Anyone know how it feels to want so desperately to set someone up for success?
I want Grace to be given every chance of a happy, comfortable, safe life with me. We will be together till the end, so there's no rush.
On arrival at the yard everyone was dying to know when would I be riding her? I replied not for a week or two. I had a plan - whenever I moved my horses to another yard (or bought a new horse) the first rule of thumb is time off! The "settling in" phase is important to me - ethically, logically and emotionally for the horse. Ive always felt it is important they get used to their new smells, neighbours and routines.
I also had a few health checks to be arranged: dentist and saddle fitting all before I would be throwing bits and saddles and 10 stone of my body weight into the equation.
So, I got used to her and her to me. We spent time together in the paddock, stable and grooming.
My husband even visited "did you mean to buy one so big?" was his insightful observation! Oh! How did that happen - I didn't notice....
The good news was that we were on track. Her teeth were sharp and she had an ulcer on her left inside cheek poor lass. Bonjela and a Dentist and that problem was fixed!
The day came when her saddle was given the OK and I could get on! Now how my common sense exhibited thus far failed to stay with me an hour longer I'll never know. My saddler left the yard at 1.30pm and by 5pm I was in A&E at reading hospital.
It happened all so fast (of course). One moment I had mounted. The next I could feel her arch her back once - then again, and suddenly she sprang in the air like a rode lamb bucking and I soared through the air - trapping my right foot in the stirrup.
Getting up was only mildly painful. Walking was agony. However, the horse couldn't be left on a bad note, so somehow I caught her, hobbled us both back to the stable, put lunging gear on and then lunged her for half an hour on one leg!
If only I'd thought of lunging her BEFORE I got on after giving a fit, young athletic horse 2 weeks off! School girl error of humungous proportion!
What were the sellers magic words to me during the entire trying process? "She's a competition horse Debbie" - whatever that meant! Well, I just got my first taste of what that meant - and I won't be leaving anything to chance again at least not while im on bloody crutches!
I want Grace to be given every chance of a happy, comfortable, safe life with me. We will be together till the end, so there's no rush.
On arrival at the yard everyone was dying to know when would I be riding her? I replied not for a week or two. I had a plan - whenever I moved my horses to another yard (or bought a new horse) the first rule of thumb is time off! The "settling in" phase is important to me - ethically, logically and emotionally for the horse. Ive always felt it is important they get used to their new smells, neighbours and routines.
I also had a few health checks to be arranged: dentist and saddle fitting all before I would be throwing bits and saddles and 10 stone of my body weight into the equation.
So, I got used to her and her to me. We spent time together in the paddock, stable and grooming.
My husband even visited "did you mean to buy one so big?" was his insightful observation! Oh! How did that happen - I didn't notice....
The good news was that we were on track. Her teeth were sharp and she had an ulcer on her left inside cheek poor lass. Bonjela and a Dentist and that problem was fixed!
The day came when her saddle was given the OK and I could get on! Now how my common sense exhibited thus far failed to stay with me an hour longer I'll never know. My saddler left the yard at 1.30pm and by 5pm I was in A&E at reading hospital.
It happened all so fast (of course). One moment I had mounted. The next I could feel her arch her back once - then again, and suddenly she sprang in the air like a rode lamb bucking and I soared through the air - trapping my right foot in the stirrup.
Getting up was only mildly painful. Walking was agony. However, the horse couldn't be left on a bad note, so somehow I caught her, hobbled us both back to the stable, put lunging gear on and then lunged her for half an hour on one leg!
If only I'd thought of lunging her BEFORE I got on after giving a fit, young athletic horse 2 weeks off! School girl error of humungous proportion!
What were the sellers magic words to me during the entire trying process? "She's a competition horse Debbie" - whatever that meant! Well, I just got my first taste of what that meant - and I won't be leaving anything to chance again at least not while im on bloody crutches!
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