Well....I got back on Jerry....

madhector

madhector

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www.darlingdressage.co.uk
For those that didn't read it, here is what happened on Friday...

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2478611/an/0/page/7#2478611

I was going to ride him Saturday morning before coming to London but woke up to rain and wind and decided against it! lol

So had this afternoon off work and dedicated it to Jerry. I lunged him for an hour, made him really work and asked him loads of questions, he got quite angry at one point and could have quite easily reared but he didn't, so felt a bit more reassured. Completely exhausted him.

Took him in and tacked him up, decided to put a french link gag with 2 reins in (he is usually in a french link hanging cheek) so that I could ride off the snaffle rein but if I needed it the breaks were there. He still felt fresh!
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BUT wasn't silly and we had some lovely trot work, I then cantered him round and round and he really settled nicely. I then did yet more trot work and he didn't take a hold at all, I felt so much safer with the gag in for some reason, even though I didn't need to use the bottom rein.

After about an hour of schooling I took him down the lane to cool off, he again felt as if he had just come out of the stable! So I gave him a canter up the hill, and he was very calm and not too strong. Finally he felt tired so we came home. He now looks so content. I cant get over how much energy he has, where is it coming from?! All he has is hay and grass LOL

So I am booked in for a lesson tomorrow, will lunge him again before I go, and then Ali is coming to work him on Thursday (in the snaffle) so will see how she gets on (she didn't want him lunged first, but have a feeling we will end up having to
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)

So, no attempts at all to rear, and I asked him some really tough questions. I hope to god he has learnt his lesson and will not attempt it again.

Still got xc course booked for sun, think I will take him anyway and let him let of some more steam, should do him good.

Thanks for all the advice, I was convinced he would try and go up again, and then think that would have been it for me, but so far so good....
 
Onwards and upwards...but hopefully not literally! I hope it all comes right in the end for you both.
 
Well done!!Patience perserverance and if the hard work takes the edge off him carry on!!!He will soon learn you WILL not take any crap off him!!!Well done by the way for getting back on,that will have helped you no end as you won the battle in the end and made him trot round with no antics!!!
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Careful you don't get him too fit! The other thing I was going to suggest was to lunge him in the same kit you will ride in so you can get straight on without giving him time to think about stuff.

Liked your thinking with the gag. I also used to ride W in his pelham sometimes if he felt full of it or I was doing a pleasure ride and wanted to be sure I had 'got' him. Knowing you have control makes a big difference to your attitude which is half the battle
 
Brilliant news!! Am so pleased! My god I cant believe how much energy he has though! But sounds like he was REALLY happy to have had a really good exercise and let of steam...keep up the lunging for the next few days, and keep working him hard.
You are lucky to have such a cheap horse to look after! My mare needs rocket fuel to get her going and goes through about £20 of food a week!
 
I think that you'll find that you'll be able to work him less and less every day. He has had a huge amount of time off work in general for the last few months and he has probably just overboiled. If he can keep this up I would say that its likely he'll only need about 45 mins in a week's time..then that'll be the end of all this lunging more or less!
 
Oh well done, hope this means you are going to turn a corner with him. A few days of endless work and I bet he won't be so full of himself! You should ride him in whatever bit you feel comfortable/confident/errr safe in! Loads of admiration for getting back on at all! x
 
just wanted to say well done - i've been following your story and can so relate to that feeling of making yourself get back on!! take it one day at a time, small wins - having someone there for moral support really helps i find.
 
You are a star - and so gutsy. I have been losing a lot of confidence lately and have to get on every day this week as I am selling the horse. I am all of a quake, but she's not a patch on your boy. She is fine really. I lost it with a previous horse.

Can you turn him out 24 hrs?

I reckon I'd be longeing him before every ride for a good long time!

More than likely he hated every second of that ordeal last week and will not want to repeat that anyhow. Hope he banged himself good and proper....
 
I'm really super impressed you got back on and trotted around the other day on your own after that fall.

It sounds like you are really thinking things through before and during your exercise with him to avoid any silly incidents.
Well done you are very brave.
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I thought I'd answered but it vanished....

You are a brave brave lady, well done indeed. Thank goodness you got back on or you wouldn't dare and you'll probably feel this for many months, you have to get back on really frequently. I lost a lot of nerve on a previous horse, and still feel it on this one. I find more often helps.

I erckon you'll need to longe before every ride to help you withnerves as well as his energy!

Can you turn out 24 hours? That would be good too.
 
Well done!
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The thing is, what happened could have happened to anyone, at any time. Even top riders have this happen, it's not you, and it's not him. He gave himself a nasty shock, so hopefully that'll have put a stop to his verticals.

From what I've seen you are a good rider, you're secure, you're experienced and you're prepared to get back on after a nasty fall like that. I couldnt have done it, but in doing so you've proved you and him are a team, and really can overcome anything.
 
I'm really chuffed for you
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When you said what had happened it brought back memories of a friend who came out on a hack with us, and the horse she was on went up and over, landed on top and broke her leg... horrid it was for all of us.
You are very brave, and a good rider, plucky is the word I need!
JJ
 
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