I splashed out on some photos taken professionally at Hobby Horse last weekend. I dont normally buy more than one or two but I realize that we nearly didnt go to at all, its been a long journey to here:
- He wasnt in a good place at the start of this year, at all, and even after his vet appointment with all his joint injections he mentally took a long time to get to place where we could even ask for more than trot. I was both sad and blown away by how we had got there. How did I not manage to avoid that?!!!
- There was a time when I was almost sure I wouldn't be able to ride him at all. Painstakingly we started him once more on the rehab road with gentle consistent work looking for how he was responding. It was deliberately slow and considered. The first rides were just 5 minutes long, in walk. Followed by a bit longer and a bit longer, just twice a week while we kept him in the equiband with sliding side reins so that he couldnt get stuck at all in any frame and instead worked his body carefully. For months I didnt ride at all while my coach took him through this carefully reading his body language and attitude to the saddle.
- Talking of saddle, that too was changed as part of this. Each time we scrutinize his saddle I have to manage my disappointment that "here we are again. Why cant I get it right! If only he could speak English". Here he is the day we got his Stubben Xara.
- Between January and May we worked through this gentle slow increase in ridden work until June came around and we were able to go outside. I trailered him to my coaches barn to see how he was somewhere new on a trail with her horse. He was happy!
- Once we started getting in the outdoor arena we could ask for canter but it had to be on the loosest rein possible and with zero pressure.
- We were able to attend Clayhill lesson day where he had to do the baby jumps and that went well, in fact he was joyous, he carried me in a happy canter for the first real time. This response resulted in a chance to attend the eventing day there. Still on the baby jumps, still with low pressure, still careful with my rein.
- We got to a good spot where he was happy and then he trod on the nail. I knew the moment I saw it that he may not survive it, I dropped him off at AVC knowing full well he may not come home. That 7 hour round trip was hard on my head.
- The shows that I had hoped to go to, because he had come so far, in the 6 months at the most painstakingly slowest pace imaginable, had to be shelved. There was no way he could attend. I once again took Stori and Olivia and supported all my friends instead from the ground. I had one day where I had a bit of a bawl about it all but generally I was ok. It was what it was.
- We were allowed to go to the cross rails class at Horses at Work. I was excited to go somewhere to see if he was ok. To see if he would want to be there and if he still loved jumping or if we were actually on a new long road to recovery.
He loved it! No red flags anywhere to be seen.
- So this little schooling show, hot on the heels of this positive day at Horses at Work hunter cross rails class is a very big deal for me. We had the best time. He was a great partner and although we were ready to pull him if he even looked uncomfortable, we didnt need to. His enthusiasm shone through and despite me letting down the side by an error in course in dressage, we won our class.
