katastrophykat
Well-Known Member
Having washed legs and tail in sideways hail and hot clothing the rest of him, poor Gunner was put on the box yesterday for a short but eventful trip to a local equestrian centre. I took my car along so that dad could pop home for the day and collect us later on, which was just as well as the power steering went on the wagon during the trip there- dad coaxed it to the show and we had to take the horses back in a friend's 3.5 tonne box- so we now know that Gunner travels backwards too 
our box has been fixed for now, and is back at home until it goes into Volvo for further investigation.
Anyway... The fun bits- Gunner was an utter brat all morning, refusing to be separated from his box buddy during her classes, and at one point rearing full height and getting loose from my friend when I took her mare into an in hand class. I caught him as I left the arena and spotted him on his way in to find the mare. He's going out by himself next time... He's only a bother when he's with Sally, and no other horses on the box, but we can't keep having hissy fits. So once we'd settled him, he went into a strong in hand class, and won, then went in hand reserve.
Then on to the reasons for us being there- his first riddens! He went in to the indoor and warmed up like an old pro, stood like a gem in the tack and turnout (never doing that again... Far too finicky!) as we'd entered just to see how he coped with others in the ring.
Then I had an attack of confidence as I'd tried to get him into the outdoor to warm up earlier, and he'd had a hissy to go back to Sally... It was like riding an unexplored bomb. So I was worrying about what he'd do going back down. Thankfully A good friend was there and gave me a rocket up my arse, he came together and we went into the ridden hunter class.
I messed up on the go round- he wrong legged, I put him right then thought he was disunited, so bought him back again and asked wrong so we got the wrong lead and rather than asking him again, I let him go on, so as not to wind him up. That was the only mistake really that we made- I was really chuffed with his individual! Right leg on both reins, and even had a baby extension when asked in his canter!
We won! There were two others in, both were nice, so I was really chuffed with him!
And to top it all off, I made the poor boy do a fancy dress class as a trainee reindeer
I'm really proud of him, and we have loads to work on so fingers firmly crossed we'll be ready for next season!
our box has been fixed for now, and is back at home until it goes into Volvo for further investigation. Anyway... The fun bits- Gunner was an utter brat all morning, refusing to be separated from his box buddy during her classes, and at one point rearing full height and getting loose from my friend when I took her mare into an in hand class. I caught him as I left the arena and spotted him on his way in to find the mare. He's going out by himself next time... He's only a bother when he's with Sally, and no other horses on the box, but we can't keep having hissy fits. So once we'd settled him, he went into a strong in hand class, and won, then went in hand reserve.
Then on to the reasons for us being there- his first riddens! He went in to the indoor and warmed up like an old pro, stood like a gem in the tack and turnout (never doing that again... Far too finicky!) as we'd entered just to see how he coped with others in the ring.
Then I had an attack of confidence as I'd tried to get him into the outdoor to warm up earlier, and he'd had a hissy to go back to Sally... It was like riding an unexplored bomb. So I was worrying about what he'd do going back down. Thankfully A good friend was there and gave me a rocket up my arse, he came together and we went into the ridden hunter class.
I messed up on the go round- he wrong legged, I put him right then thought he was disunited, so bought him back again and asked wrong so we got the wrong lead and rather than asking him again, I let him go on, so as not to wind him up. That was the only mistake really that we made- I was really chuffed with his individual! Right leg on both reins, and even had a baby extension when asked in his canter!
We won! There were two others in, both were nice, so I was really chuffed with him!
And to top it all off, I made the poor boy do a fancy dress class as a trainee reindeer
I'm really proud of him, and we have loads to work on so fingers firmly crossed we'll be ready for next season!
Good Luck for the coming season 
