Haflinger of the Month--Ariane

written by owner Peter Janicki, Washington state

I would like to tell you a story about a trip to the mountains a few months ago.

My boys and I were invited to go on a ride in the mountains here in Skagit County. I was concerned from the beginning that we would be a burden to the group. As you know I have 5 boys under 11 years in age. I left Thomas, the 3 year old at home. I have a small draft horse that I ride double with one of my boys and the other boys double up on my two Haflingers.

The rest of the group consisted of 5 men who were all very seasoned riders on experienced, well conditioned horses. There was one Tennessee walker, two quarter horses and two Arabs.

As we began, I could see that there was going to be a problem right away. We were on an old abandoned logging road and their horses simply walked faster than my horses. In order to keep up, our horses would have to break into a trot, every so often.

However, once we started climbing up the mountain everything began to change. Their horses required frequent rest breaks and our Haflingers did not. My draft horse was having a hard time as well. I don't know why the Haflingers can climb continuously, so easily. Maybe it is their temperament; the other horses seem to expend a lot more energy in every motion they make. Maybe it is the way they are built, I don't know, but they clearly can climb a mountain for a long time with very few breaks.

Eventually we came to a place where the road had been washed out. There was a huge ravine where the road had been. Both sides were steep, and rocky. The bottom was filled with mud with no apparent bottom. The most experienced rider, on the most seasoned horse began to cross while the rest of us waited and watched. He slowly worked his way down to the bottom with his quarter horse. As he crossed the bottom of the ravine, the horse began to sink in the soft mud. The horse started to panic and lunge, like and animal falling into quick sand. The rider managed to keep the horse pointed in the right direction for a while, but fell off as it scrambled, lunged and stumbled across and up the other side in a panicked state of mind. We all watched dismay.

The rider was Ok. Myself and a couple of other guys walked across to check on the horse. It was bleeding a little from several small cuts on its legs but otherwise unhurt. At this point it was clear we were not going to take the other horses across and it was time to go home. The problem was that there was no way that this horse was going to go back across that ravine. We tried every thing. Pushing, pulling, riding, leading, nothing was going to get that horse to go back into that ravine. We looked to see if there was any way we could make a trail around the ravine, but that failed as well. We walked the other horses far down the road. Maybe the herd bound instincts of this horse would take over and he would go across. No luck. A cold and steady rain began to fall. We were all becoming chilled and it was getting late. The situation was becoming desperate.

I knew all along how to get that horse across, and now it was time. I called to Aaron, my 10 year old who was riding Ariane, an 18 year old mare. Aaron, "I need you to ride your horse across that ravine and over to that other horse." The other riders looked at me like I had lost my mind. But I knew what they didn't. Ariane slowly and carefully placed her feet between the rocks as she worked her way down the ravine. When she reached the bottom and began sinking, she kept moving methodically, like a draft horse pulling a plow, she worked her way across the mud. The other side was steep and treacherous. We all held our breath. Aaron and Ariane walked up the other side like they were walking through a park.

The other horse was visibly relieved to have a companion on its side. It walked close to Ariane and drew comfort in knowing it was no longer alone. Aaron grabbed the lead rope and began leading this horse across while he rode Ariane. He went down the steep embankment leading a very concerned but comforted quarter horse. As he made his way across the bottom and up the other side, I saw 5 men stare at each other in disbelief.

From that moment on, when ever I am in tough and dangerous conditions in the high country, I do not want to be on anything other than my Haflingers.



Peter Janicki peter@janicki.com