abbijay
Well-Known Member
It is so exciting to have something to report on that I just had to write it up, apologies now I just know this is going to ramble on a bit!
Just a little background, although Ive posted several other posts about it before, last September my gorgeous Big Pony got very poorly ultimately it was an infected pastern joint- spent several weeks in horsepital and we were sent home to see how we got on. There was no predicted outcome, just take each day as it comes and see how much of a recovery he can make.
As soon as I realised he could school in walk and trot for 45 minutes and get round a 10m circle comfortably I looked for a local Intro test to take him in. Were only just bringing canter work back in so couldnt look to do a prelim but I just wanted to see my boy all pretty in his show gear again. Its hardly the fun crosscountry he used to so love doing but it was time to channel his inner Valeg-warmers!
I got ready for the day as if I was going to a county show: bathing and rebathing his fluffy white socks, polishing and repolishing his tack and my boots. Everything was planned and we were ready to load. Hes never been great at loading and hasnt been out since coming back from horsepital but I allowed my usual half an hour to load even though its never taken more than 20 minutes before, just to keep the pressure off me and stay calm. Well the little [insert any curse word of choice] decided he was not for shifting and time passed by. An hour in I threw my toys in the pram and went for a brew and cry in the car, that was it wed never make it and he wouldnt get his day in the sun.
I had a word with myself and realised we had to get him on somehow so it was time to try again. Another 20 minutes passed and a friend came to see if we were alright. She walked in with a bag of carrots and had a chat with us and the little ****** just wondered in to get a few carrots! I could have throttled him. We decided to go to the venue anyway it was 10.37 and my test 10.48 and although only 5 miles away I knew wed never make it on time at least get him out.
We arrived, unloaded and I was just wondering off to see if Id be allowed in the warm up when one of the organisers asked is there an Abbi here? I spluttered my apologies and tried to hurriedly explain and asked if there was any chance of us still going in. Youve got 10 minutes. Give me your tack then. So I ran off to squeeze into my cream jodhs and my sharer and he tacked the Big Man up. I hopped on and asked if I could nip in the warm up first, Go on then, you can have a couple of minutes. I think we did about 3 circles and a couple of laps of the arena in trot, leg yield left and right and then we were called. Id planned a 25 minute warm up to bring out the best of him but they were still letting me compete so that went out the window.
I let the judge know who I was, apologised profusely and expressed my gratitude for being allowed to compete then in seconds the horn went. As I always do in dressage I hammered down the centreline in absolute concentration, ride the second manoeuvre and then remember that Im just so bloody excited to be here with my best friend, remember to smile and actually start riding. There were a couple of moments that felt quite nice but mostly it was just trying to get through it without making any mistakes. Before I knew it it was time to halt, salute, well up with tears.
We did it! I didnt care about anything else at that moment, my Big Pony who was completely written off last year had managed to compete again. There was a lot of emotion attached to that so for once in my life I was very quiet.
A brew and a chill before I wandered off to check the scores, I knew being so late for the class (and only 4 entries) theyd be pretty quick out and I was utterly gobsmacked to see that wed scored 74.78% and won by 9%!!! I swear the judge felt sorry for the girl on the cart horse who was obviously having a tough morning. Time for more tears.
He was a real pig to load again but more help from the venue and we got him home again without any real drama.
A lot to work before we go out again loading! And time to start building the canter to see if we can make it round a prelim again. But we did it and Im so thoroughly proud of and grateful to my big, daft, best mate of a pony.
Apologies, I'm having a nightmare trying to get pics within this but for those that want to see him hopefully this will work...
https://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4201730986
Just a little background, although Ive posted several other posts about it before, last September my gorgeous Big Pony got very poorly ultimately it was an infected pastern joint- spent several weeks in horsepital and we were sent home to see how we got on. There was no predicted outcome, just take each day as it comes and see how much of a recovery he can make.
As soon as I realised he could school in walk and trot for 45 minutes and get round a 10m circle comfortably I looked for a local Intro test to take him in. Were only just bringing canter work back in so couldnt look to do a prelim but I just wanted to see my boy all pretty in his show gear again. Its hardly the fun crosscountry he used to so love doing but it was time to channel his inner Valeg-warmers!
I got ready for the day as if I was going to a county show: bathing and rebathing his fluffy white socks, polishing and repolishing his tack and my boots. Everything was planned and we were ready to load. Hes never been great at loading and hasnt been out since coming back from horsepital but I allowed my usual half an hour to load even though its never taken more than 20 minutes before, just to keep the pressure off me and stay calm. Well the little [insert any curse word of choice] decided he was not for shifting and time passed by. An hour in I threw my toys in the pram and went for a brew and cry in the car, that was it wed never make it and he wouldnt get his day in the sun.
I had a word with myself and realised we had to get him on somehow so it was time to try again. Another 20 minutes passed and a friend came to see if we were alright. She walked in with a bag of carrots and had a chat with us and the little ****** just wondered in to get a few carrots! I could have throttled him. We decided to go to the venue anyway it was 10.37 and my test 10.48 and although only 5 miles away I knew wed never make it on time at least get him out.
We arrived, unloaded and I was just wondering off to see if Id be allowed in the warm up when one of the organisers asked is there an Abbi here? I spluttered my apologies and tried to hurriedly explain and asked if there was any chance of us still going in. Youve got 10 minutes. Give me your tack then. So I ran off to squeeze into my cream jodhs and my sharer and he tacked the Big Man up. I hopped on and asked if I could nip in the warm up first, Go on then, you can have a couple of minutes. I think we did about 3 circles and a couple of laps of the arena in trot, leg yield left and right and then we were called. Id planned a 25 minute warm up to bring out the best of him but they were still letting me compete so that went out the window.
I let the judge know who I was, apologised profusely and expressed my gratitude for being allowed to compete then in seconds the horn went. As I always do in dressage I hammered down the centreline in absolute concentration, ride the second manoeuvre and then remember that Im just so bloody excited to be here with my best friend, remember to smile and actually start riding. There were a couple of moments that felt quite nice but mostly it was just trying to get through it without making any mistakes. Before I knew it it was time to halt, salute, well up with tears.
We did it! I didnt care about anything else at that moment, my Big Pony who was completely written off last year had managed to compete again. There was a lot of emotion attached to that so for once in my life I was very quiet.
A brew and a chill before I wandered off to check the scores, I knew being so late for the class (and only 4 entries) theyd be pretty quick out and I was utterly gobsmacked to see that wed scored 74.78% and won by 9%!!! I swear the judge felt sorry for the girl on the cart horse who was obviously having a tough morning. Time for more tears.
He was a real pig to load again but more help from the venue and we got him home again without any real drama.
A lot to work before we go out again loading! And time to start building the canter to see if we can make it round a prelim again. But we did it and Im so thoroughly proud of and grateful to my big, daft, best mate of a pony.
Apologies, I'm having a nightmare trying to get pics within this but for those that want to see him hopefully this will work...
https://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4201730986
