Trailer back from re-spray at last!

[Birker2020]

Really chuffed, went to collect my re-sprayed trailer last night from the mechanic whose had it since mid-Sept.

To be fair I’ve not needed it in that time having lost my previous horse and then my current horse being unrideable. As the bloke (friend) was doing it for me as a favour in between his normal jobs as a motor mechanic I wasn’t too bothered, and it meant the price was kept down.

So, it needed a bit of welding on the roof, where annoyingly water has always gathered and pooled and it needed a bit of welding on the top of the front door (literally both spots are 6” by 3”) so nothing major. The cost of paint and other materials brought the price up more than either of us had anticipated but he hardly charged me any labour.

The work was extremely labour intensive as it all needed sanding down to the bare metal and the rivets (of which are hundreds on the outside) all needed sanding around which took forever for him to do. Then it needed rust prevention/primer and redoing when it started to bubble.

As you can see from the before and after photos, he’s done an amazing job and the paintwork is like a plastic resin which means its both water and fade resistant too. The photos don't do it justice, the light catches the paint and makes it look a bit faded but its just the light, its an even colour throughout. Now I have to do the inside in the Spring. Very happy, going for a test drive at the weekend with the horse!

 

[Bernster]

Looks like a good job. Hope horse is well enough for you to enjoy some outings soon. How he is doing?

 

[Birker2020]

Looks like a good job. Hope horse is well enough for you to enjoy some outings soon. How he is doing?

He's coming along okay thank you. Settled in well. I've been doing all his stretches about five days a week, including long reining, lunging over raised poles, walking over scattered and raised poles, backing up with head down and using the training band saddlecloth system every time, using a roller. The training band system works his core and strengthens it as much as it can. He's on his third tub of Myoplast, costing a fortune but seeing the difference, although I don't think he will ever have the top line I need but correct ridden work by the pro rider and eventually myself (after being taught) will help improve it tremendously.

I've booked a saddle fitter for the first week in February with someone recommended to me by the physio and had an in depth discussion with him and also sent him photos of Lari's conformation. I've also agreed I might need to rule out 18" saddle as it will obviously narrow down choice considerable, although with his frame he can take the length.

The idea is that he will come out, look over my saddles to see if they will fit/possibly get to fit and if not he will bring along a number of second hand saddles for me to try. He has over 500 saddles in stock so will be able to gauge from what I've told him I need and the photos of the horses conformation. Then the pro rider will ride in the saddle in front of the saddle fitter and if he goes well and all is good she will start riding him for me for a couple or three weeks with a view to me having a lesson with her on him, hopefully by the end of Feb with the idea of me going out doing a simple dressage test or unaffilated clear round/SJ class by the Spring.

The saddle fitter says ideally he needs to see me in the saddle but understands my reluctance given what took place last time and as Lari has had so much time off work and may be slightly excuberant its best I don't take the plunge just yet.

In the meantime I'm doing all I can my side and continuing the weight battle, and felt well enough after a heavy cold to go back swimming again last night and I'm restarting spin classes again as soon as I can.

 

[ycbm]

He's coming along okay thank you. Settled in well. I've been doing all his stretches about five days a week, including long reining, lunging over raised poles, walking over scattered and raised poles, backing up with head down and using the training band saddlecloth system every time, using a roller. The training band system works his core and strengthens it as much as it can.

I've booked a saddle fitter for the first week in February with someone recommended to me by the physio and had an in depth discussion with him and also sent him photos of Lari's conformation.

The idea is that he will come out, look over my saddles to see if they will fit/possibly get to fit and if not he will bring along a number of second hand saddles for me to try. He has over 500 saddles in stock so will be able to gauge from what I've told him I need and the photos of the horses conformation. Then the pro rider will ride in the saddle in front of the saddle fitter and if he goes well and all is good she will start riding him for me for a couple or three weeks with a view to me having a lesson with her on him, hopefully by the end of Feb.

The saddle fitter says ideally he needs to see me in the saddle but understands my reluctance given what took place last time and as Lari has had so much time off work and may be slightly excuberant its best I don't take the plunge just yet.

In the meantime I'm doing all I can my side and continuing the weight battle, and felt well enough after a heavy cold to go back swimming again last night and I'm restarting spin classes again as soon as I can.

That all sounds hopeful. He's lucky he came to you Birker.
.

 

[Birker2020]

That all sounds hopeful. He's lucky he came to you Birker.
.

Thank you, that's kind of you to say. I will do my best by him.

He is still very babyish and pulling your clothes, sucking your pockets as they contain mints, lunge line in the mouth all the time. When he bites/nips I put my finger in the air and give him a stern no and he has taken to sticking his tongue out in retribution! I can't possibly give up on him now

Shame, he's obviously been rushed during his 'baby' years and pushed into a job and not given much chance to mature either physically or emotionally. All the things in his mouth are a comfort blanket to him I think.

I bet he thinks he's landed on his feet with me, nothing much being asked of him, he can relax and sit back and enjoy all the good things about being a horse with none of the effort, he will soon regret that thinking when we introduce 'work' to him, bless him.

We still haven't been on enough dates for me to proclaim love just yet but hopefully in time the bond will strengthen and I would be heart broken if I had to sell him. Totally.