Marquire
Well-Known Member
I took an 18 year old mare on loan for my novice OH in June. She had been a Grade A showjumper in her youth but had really done nothing much for over a year as she has spavins and had a lot of time off due to this. When we got her she was overweight, under-muscled, stiff as a board and to be honest a bit depressed.
Anyway, he has been pootling around on her, lots of walk hacks and one 30 minute session in the school per week. TBH I'm don't watch him schooling as he usually does it when I'm having a lesson in the other arena and in my head I imagined him just ambling around for half an hour.
Anyway last night I had a lesson booked with my dressage trainer but when I got the yard, Grumpy McGrump had pulled off a front shoe. I was all for going home to drink a bottle of wine in disgust when I thought 'Why don't I take OH's mare for a lesson instead'.
Well it was quite a humbling experience. The mare was fantastic, worked long and low for the whole 45 minutes, was super bendy, leg yielded from the slightest pressure and it felt like I was riding a 5 year old not a horse who will be 19 this year. My trainer had not seen the mare for over a year and could not believe the difference in her. She started to congratulate me on all the work I'd must have put in on her and I was forced to admit I hadn't even sat on her until the lesson last night.
I feel quite guilty for assuming that my OH was more of a passenger than a rider. He is obviously a lot less of a novice than I gave him credit for.
Marie
Anyway, he has been pootling around on her, lots of walk hacks and one 30 minute session in the school per week. TBH I'm don't watch him schooling as he usually does it when I'm having a lesson in the other arena and in my head I imagined him just ambling around for half an hour.
Anyway last night I had a lesson booked with my dressage trainer but when I got the yard, Grumpy McGrump had pulled off a front shoe. I was all for going home to drink a bottle of wine in disgust when I thought 'Why don't I take OH's mare for a lesson instead'.
Well it was quite a humbling experience. The mare was fantastic, worked long and low for the whole 45 minutes, was super bendy, leg yielded from the slightest pressure and it felt like I was riding a 5 year old not a horse who will be 19 this year. My trainer had not seen the mare for over a year and could not believe the difference in her. She started to congratulate me on all the work I'd must have put in on her and I was forced to admit I hadn't even sat on her until the lesson last night.
I feel quite guilty for assuming that my OH was more of a passenger than a rider. He is obviously a lot less of a novice than I gave him credit for.
Marie
