FestiveFuzz
Well-Known Member
This time last week I was in tears as not only was H unrideable due to a sore back but he'd also become an absolute horror to deal with on the ground. At the time there were a lot of questions hanging over whether I would keep H (he's currently on a trial wvtb) as although we could guess at what was causing his discomfort we weren't entirely sure. The physio came out to check him and confirmed that he was carrying a lot of tension in his back and pelvis but couldn't say for certain whether the cause was muscular as he is so green and still very unbalanced. I was given some stretches to do with him daily and advised to do lots of lunging and polework to get him really working through his back and neck before re-assessing him in two weeks time. At the same time the physio suggested I think long and hard as to whether H was the right horse for me, having bought him as a confidence giver only to discover just how green he really is.
Well...the first few days I could quite happily have shipped him off to Tesco! He struggled with the stretches and made sure I struggled as much as he did and it became apparent just how unbalanced he was. The only stretches he didn't struggle with were the carrot stretches but these turned him into a bolshy, nippy thug even when I traded treats in for a handful of grass. Lunging was also a nightmare. He spent the whole ten minute session spinning, turning in on me and aiming his hooves at my head (it turns out he'd only been lunged twice before by his old owner). By Thursday's session I was at my wits end, wondering how on earth I could help a horse that didn't want to help himself. I felt utterly useless and if I'm totally honest I was beginning to think I should just send him back and give up altogether.
After the inevitable tears of Thursday I finally saw my way through the dark clouds and spoke to a friend who reassured me I was capable and that I just needed to stop doubting myself. I don't know what it was about that chat but it was the kick up the backside that I sorely needed.
Friday came and I strode towards H with purpose and told him I didn't care what crap he threw at me he was going to lunge nicely and get on with his stretches and I would keep going until he did just that. I don't know whether it was my assertiveness or just me being in a different mindset but it was like dealing with a different horse. He only turned in on me twice whilst lunging and each time I only had to raise my voice and he went back out to the track. He was so much easier to get to stretch too and instead of trying to barge me about when he'd had enough he just patiently stood there.
Fast-forward to today and he's lunging mainly by voice and is beginning to stretch down through his back and neck. He even managed a canter without bunny-hopping into it. I couldn't be more proud of my boy and am now hopeful that this will turn out to be caused by greenness and a badly fitted saddle rather than anything more sinister.
I know for most this will be a non-event but this is a massive step forward for us both in terms of our relationship and my confidence and I'm slowly beginning to believe that I might be capable in bringing on a green horse even though I've been out of the saddle for 4 years.
Well...the first few days I could quite happily have shipped him off to Tesco! He struggled with the stretches and made sure I struggled as much as he did and it became apparent just how unbalanced he was. The only stretches he didn't struggle with were the carrot stretches but these turned him into a bolshy, nippy thug even when I traded treats in for a handful of grass. Lunging was also a nightmare. He spent the whole ten minute session spinning, turning in on me and aiming his hooves at my head (it turns out he'd only been lunged twice before by his old owner). By Thursday's session I was at my wits end, wondering how on earth I could help a horse that didn't want to help himself. I felt utterly useless and if I'm totally honest I was beginning to think I should just send him back and give up altogether.
After the inevitable tears of Thursday I finally saw my way through the dark clouds and spoke to a friend who reassured me I was capable and that I just needed to stop doubting myself. I don't know what it was about that chat but it was the kick up the backside that I sorely needed.
Friday came and I strode towards H with purpose and told him I didn't care what crap he threw at me he was going to lunge nicely and get on with his stretches and I would keep going until he did just that. I don't know whether it was my assertiveness or just me being in a different mindset but it was like dealing with a different horse. He only turned in on me twice whilst lunging and each time I only had to raise my voice and he went back out to the track. He was so much easier to get to stretch too and instead of trying to barge me about when he'd had enough he just patiently stood there.
Fast-forward to today and he's lunging mainly by voice and is beginning to stretch down through his back and neck. He even managed a canter without bunny-hopping into it. I couldn't be more proud of my boy and am now hopeful that this will turn out to be caused by greenness and a badly fitted saddle rather than anything more sinister.
I know for most this will be a non-event but this is a massive step forward for us both in terms of our relationship and my confidence and I'm slowly beginning to believe that I might be capable in bringing on a green horse even though I've been out of the saddle for 4 years.