reindeerlover
Well-Known Member
I have a sponsored ride on Monday and I'm not sure what horse to ride. I have gone from only having one untried and possibly mental (but sound) horse to having the option of three mentally stable (as far as thoroughbreds go) sound horses to choose from.
I expect the ground to be very hard on Monday so we will be taking it easy in any case, it is 10 miles with optional jumps- mostly small ones.
Copper was kept fit all winter so that I could take him to parties as the others were getting fit but he bowed out of the last sponsored ride (and hunter trials, local shows, lessons etc) due to a ridiculous spate of having bruised soles/abscesses/ general bad luck lamenesses. He has now been sound for around a week although has not been ridden in about 3 weeks. He is an ok jumper but likes to stop and have a look at least twice at each jump before he decides that it is safe.
Holly was a surprise addition to the herd and I (against my better judgement but on advice from you HHOers who have no consideration for my safety) took her to the last sponsored ride as Copper's replacement and did not die. I also took her to the hunter trials as Copper's replacement and found that she is a fantastic and enthusiastic jumper. She is also a bit of a loony at sponsored rides as she wants to go very fast and when she is not allowed to she tends to perform beautiful half/full passes and occasionally shoulder-in, renvers and travers (impressive huh?) which would be fine if it wasn't occasionally joined by kicking out at other horses, backing into them and not standing still when the occasion requires it. She is going to be sold soon.
Eric is fabulous, huge and has a fab jump. However.... I cannot ride him, I fall off frequently and he is rather too much for me. He is going to be sold soon.
SOOOO..... If you are still reading.... Do I take Copper to his first ever sponsored ride and risk his delicate little fairy feet? It would be a really good first ride for him as it does not have a lot of huge fences and I don't think it will be mental. He is also quite laid back and I would feel pretty safe on him and might even enjoy myself. Buuut he will probably jump very few jumps and he might go lame as he made of glass.
Or do I take Holly and assume that she will behave better this time as she has seen what it is all about and actually get to jump anything that I attempt on the first try rather than try three times at each jump..... And also risk her going lame just before I try to sell her? It does of course give her even more experience which will look good on her cv.
Why am I so wet? I just am
. Metaphorical cake and sangria?
I expect the ground to be very hard on Monday so we will be taking it easy in any case, it is 10 miles with optional jumps- mostly small ones.
Copper was kept fit all winter so that I could take him to parties as the others were getting fit but he bowed out of the last sponsored ride (and hunter trials, local shows, lessons etc) due to a ridiculous spate of having bruised soles/abscesses/ general bad luck lamenesses. He has now been sound for around a week although has not been ridden in about 3 weeks. He is an ok jumper but likes to stop and have a look at least twice at each jump before he decides that it is safe.
Holly was a surprise addition to the herd and I (against my better judgement but on advice from you HHOers who have no consideration for my safety) took her to the last sponsored ride as Copper's replacement and did not die. I also took her to the hunter trials as Copper's replacement and found that she is a fantastic and enthusiastic jumper. She is also a bit of a loony at sponsored rides as she wants to go very fast and when she is not allowed to she tends to perform beautiful half/full passes and occasionally shoulder-in, renvers and travers (impressive huh?) which would be fine if it wasn't occasionally joined by kicking out at other horses, backing into them and not standing still when the occasion requires it. She is going to be sold soon.
Eric is fabulous, huge and has a fab jump. However.... I cannot ride him, I fall off frequently and he is rather too much for me. He is going to be sold soon.
SOOOO..... If you are still reading.... Do I take Copper to his first ever sponsored ride and risk his delicate little fairy feet? It would be a really good first ride for him as it does not have a lot of huge fences and I don't think it will be mental. He is also quite laid back and I would feel pretty safe on him and might even enjoy myself. Buuut he will probably jump very few jumps and he might go lame as he made of glass.
Or do I take Holly and assume that she will behave better this time as she has seen what it is all about and actually get to jump anything that I attempt on the first try rather than try three times at each jump..... And also risk her going lame just before I try to sell her? It does of course give her even more experience which will look good on her cv.
Why am I so wet? I just am
. Metaphorical cake and sangria?