BethanT
Well-Known Member
Now don't get me wrong, I love my horses to bits. I don't think I could every bring my self to sell either, and certainly not my little mare.
But I am starting to loose the will to live with my boy.
Last summer we had a good start to our eventing aims, got out to a few little unaffiliated one days. Worked our socks off over winter in the crappy weather to improve our flat work - using classical methods and getting him to use himself rather than rely on me. In the process he has cost me a fortune in lessons, saddle fitting, 5 weekly shoeing, massage, supplements and anatomical tack to make him more comfortable and keep him on top form. This never/will never bother me. I want my horses happy and comfortable and I am aware I could do things cheaper if I had to.
Now he has always been prone to lose a shoe, but lately hes been fine. I've but him on a 5 weekly cycle and always kept a mega close eye on them so if they get loose I give my farrier a call and let him know. (Please no one tell me to go barefoot as I have looked into this and discussed with my farrier and various other professionals, and non of which think this is a suitable option for him unless I was to turn him away over winter. He also needs studs for cross country).
This year has been a mix of ups and downs already. Among aiming to do a BE80 or at least a good unaffiliated 80, I was aiming to qualify for the Pet Plan Area Festival, with the ambition to get to finals, and maybe even Hartpury. And we did it, we qualified in two outings, with not even our best work! I was chuffed to bits, and really thought "yeah, we have a shot at finals!"
So whats the problem I hear you ask? Well firstly he was ridiculously tight through his hamstrings on massage - therapist recommended 2 weeks of light hacking long and low. Tightness has come from working properly and uphill for the first time in his life. Putting on hold further training for anything. Fine, he needed a break (even though he had one in January). I knew he was so I had already given him the time off in the run up to her visit as I didn't want to cause more issue by riding.
-Secondly his saddle wasn't/isn't fitting due to lack of work and loss of muscle, and it has been hard work to get my fitter to come out - between my working hours and her availability and where she lives in proximity to me, she can't get out to me quickly, so work had to be put on hold. I've managed to sort it so that I can ride him so he doesn't lose total fitness but it isn't great long term, and I can only do light work with him, like hacking.
-Thirdly the travelling to two competitions and limited turnout over the recent winter months, has given him an ulcer flare up, even despite his current supplements and feed and my trying to do everything I can to prevent this. Making him extremely grumpy to tack up and rug up (aware that the ill fitting saddle will also play a part in this for him, as the minute his saddle doesn't fit he tells me on tacking up). So potentially having to look at giving him a number of weeks off completely.
-The constant rain has meant that even if he was competition fit, all events are getting cancelled left right and center.
-Finally, the catalyst that has made me want to give up. He's thrown another shoe. In the bog that is his field, that I have asked for him to be moved from because he isn't grazing in there because he doesn't like the ponies he is in with and he would rather be with his friends - contributing to his ulcer flare up. Not only has he just pulled a shoe, but half his foot. Which puts us back to where we were 2 years ago and he had to wait 3 months to be able to have a shoe back on again (he had very slow hoof growth). My farrier is amazing, but there isn't a lot he can do if there isn't any foot there.
I know everyone goes through times like this with their horses. But I throw everything into my horses, I work long hours to fund them, I don't get home until nearly 9pm most evenings if I ride both, and I am up at 6am to muck out before work, so I never get to spend time with my boyfriend (who is very understanding and helps where he can). I'm exhausted, and almost broke. Then stuff like this happens. And what infuriates me most, is that there are people who don't work, spend their money on stupid stuff - like millions of blinkin' matchy matchy sets, unnecessary boots and bandages, bridle after bridle etc, don't watch what their horses eat/feed appropriately, don't get to their horses until midday when they are stabled overnight, leave them for weeks then go and take them cross country or for a 2 hour hack, and yet they never seem to have anything go wrong with their horses.
I know my farrier will get to him today or tomorrow and chances are he will get a shoe on - and then I'll be fine again. But for now I am going to wallow in self pitty
But I am starting to loose the will to live with my boy.
Last summer we had a good start to our eventing aims, got out to a few little unaffiliated one days. Worked our socks off over winter in the crappy weather to improve our flat work - using classical methods and getting him to use himself rather than rely on me. In the process he has cost me a fortune in lessons, saddle fitting, 5 weekly shoeing, massage, supplements and anatomical tack to make him more comfortable and keep him on top form. This never/will never bother me. I want my horses happy and comfortable and I am aware I could do things cheaper if I had to.
Now he has always been prone to lose a shoe, but lately hes been fine. I've but him on a 5 weekly cycle and always kept a mega close eye on them so if they get loose I give my farrier a call and let him know. (Please no one tell me to go barefoot as I have looked into this and discussed with my farrier and various other professionals, and non of which think this is a suitable option for him unless I was to turn him away over winter. He also needs studs for cross country).
This year has been a mix of ups and downs already. Among aiming to do a BE80 or at least a good unaffiliated 80, I was aiming to qualify for the Pet Plan Area Festival, with the ambition to get to finals, and maybe even Hartpury. And we did it, we qualified in two outings, with not even our best work! I was chuffed to bits, and really thought "yeah, we have a shot at finals!"
So whats the problem I hear you ask? Well firstly he was ridiculously tight through his hamstrings on massage - therapist recommended 2 weeks of light hacking long and low. Tightness has come from working properly and uphill for the first time in his life. Putting on hold further training for anything. Fine, he needed a break (even though he had one in January). I knew he was so I had already given him the time off in the run up to her visit as I didn't want to cause more issue by riding.
-Secondly his saddle wasn't/isn't fitting due to lack of work and loss of muscle, and it has been hard work to get my fitter to come out - between my working hours and her availability and where she lives in proximity to me, she can't get out to me quickly, so work had to be put on hold. I've managed to sort it so that I can ride him so he doesn't lose total fitness but it isn't great long term, and I can only do light work with him, like hacking.
-Thirdly the travelling to two competitions and limited turnout over the recent winter months, has given him an ulcer flare up, even despite his current supplements and feed and my trying to do everything I can to prevent this. Making him extremely grumpy to tack up and rug up (aware that the ill fitting saddle will also play a part in this for him, as the minute his saddle doesn't fit he tells me on tacking up). So potentially having to look at giving him a number of weeks off completely.
-The constant rain has meant that even if he was competition fit, all events are getting cancelled left right and center.
-Finally, the catalyst that has made me want to give up. He's thrown another shoe. In the bog that is his field, that I have asked for him to be moved from because he isn't grazing in there because he doesn't like the ponies he is in with and he would rather be with his friends - contributing to his ulcer flare up. Not only has he just pulled a shoe, but half his foot. Which puts us back to where we were 2 years ago and he had to wait 3 months to be able to have a shoe back on again (he had very slow hoof growth). My farrier is amazing, but there isn't a lot he can do if there isn't any foot there.
I know everyone goes through times like this with their horses. But I throw everything into my horses, I work long hours to fund them, I don't get home until nearly 9pm most evenings if I ride both, and I am up at 6am to muck out before work, so I never get to spend time with my boyfriend (who is very understanding and helps where he can). I'm exhausted, and almost broke. Then stuff like this happens. And what infuriates me most, is that there are people who don't work, spend their money on stupid stuff - like millions of blinkin' matchy matchy sets, unnecessary boots and bandages, bridle after bridle etc, don't watch what their horses eat/feed appropriately, don't get to their horses until midday when they are stabled overnight, leave them for weeks then go and take them cross country or for a 2 hour hack, and yet they never seem to have anything go wrong with their horses.
I know my farrier will get to him today or tomorrow and chances are he will get a shoe on - and then I'll be fine again. But for now I am going to wallow in self pitty