Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
I've been reflecting on what i have done with my young horse since the turn of the year and I'm just so proud of him.
I bought him in June 2019 as a just backed 5 yr old (Arab), he could stop and go but that was about it. We just tootled a little as he was very weak and quite nervous, and definitely wouldn't hack alone! Winter arrived and i just kept him quietly ticking over, ready to do a bit more the following year, little did i know Covid would scupper those plans! Again, i kept him ticking over during the first and second lockdown, and gradually built him up to hacking a circular route of 20 minutes on our own, but he still wasn't happy.
Circumstances meant i had to move yards in September 2020, back to my old yard with miles of private, off road hacking which i knew like the back of my hand. I started hacking on our own and straight away he just felt better, but he took the move very badly, he worried the weight off (poor doer) and didn't really settle for a while. I gave him dec-feb off. He came back weak, skinny and just generally looking poor despite good quality food.
But what a year we have had!! Travelling has been an issue for both of us but we're getting better and better, which has allowed us to do several firsts, hire arenas, hire show jumping courses, do a few clinics, do our first dressage and we've even squeezed in a fun ride. He now behaves like a pro when he arrives at venues.
Our solo hacking has improved beyond my hopes and dreams, he is confident, forward and thoroughly enjoys it. He is a gate wizard! We jump 80cm logs while out.
He was clipped for the first time the other day and while nervous to begin with allowed me to keep going and relaxed into it.
The icing on the cake today, i decided to call in Richard maxwell to help with our unloading issues. He is very anxious on the box and would explode out when untied. This was getting worse and due to my own past trauma, i don't feel i have the tools or confidence to deal with these issues. Max came out, did his thing, and i now have a chilled horse, loading and unloading calmly.
Sorry for the mega gushy post but I'm just so excited about this little horse
I bought him in June 2019 as a just backed 5 yr old (Arab), he could stop and go but that was about it. We just tootled a little as he was very weak and quite nervous, and definitely wouldn't hack alone! Winter arrived and i just kept him quietly ticking over, ready to do a bit more the following year, little did i know Covid would scupper those plans! Again, i kept him ticking over during the first and second lockdown, and gradually built him up to hacking a circular route of 20 minutes on our own, but he still wasn't happy.
Circumstances meant i had to move yards in September 2020, back to my old yard with miles of private, off road hacking which i knew like the back of my hand. I started hacking on our own and straight away he just felt better, but he took the move very badly, he worried the weight off (poor doer) and didn't really settle for a while. I gave him dec-feb off. He came back weak, skinny and just generally looking poor despite good quality food.
But what a year we have had!! Travelling has been an issue for both of us but we're getting better and better, which has allowed us to do several firsts, hire arenas, hire show jumping courses, do a few clinics, do our first dressage and we've even squeezed in a fun ride. He now behaves like a pro when he arrives at venues.
Our solo hacking has improved beyond my hopes and dreams, he is confident, forward and thoroughly enjoys it. He is a gate wizard! We jump 80cm logs while out.
He was clipped for the first time the other day and while nervous to begin with allowed me to keep going and relaxed into it.
The icing on the cake today, i decided to call in Richard maxwell to help with our unloading issues. He is very anxious on the box and would explode out when untied. This was getting worse and due to my own past trauma, i don't feel i have the tools or confidence to deal with these issues. Max came out, did his thing, and i now have a chilled horse, loading and unloading calmly.
Sorry for the mega gushy post but I'm just so excited about this little horse
