Arizahn
Well-Known Member
The past couple of days have worried me. H arrived back from riding on Saturday and complained that Hippo had no idea how to flex, and that they had had "an argument". Hippo can flex, though can be reluctant to do so on her left rein. I hopped on and walked her around, got her to flex on both reins. Praised her and got off.
Instructor had H lunge Hippo in side reins. TBH, I didn't see any improvement. Not sure H was fully comfortable lunging her...Hippo is tricky to lunge until she's used to you.
Anyway, Sunday was a jumping clinic. Again, issues with flexing. And observing from the sidelines, it seemed to me that H was a bit annoyed with her. Trainer was happy enough; noted that it is her left rein that is the issue.
Approaching one of the jumps, H gave Hippo what I would class as a pony club kick. It wasn't necessary. Hippo was already going fast enough and was getting set to jump. I saw that it threw her off a little. She jumped the first pole well enough but was by now speeding up. As a result, she almost mistimed the second pole. She managed it, but had to kick up her haunches slightly to clear it. This shook H's seat. After the jumps, Hippo had to turn right. H came off. She wasn't hurt.
H hacked Hippo back up to yard after clinic. Usually, I would meet her up there after she rides and get on myself. But when I reached the yard, Hippo was in her box and untacked. H said she hadn't put her out yet, in case I wanted her rugged up. I said not to worry, too nice a day for rug.
I took a look at Hippo whilst OH was fetching grooming kit. The right corner of her mouth was slightly cracked. Possibly from when H came off. Possibly Hippo pulled away whilst being unbridled. Don't know for sure either way, but it wasn't like that prior to the clinic.
Took Hippo out of box and groomed her thoroughly. She was able to eat/drink, so just dabbed some sudocreme on her mouth. Then found several small blisters on her girth area. Again, these were not there prior to Sunday. I groom her every day and always check carefully for lumps, etc. I suspect they are due to her being ridden in a girth that wasn't clean (sand and sweat on the underneath
) but can't be 100% sure.
She is, in fairness, only just coming into proper work. Although H has been riding her for over a fortnight now, and has certainly ridden her for longer periods before yesterday without blisters. And I rode her regularly at old yard without incident. I am concerned that perhaps H did not clean the tack on Saturday before using it again on Sunday. It was sweaty and needed cleaning so I had offered to take it home the night before to clean it myself but H assured me I didn't need to.
Have been cleaning the area with salt water and will treat with white spirits or witch hazel. However, I'm not sure if I should allow her to be ridden until it's healed over fully. So have brought tack home for now. Will check area again tomorrow, but so far it's healing well. I know she has very delicate skin. I've always been fussy about it. May also buy her a padded girth cover thingy.
I know I'm probably fussing over nothing, so I just pointed it out politely to both H and instructor, and left it at that. But also needed to air my thoughts, so came on here. At the moment, I'm no longer sure if I want H to keep riding Hippo, but maybe I'm just being too protective of her
Should I wait until the blisters have gone completely before riding? Also, am I right to worry that perhaps H is being too hard on Hippo? I'm glad her jumping is progressing, but it's only been two weeks. She's never jumped in her life before this. Don't want her to end up hating it.
Booze of your choice and key lime pie, if you got this far!
Instructor had H lunge Hippo in side reins. TBH, I didn't see any improvement. Not sure H was fully comfortable lunging her...Hippo is tricky to lunge until she's used to you.
Anyway, Sunday was a jumping clinic. Again, issues with flexing. And observing from the sidelines, it seemed to me that H was a bit annoyed with her. Trainer was happy enough; noted that it is her left rein that is the issue.
Approaching one of the jumps, H gave Hippo what I would class as a pony club kick. It wasn't necessary. Hippo was already going fast enough and was getting set to jump. I saw that it threw her off a little. She jumped the first pole well enough but was by now speeding up. As a result, she almost mistimed the second pole. She managed it, but had to kick up her haunches slightly to clear it. This shook H's seat. After the jumps, Hippo had to turn right. H came off. She wasn't hurt.
H hacked Hippo back up to yard after clinic. Usually, I would meet her up there after she rides and get on myself. But when I reached the yard, Hippo was in her box and untacked. H said she hadn't put her out yet, in case I wanted her rugged up. I said not to worry, too nice a day for rug.
I took a look at Hippo whilst OH was fetching grooming kit. The right corner of her mouth was slightly cracked. Possibly from when H came off. Possibly Hippo pulled away whilst being unbridled. Don't know for sure either way, but it wasn't like that prior to the clinic.
Took Hippo out of box and groomed her thoroughly. She was able to eat/drink, so just dabbed some sudocreme on her mouth. Then found several small blisters on her girth area. Again, these were not there prior to Sunday. I groom her every day and always check carefully for lumps, etc. I suspect they are due to her being ridden in a girth that wasn't clean (sand and sweat on the underneath
) but can't be 100% sure. She is, in fairness, only just coming into proper work. Although H has been riding her for over a fortnight now, and has certainly ridden her for longer periods before yesterday without blisters. And I rode her regularly at old yard without incident. I am concerned that perhaps H did not clean the tack on Saturday before using it again on Sunday. It was sweaty and needed cleaning so I had offered to take it home the night before to clean it myself but H assured me I didn't need to.
Have been cleaning the area with salt water and will treat with white spirits or witch hazel. However, I'm not sure if I should allow her to be ridden until it's healed over fully. So have brought tack home for now. Will check area again tomorrow, but so far it's healing well. I know she has very delicate skin. I've always been fussy about it. May also buy her a padded girth cover thingy.
I know I'm probably fussing over nothing, so I just pointed it out politely to both H and instructor, and left it at that. But also needed to air my thoughts, so came on here. At the moment, I'm no longer sure if I want H to keep riding Hippo, but maybe I'm just being too protective of her
Should I wait until the blisters have gone completely before riding? Also, am I right to worry that perhaps H is being too hard on Hippo? I'm glad her jumping is progressing, but it's only been two weeks. She's never jumped in her life before this. Don't want her to end up hating it.
Booze of your choice and key lime pie, if you got this far!
)
I think H may have been frustrated with her over the whole flexing thing and just kicked harder than she would usually. Will keep my eyes peeled though!