JenHunt
Well-Known Member
Ok, so went team chasing yeasterday - nothing too unusual in that. We don't do many and we're not really a threat to the competition, but we do enjoy it, and usually have a pretty good round.
But yesterday obviously wasn't our day. Our 4th rider pulled out before she left home as she'd hurt her back. So we were all prepared to run with 3. Then our 3rd rider turned up with the smaller of her 2 as the usual one wasn't right. Fair enough little Shads is more than capable, just not as fit.
So we warm up, talk tactics, hang around cos of a fallen rider, warm up again and get ready to go.
I'm riding first horse, which again isn't unusual - normally Ron hears then shout "GO" and pegs it to the nearest fence like a heat guided missile. But not this time. I had to give him a good boot and a smack to get him off the line, and then he wobbled down the first 30yds to the 1st like a baby.
I growled at him to get him concentrate, gave him anothe smack just as he thought about ducking out right. He jumped off all four feet, and then shot right on landing. I lost both stirrups and just as i thouhgt i'd got them back he shot left to follow the others and I went out the right hand door.
I landed on my elbow, shoulder and felt my head hit the ground pretty hard. My first thought was that my hat would need replacing! Got up a moment later to find that my horse had bu66ered off and the other 2 were trotting round waiting to see i was ok. I told them to get going and I'd try to catch them up.
Found horse back at the trailer. Got back on and set off. trotted into first 2 fences to make sure he went over, then set of at a hell of a lick. Jumped big pallisade at an interesting angle, hurdled a couple of logs, and then comes a big rail-ditch-rail fence. I sit up, and he skipped through it like it was nothing (3'6" though!)
We gallop on over the next 10 fences or so, then the course turns to start over bit of down hill terrain. Sitting up hasn't slowed him at all so i go to take a bit of a pull, and he just bl**dy well leans back!!!! grrr... normally this wouldn't bother me, but i realise at the 3rd attempt that I have no strength in my right arm. By the time i realise this, the next fence is a double of rails at an angle....
dilemma - do i continue and hope that he sorts himself out, or do i pull up now bearing in mind the rest of the day so far? - I decide to pull up, before we kill each other. Problem is fence judge says i have to walk him back. OH meets me a bit later on, and offers to ride the little monkey back as i can't make him do anything other than a pathetic little jog.
Another fence judge sees me get off, and OH get on, and calls the bleeping paramedics! OH takes Ron back to box, while i'm left with 2 paramedics poking and prodding me to see what i've done.
by this time the 3rd rider has had a stop and a fall towards the end of the course (both unhurt, and it's put down to mis communicaton) and the 2nd rider has finished clear and is waiting for us other 2.
The answer from the paramedics is.... a mild concussion, and bruising to the elbow and shoulder is pinching the nerve(s) that go up to my hand causing loss of strength as well as the pins and needles that start in my wrist and run up to my little finger and the one next to it.
This morning my neck is sore and stiff, my legs hurt all over, and to top it all off.... my hat definately needs replacing!
sorry it's so long - please have a cup of tea from me!
But yesterday obviously wasn't our day. Our 4th rider pulled out before she left home as she'd hurt her back. So we were all prepared to run with 3. Then our 3rd rider turned up with the smaller of her 2 as the usual one wasn't right. Fair enough little Shads is more than capable, just not as fit.
So we warm up, talk tactics, hang around cos of a fallen rider, warm up again and get ready to go.
I'm riding first horse, which again isn't unusual - normally Ron hears then shout "GO" and pegs it to the nearest fence like a heat guided missile. But not this time. I had to give him a good boot and a smack to get him off the line, and then he wobbled down the first 30yds to the 1st like a baby.
I growled at him to get him concentrate, gave him anothe smack just as he thought about ducking out right. He jumped off all four feet, and then shot right on landing. I lost both stirrups and just as i thouhgt i'd got them back he shot left to follow the others and I went out the right hand door.
I landed on my elbow, shoulder and felt my head hit the ground pretty hard. My first thought was that my hat would need replacing! Got up a moment later to find that my horse had bu66ered off and the other 2 were trotting round waiting to see i was ok. I told them to get going and I'd try to catch them up.
Found horse back at the trailer. Got back on and set off. trotted into first 2 fences to make sure he went over, then set of at a hell of a lick. Jumped big pallisade at an interesting angle, hurdled a couple of logs, and then comes a big rail-ditch-rail fence. I sit up, and he skipped through it like it was nothing (3'6" though!)
We gallop on over the next 10 fences or so, then the course turns to start over bit of down hill terrain. Sitting up hasn't slowed him at all so i go to take a bit of a pull, and he just bl**dy well leans back!!!! grrr... normally this wouldn't bother me, but i realise at the 3rd attempt that I have no strength in my right arm. By the time i realise this, the next fence is a double of rails at an angle....
dilemma - do i continue and hope that he sorts himself out, or do i pull up now bearing in mind the rest of the day so far? - I decide to pull up, before we kill each other. Problem is fence judge says i have to walk him back. OH meets me a bit later on, and offers to ride the little monkey back as i can't make him do anything other than a pathetic little jog.
Another fence judge sees me get off, and OH get on, and calls the bleeping paramedics! OH takes Ron back to box, while i'm left with 2 paramedics poking and prodding me to see what i've done.
by this time the 3rd rider has had a stop and a fall towards the end of the course (both unhurt, and it's put down to mis communicaton) and the 2nd rider has finished clear and is waiting for us other 2.
The answer from the paramedics is.... a mild concussion, and bruising to the elbow and shoulder is pinching the nerve(s) that go up to my hand causing loss of strength as well as the pins and needles that start in my wrist and run up to my little finger and the one next to it.
This morning my neck is sore and stiff, my legs hurt all over, and to top it all off.... my hat definately needs replacing!
sorry it's so long - please have a cup of tea from me!
