Splatthekat
Member
Ive been a lurker here for a while, but will be disappearing off the horsey scene in a few weeks, so decided to be brave and post a report!
After my my pony was PTS a few years ago (lying in field, still having a good go at a treacle lick- spot the greedy connie!) I held off getting another because I knew Id be going abroad in September. But when a chance came up to loan a lovely 8yo mare for the summer, I jumped at it. She hadnt done an awful lot; her owner is perfectly competent, but has no real desire to jump any height, so I was excited to see what she could do. Moved to my friends yard as she wanted me to start jumping her youngster and was all ready for a summer of fun... just didnt take into account what disasters horses are! Arrived up one day for a lesson (late and flustered) to find the mare had cut her hock. Went to take the youngster out and she felt so stiff that I got off her after a few minutes. Vet called, mare on box rest and antibiotics, youngster lame on two legs. Non- horsey OH unimpressed with the amount of time and money that this little having a horse experiment is costing!
Fast forward on to this week, youngster getting back into work with fancy-schmancy shoes on, mare going great, but have disaster almost every time we try to go out somewhere. Have been to one show, and missed 4! In meantime had decided that she was very nearly my perfect horse, but I was safe from falling in love because shes too lazy for cross country.
So yesterday, I was determined nothing would go wrong! There was a jump cross competition 2 miles from the yard, and I planned to hack over and check it out, would go at the beginning of first class and be back home long before the light fades. What could go wrong?
Popped over to walk the course in the afternoon- really lovely course, mixture of showjumps and straightforward cross country, 4 different water complexes and lovely terrain, but nice short course.
Headed over to yard, only to discover that due to crossed wires (tomorrow means something different to someone who sent a text late at night, and the person who read it early the next morning!) had taken the mare out for a quick spin in advance of doing a lesson on her later in the week... eeeek... ridden, then hacked, then jumpcross the hack home.... thats quite a lot for a lazy girl! Luckily yard owner stepped in and said she could take us over in the trailer on her way out- hero!
My class starts at 6.30, but very relaxed venue, so we planned to leave at 6.15. At 6.30 Ive the horse bridled, booted, yard locked, and my wee pile of stuff sitting ready to throw in car... was wondering where the box was when I heard the sound of a thousand knives on plates combined with a terrible grinding noise... turned out the YOs dad had noticed shed left the break off her trailer when she went away for three weeks, and had conscientiously put it on. So, wheel locked, and trailer dragged across yard leaving trail of rubber! (Says something about her kids that she couldnt hear the noise!!),
Thatll be plan C then! Which consists of throwing saddle on horse and riding there as quickly as humanly possible! Phone shoved down bra, to be retrieved while riding down the hill out of the yard (not on public road, but still naughty, I know!) called friend who was there and got her to enter me for as late as possible. Poor mare not sure what hit her- hack that took 50mins last time reduced to 30min! And thats including when she decided that she had never seen anyone brushing a yard and threw a wobbly in the middle of the road! (Dont know how that reflects on our yard!)
Arrived at venue, 4 horses still to go in front of me, time for a quick breather, and then a practice jump on now thoroughly bewildered horse! Down to the start line, a few showjumps to start, going nicely, but not exceptionally and then hit a line with a few XC jumps in a row. Suddenly ears forward cantering on, really taking me into all the fences. Adrenalin soaring, I suddenly remember why I love XC so much, and start to let her really run on, my little lazy mare has suddenly come to life! Got round it clear, 5 seconds too slow to be placed, but really didnt care. OH suddenly pleased as punch because he was beside standing beside the organiser (they dont know each other) and he kept commenting on what a nice horse she was and what a good round we were doing. So hes now decided were an olympic prospect and should be training every day (yay!).
Home safely, big feed and lots of fuss... and the horrible realisation that my loan horse is a cross country machine... and I want to keep her!!
Thanks for reading, I know its very long and no pictures, Ill see if I can get video up later! No food in the house, but am going out for lunch, so send your orders with me and Ill see what I can do!
After my my pony was PTS a few years ago (lying in field, still having a good go at a treacle lick- spot the greedy connie!) I held off getting another because I knew Id be going abroad in September. But when a chance came up to loan a lovely 8yo mare for the summer, I jumped at it. She hadnt done an awful lot; her owner is perfectly competent, but has no real desire to jump any height, so I was excited to see what she could do. Moved to my friends yard as she wanted me to start jumping her youngster and was all ready for a summer of fun... just didnt take into account what disasters horses are! Arrived up one day for a lesson (late and flustered) to find the mare had cut her hock. Went to take the youngster out and she felt so stiff that I got off her after a few minutes. Vet called, mare on box rest and antibiotics, youngster lame on two legs. Non- horsey OH unimpressed with the amount of time and money that this little having a horse experiment is costing!
Fast forward on to this week, youngster getting back into work with fancy-schmancy shoes on, mare going great, but have disaster almost every time we try to go out somewhere. Have been to one show, and missed 4! In meantime had decided that she was very nearly my perfect horse, but I was safe from falling in love because shes too lazy for cross country.
So yesterday, I was determined nothing would go wrong! There was a jump cross competition 2 miles from the yard, and I planned to hack over and check it out, would go at the beginning of first class and be back home long before the light fades. What could go wrong?
Popped over to walk the course in the afternoon- really lovely course, mixture of showjumps and straightforward cross country, 4 different water complexes and lovely terrain, but nice short course.
Headed over to yard, only to discover that due to crossed wires (tomorrow means something different to someone who sent a text late at night, and the person who read it early the next morning!) had taken the mare out for a quick spin in advance of doing a lesson on her later in the week... eeeek... ridden, then hacked, then jumpcross the hack home.... thats quite a lot for a lazy girl! Luckily yard owner stepped in and said she could take us over in the trailer on her way out- hero!
My class starts at 6.30, but very relaxed venue, so we planned to leave at 6.15. At 6.30 Ive the horse bridled, booted, yard locked, and my wee pile of stuff sitting ready to throw in car... was wondering where the box was when I heard the sound of a thousand knives on plates combined with a terrible grinding noise... turned out the YOs dad had noticed shed left the break off her trailer when she went away for three weeks, and had conscientiously put it on. So, wheel locked, and trailer dragged across yard leaving trail of rubber! (Says something about her kids that she couldnt hear the noise!!),
Thatll be plan C then! Which consists of throwing saddle on horse and riding there as quickly as humanly possible! Phone shoved down bra, to be retrieved while riding down the hill out of the yard (not on public road, but still naughty, I know!) called friend who was there and got her to enter me for as late as possible. Poor mare not sure what hit her- hack that took 50mins last time reduced to 30min! And thats including when she decided that she had never seen anyone brushing a yard and threw a wobbly in the middle of the road! (Dont know how that reflects on our yard!)
Arrived at venue, 4 horses still to go in front of me, time for a quick breather, and then a practice jump on now thoroughly bewildered horse! Down to the start line, a few showjumps to start, going nicely, but not exceptionally and then hit a line with a few XC jumps in a row. Suddenly ears forward cantering on, really taking me into all the fences. Adrenalin soaring, I suddenly remember why I love XC so much, and start to let her really run on, my little lazy mare has suddenly come to life! Got round it clear, 5 seconds too slow to be placed, but really didnt care. OH suddenly pleased as punch because he was beside standing beside the organiser (they dont know each other) and he kept commenting on what a nice horse she was and what a good round we were doing. So hes now decided were an olympic prospect and should be training every day (yay!).
Home safely, big feed and lots of fuss... and the horrible realisation that my loan horse is a cross country machine... and I want to keep her!!
Thanks for reading, I know its very long and no pictures, Ill see if I can get video up later! No food in the house, but am going out for lunch, so send your orders with me and Ill see what I can do!
