Rather selfpitying post

[jesterfaerie]

Sorry in advance.

I have found myself even more low about my horse and I this morning than normal.
It is down to the lack of progression we have made in the near two years I have owned him, I see posts on here of people owning their horses for two minutes and achieving so much with them I am rather envious.

In nearly two years we seem to have accomplished absolutly nothing

When I first bought him he wasn't in the best condition and couldn't get more than several yards away from home on a hack before the problems started. The first 6 months were mainly spent putting more condition on him, improving his feet and ground work, over the summer he was ridden more but had a holiday and then a new saddle.

In the following year he impoved with his schooling, learnt lateral work but the suppleness was still very much a major issue, he learnt to jump and his hacking became amazinly good once I worked out what works and does work with him he also started to load within minutes rather than hours again once I had figured what worked with him.
Just when we were getting somewhere, his schooling was going ok and I felt was ready to hack out to the closest arena he had to have time off. 3 months off because his new saddle still hasn't arrived and his old one isn't the best fitting anymore and to be honest I hate it.

I have struggled so much over time as I have no facilities but try work him when I can in my fields, and him being a bugger to hack made it even more difficult. He was kept on a yard at uni with facilities which made life much easier but when at home we struggled to make it to our nearest venue for lessons or shows, lack of transport and working weekends didn't help.

I just felt very depressing this morning thinking that if he ended up being permenantly lame or whatever (*touchwood it won't happen*) we would have achieved nothing. I know he has improved in certain areas but as I said we haven't made it to any competitons and his schooling is still so far off the mark it is unbelievable. I feel like I am the only one not out there doing anything with my horse ugh.

Is anyone else stuggling because of lack of time, facilities, transport, etc?
I feel like the only one at the moment...
Sorry for such a depressing post so early on in the morning.

 

[Pidgeon]

Hey it doesn't matter that you haven't achieved anything comp wise as you have turned him round condition wise and work wise there is a huge improvement! He doesn't know he's not done comps as far as he is concerned he is well looked after and loved and that is a lot more than a lot of horses out there have

I've had Pidge just over 4 years and still can't get a decent flatwork canter

and we've had hock spavin, badly fitting saddles etc to deal with along the way too, but our jumping has come on loads

Look at what you have achieved and not what you haven't and appreciate your horse for what he is. chin up honey x

 

[misst]

Well reading that it sounds as if you have achieved loads. You took on a difficult horse and now he is a well behaved horse who hacks alone and loads well. Some people never ever achieve that even if they can win a dressage test.

Most non professional owners take ages to achieve things as they have much less time and usually far less facilities. I would be really pleased if I had achieved what you have - I don't ride anymore so not much chance anyway.

Read back what you have written - I think you might surprise yourself. Ireally home he comes sound soon.

 

[SFleetwood]

I would say you have achieved a significant amount with your horse. It's not all about the 'big' things. Little steps are just as important.

 

[f_s_]

Reading your post, I think you have achieved much more than you realise!!!

Competing isn't everything, it's lovely to do, and to win, but it doesn't make a sound, safe, sensible happy horse, if the work isn't put in at home

Remember that some compete on ready made horses, yours is still being made

I don't know how old your horse is, but they live a long time, and in the grand scheme of things, you have succeeded.

Give yourself a huge pat on the back and have a

for all you have done.

Keep up the good work

 

[MrsMozartletoe]

As others have said, you have achieved a lot with this horse

However, I think I know what you mean (and please forgive me if I'm wrong!). It's the competitions, or rather the lack of them

. As I said, forgive me if I'm wrong, but if one has an idea of what one wants to be doing, to have got two years down the line and not be doing it, well I feel your pain. I've had my own horse(s) for nearly two years and the only comp I've entered was a walk/trot dressage (HC) on Daughter's 13.2hh pony. I bought the first one to BSJA; I bought the second one to BSJA. So far, I've jumped eighteen inches on both of them.

Only you can decide if what you have is enough.

Hugs to you hunny.

 

[atot]

Don't apologise!!!!!
It sounds like you've achieved bucketloads whilst you've had your horse! Getting a horse to load and hack well is a feat in itself, so bloody well done for that!

Everyone has their off days, but just keep looking up, and I'm sure things will get better, especially when your saddle arrives.

Chin up - I didn't do anything with my first horse until my second year of ownership, and even then things didn't go right all the time - I had to take her to horsey boot camp...

 

[BeckyD]

I can offer no words of consolation, but just want to join you in self-pitying mode please. It took several months/a year! for Ronnnie and me to make progress even with all the facilities etc, but suddenly we did, in leaps and bounds once I got my trailer and I solved the loading problems. And then a few weeks later he was injured. That was July 2008. And he's still lame.

It's just so bl**dy frustrating.

Hugs to you and hopefully you'll feel a bit better if you have some chocolate/tea/comfort food! Chocolate normally makes me feel better for a few minutes, until I realise that my growing frame is not going to help my crippled horse!

There will be loads of people in the same boat as you. I spent my childhood/teenage years with ponies/horses that I had no facilities or transport for despite my dreams of competing. Then the horse went lame for 6 years so that finished those hopes and aspirations! I've realised we just have to be content with our lot sometimes; other people will seem to have all the advantages and luck, but they probably have their own issues and worries.

 

[jesterfaerie]

Thank you everyone for you kind and supportive replies, it really means a lot and you managed to cheer me up

I re-read my post and my word it was very whiney wasn't it

MrsM - you hit it spot on with what you said! 'only you can decide if what you have is enough' do you mean in general with how I keep my horse or meaning my horse?

Pidgeon - Well done on improving your jumping, you both look fab in the HT pics. It is actually nice to see people who do go out and compete have also had issues getting there and it isn't just me.

SFleetwood - I think I may have to have what you said re little steps being just as important tattooed on my forehead so I don't forget that.

trufffles - Thanks a lot

Yes I am hoping this morning was mainly due to being a bit tired and having an off day

Hopefully as you said things may look up when I get the new saddle. My old one was a nightmare it didn't suit me at all so I struggled to ride as well as I could have done so I am hoping this one may help rather than hinder!

RonaldoToo - I am sorry to hear he is still lame

I hope he comes sound and you can continue where you left off you sound to have done a terrific job with him! HAHA yes chocolate would cheer me up but like you my growing frame won't fix the problem. Yes it can look like everyone has everything including the luck and advantages but as you said and from reading about the experiences posted others have had their fair share of frustration so it may have taken the people I see out competing just as long to get there.
However reading about how peoples horses have been lame for x amount of time for them to have brought them back into work and competing before I have got a half decent canter out of mine is just infuriatingly frustrating.

I really do think I need to realize that as much as I would love to get out and compete my boy it isn't the end of the world if we don't get there for 4 weeks, 14 months or even 4 years. As I would much rather have him and not compete than anything else.

 

[jesterfaerie]

[ QUOTE ]
Reading your post, I think you have achieved much more than you realise!!!

Competing isn't everything, it's lovely to do, and to win, but it doesn't make a sound, safe, sensible happy horse, if the work isn't put in at home

Remember that some compete on ready made horses, yours is still being made

I don't know how old your horse is, but they live a long time, and in the grand scheme of things, you have succeeded.

Give yourself a huge pat on the back and have a

for all you have done.

Keep up the good work

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks a lot

I have just seen your post in FA and maybe I should take on board what you said 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. He is 8, nearly 9 but an ex-racer and was taken off the track by a young girl and then passed onto another young girl who didn't do anything with him and let him take advantage.

 

[Pidgeon]

Thanks re the HT pics

love my boy

Trust me it hasn't been a bed of roses and we still very much have good and bad days/weeks

nothing is every straightforward or easy with horses is it!