Post by brigadier on May 12, 2011 6:07:16 GMT
Well Ive started to bring Basil the alligator back into proper work.
He's been lunged over the spring, once or twice a week and with good turnout has managed to keep himself fairly fit and well muscled.
Arranged to ride with yard owner but said I was just doing walk roadwork, which she said was ok as she would ride out with me once she had done her endurance prep!
Unfortunately Ive lost count of the amount of times people have said, oh he will be ok as he gallops about the field so must be pretty fit- they forget that ridden horses have people to carry and currently I am the size of a small elephant!
Anyhow ride 1. He was an angel- half hour walking with two other horses. Finished a bit sweaty but calm and relaxed. Everyone saying "I dont know what youre worried about- he's a poppet!" Me saying, he's always like this first time, he doesnt wake up till the second ride!
Ride 2- a lunge in the arena.
Ride 3. Half hour road walk planned with YO. WE set off and he was eighteen hands high, tongue kept lolling out (his stress indicator) and he kept making eyes at companion in a playful way which is always worrying as he is liable to leap into the air with sheer excitement when he starts doing this. Managed to keep him sane for most of way although he was very springety sprong. However on way back we caused a minor gridlock of cars so had to trot to get out of way- well he quivered with excitement, did this peculiar thing with his legs where he seems to go through all four paces at once then set off down the road in a very elevated but very strong canter- I had all on holding him, his head was up and his tongue had a life of its own, and he was fighting hard to go. I finally got him trotting again but it was a tenuous thing and very elevated.
Got back to stables in one piece but Im wondering what the third ride is going to bring- how on earth am I going to get his road work done if he is like that again? Normally I will give him a good trotting to calm his brain but its not on when they are not road-hard!
Anyone used calmers in this sort of situation?
He's been lunged over the spring, once or twice a week and with good turnout has managed to keep himself fairly fit and well muscled.
Arranged to ride with yard owner but said I was just doing walk roadwork, which she said was ok as she would ride out with me once she had done her endurance prep!
Unfortunately Ive lost count of the amount of times people have said, oh he will be ok as he gallops about the field so must be pretty fit- they forget that ridden horses have people to carry and currently I am the size of a small elephant!
Anyhow ride 1. He was an angel- half hour walking with two other horses. Finished a bit sweaty but calm and relaxed. Everyone saying "I dont know what youre worried about- he's a poppet!" Me saying, he's always like this first time, he doesnt wake up till the second ride!
Ride 2- a lunge in the arena.
Ride 3. Half hour road walk planned with YO. WE set off and he was eighteen hands high, tongue kept lolling out (his stress indicator) and he kept making eyes at companion in a playful way which is always worrying as he is liable to leap into the air with sheer excitement when he starts doing this. Managed to keep him sane for most of way although he was very springety sprong. However on way back we caused a minor gridlock of cars so had to trot to get out of way- well he quivered with excitement, did this peculiar thing with his legs where he seems to go through all four paces at once then set off down the road in a very elevated but very strong canter- I had all on holding him, his head was up and his tongue had a life of its own, and he was fighting hard to go. I finally got him trotting again but it was a tenuous thing and very elevated.
Got back to stables in one piece but Im wondering what the third ride is going to bring- how on earth am I going to get his road work done if he is like that again? Normally I will give him a good trotting to calm his brain but its not on when they are not road-hard!
Anyone used calmers in this sort of situation?
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
