy to do things just the way they were taught.
After ground driving ponies singly and in pairs it was cart time. Sherifox and I marked out an oval course in the sand, a simple course for the first class of the season. One half the oval on the hard-packed sand left from the receding tide, the other half in the ankle deep soft sand. This would be good for muscle tone and provide a cardiovascular workout. My Foxtrotter team went first and performed as well as expected. There was a little trouble pulling in the soft sand, but that was to be part of the training. I decided to try and introduce Starfighter into the Foxtrotter team. I learned quickly this would be a lesson in futility. The Foxtrotters wanted nothing to do with Starfighter and Starfighter wanted nothing to do with the foxtrotters at all. As an experienced handler of ponies, one thing I learned long ago was that forcing a pony to do something never works; the pony resents the lesson and will almost always resist that task when asked. It is better if the task is presented so the pony accepts and completes the job as if its the pony's own idea.
Because Blackie and Starfighter had become pasture buddies we decided to work them together in the cart. Sherifox took the lines and drove the two black ponies around the oval, first one way then the other. Round and round until the two got the idea of desired commands. Once the two black ponies achieved the commands it was time to stop. Always stop on a positive note and next time the routine becomes easier.
As the day wore on and the sun became hotter, it was time to end the training and begin the rewards. Starfighter had settled down and I didn't think she would wander too far away, so she and Blackie were turned out to run and frolic in the surf and spray. I had already untacked Firefox and Finefox and was leading them to the warm shower. The showers were the reason for choosing that part of the beach. Grooming the Foxtrotters was also a reward for me, lathering them up with thick soap suds and warm water gave relief from the day's hard work. We washed and polished the pair starting with hooves and finishing with the mane and tail. Brushing and combing made my ponies shine in the Florida sun. The pair really enjoyed the attention also. All the primping and preening relaxed them so much they almost fell asleep.
Wrangling up Starfighter and Blackie, Sherifox and I rewarded them with the same grooming session. It's important to relax and reward ponies for the final lesson. Before we loaded the ponies up for the long trip back, we two trainers stepped back to admire the fruits of our labor. Four well-groomed, shiny ponies in the warm Florida sun was a sight to behold.
We arrived back at the Foxden shortly before sunset with just enough time to do the various ranch chores required along with putting the ponies up for the night. We still had to wash and oil the cart and tack, which we did promptly. The chores done, it was now time for a reward for the trainers. With a cold Sundowner in each hand, Sherifox settled down next to me in the Jacuzzi just in time to watch the glorious sunset over the lake. The rewards can be so simple for couple of southern ranch hands.
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This article was meant to accompany a gallery of pictures taken on the beach for issue 21 of Equus Eroticus Magazine, which was not included due to lack of space. The issue is still available here: http://equuseroticus.com.
Three sample pictures are available on this site using these links:
Ponies on the Beach Foxy with two in hand Tail a-flyin'!
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Foxy and Sherifox hail from central Florida, right in the middle of thoroughbred horse country. They live off a small horse farm, both having experience with horses from raising foals to finishing them out under saddle. Both have a varied interest in the BD/SM world, ranging from play to instruction in several areas. Together they own and operate Native American Exotics, a company that make unique Native American BD/SM equipment for the consenting adult connoisseur, found at http://nativeamericanexotics.com. Each one-of-a-kind original is handmade using natural materials and traditional assembly methods. The company also makes some of the best looking pony tack found anywhere. By playing pony, they know what works and what looks good. Each piece is created on a custom basis for the pony's own desires. Foxy and Sherifox look forward to hearing from you, answering questions and providing you with remarkably well-made toys and tack for many years of future enjoyment. To continue this discussion or to inquire about demonstrations or vending e-mail Foxy at foxden [at] mfi [dot] net.
