Earlier this year I went through a slump in my riding. I enjoyed it: I always will! I did however lose my mojo: that drive, that determination. That bit of you that growls at a lazy horse and doesn't give up until you get the best out of it. So, I was still riding, but when I mounted up I was in a 'myeh' kinda mood. When you're in that mood, a smart but lazy horse (ie every single riding school horse/pony under the sun) can tell, so don't give you their all either. I think it was just a reflection of a general dip in mood that just happens every so often though. I remember it coming back though: Phyllis gave me a very challenging indoor course to jump on Murphy. I got my 'Grr!' back and made it look easy, finishing the jump-off course in about 16secs. Phyllis really does know how I operate, and she found my top gear again that day 80)
Another horse also came into my life: Big Ginger, now renamed Troy. His owner had stopped riding him and offered him as a RS horse. He's 15.2, chestnut, has a narrow stripe (like Ginger in Black Beauty), a big Roman nose and is really robust. He looks like a really traditional Irish hunter or war horse: I reckon there's a draft in his breeding somewhere. Here's a couple of photos:
Anyhow, I saw him and he had my type written all over him: I love a robust horse (TBs and WBs really don't do it for me) and a lovely height. I was the first girl at the yard to ride him: one male student had been on him before then. I liked him: he was off the leg, listened to my seat, and has one of the rangiest but comfortable canters I've ever experienced. The only downsides were that he leant on the reins in canter, and would break down to trot when using the outside rein and inside leg to hold him into the corners.
Then came group lessons and riding outdoors. Keeping him cantering in the bigger space was a bit easier, but he often did a flying change when I was using my seat and aids to hold him out. He also started napping however: he didn't mind working when everyone else did, but when made to go it alone eg to canter or jump, he could root himself to the spot, buck and rear.
Jumping was fun though: the elitist SJers of my yard said he couldn't jump. Of course not: he's not a WB with skinny legs and over 16.2hh... Well he can and I knew it: he woke up coming into fences, preferring to canter every time. He even headed earnestly for tiny cross-poles that RS horses treat with disdain! He did throw a stop in and I came off as I was rising into jump position when he did it. I landed on my feet beside his neck, reins in hand like I'd lead him to the fence. Got straight back on, giggling as I did, and enjoyed more jumping.
A few weeks later though I was to take him out into the big outdoor: the derby ring. He'd only been out once or twice before but I'd never seen him: I wasn't sure if he was a spinner/tanker or whatever. Consequently my nerves travelled down the reins and our course jumping was full of refusals. I'd got past every obstacle bar one: an ~80cm rustic fence with a panelled filler below. Four or five times he refused as he knew I was nervous. The final time he was much more forward so I was sure he'd jump it: whilst preparing for take-off he dived out right at the last minute and I went out the front left door. I turned in the air and my lower left back hit the jump. I felt bruised but got straight back up to show everyone I was ok and walked Troy to the arena edge as his reins had broken. I wanted to get back on, felt bruised but fine, but his tack was snapped. I then heard Cassie shout "Oh my god: you're bleeding Debbie!" I looked round to see a large red ring on my cream jods, the centre of which was a hole a few inches wide and a couple of inches deep. Uh oh: very calmly off to A&E I went, laughing and joking all the way as I felt fine, hadn't noticed it, and didn't want the considerable number of people present at the time to panic. They did however play the 'what impaled her?' game: they found a jump cup with two inches of my upper bum cheek still on it. Nice! So in future folks, always make sure unused jump cups are removed from wings.
About 3hrs after it happened I finally got stitches in: it as also the first pain relief I received, as I genuinely wasn't hurting at all. It didn't smart any more than a grazed knee when it was washed! Dr #1 was a junior though and a nurse said 'uh oh' when she went to dress his handiwork. Two senior doctors later and I had those 7 taken out and another 12 put in. The 2nd set were also put in by a senior who believed you have to be at the edge of the lidocaine to get enough skin ie the needle had to pass through unanaesthetised skin. Ouch! Anyhow, home at 1am having fell at 6:30 or so. The only wait that felt longer was my 4 weeks or so without riding! I've got a photo of the jods I had on at the time which I'm told made me look like I'd been shot, and my scar:
No bikini modelling career for me then! lol.
I only have one real regret though: not being able to ride Troy again and banish that demon. He's now on loan to a 13yr old or so girl. I can see what a mirror he is though: he does the same with her when she's nervous. The only difference is that she openly cries about it, while I silently seethe with myself. It's the perfectionist in me!
Getting back riding was fine: I didn't feel I'd lost any confidence. In fact, my 2nd jump lesson was a challenging, winding course on Murph and my 3d was a height lesson on Guinness, jumping my new record of 95cm. It felt like we were flying! I'll break that 1m duck soon 80) Just for good measure, here's a pic of Murph and very recent one of the gorgeous buckskin tobiano Guinness:
Murphy
Guinness
Riding's gone up a level, and Phyllis and I have had private lessons on getting a horse on the bit, working over its back, and truly collecting. I've yet to get the stubborn Guinness to fully submit, but it's great to be working on it.
A couple of weeks ago I had my first fall off Guinness actually (the tally thus far being twice off Bailey, twice off Harry, twice off Troy): we were in the derby paddock and he was doing his usual of tanking at the fences in gallop, which I find quite fun. He died at a double though, so I rolled over his shoulder. Knocked my hand on the fence I demolished but got back on smiling and jumped more. Had some deeply inconvenient bruising on my finger joints, but was grand.
After that fall on Thurs afternoon though came another: this time indoors off a new pony Spot - a tank of an Appaloosa, about 14.2hh. He was off the leg and keen which I loved, but the seat of his saddle is too small for me: it's meant for a child or small adult, and not for me! I was having trouble literally keeping my backside in it during canter. He kept catching up to Harry in front and when I circled him and was half the indoor school away, he galloped off to catch up. I couldn't steady myself in the seat even though I was sat up, shoulders back and heels down. When he motorbiked the corner I went out the side door. Landed on my back: hat did a great job of protecting my head, though had a stiff neck and back for a week or so. Didn't feel up to riding this Saturday, and am not itching to get back: 10days without riding is too long!
Spot: so ugly he's cute!
So that's the short (eek!) round-up of how things have progressed the last few months. The only thing I need add is that I missed doing my first derby on Murphy as I hurt myself on Troy, then moved to the city soon after and can't make it down on Sundays any more. Boo!
Anyhow, I think I over-phased myself by writing such detailed entries that I successfully procrastinated in updating this blog. It was also eating into my PhD write-up time. So, perhaps if I can learn to be more concise, I'll get back to this more regularly!
ETA: got to ride Annie again (15.2hh BWP out of Olympic Concorde) as her leaser got ill. Fell in love all over again! That lease has now ended: wish I'd the money to take her on. I always imagined that before I moved away from Uni it would be a goodbye treat to loan her for a few weeks even. On the plus side, I haven't had to say goodbye 80)
Annie pulling faces (she's missing some teeth so never has her tongue in. Plus she'd just eaten a handful of chilli nuts here)!:
