A Horse of my Own - but not for long.

Haven't posted for a while partly because I have not had a computer since my last one blew up.  The other reason being that whilst I knew looking after a horse would be a lot of work, it seems to take up even more time than I anticipated although to be fair that could be partly the time spent drinking tea at the stable as well as actually riding and looking after Sam.

Unfortunately, my docile placid plodding horse seems to have had a bit of a temperament change since his move.  He really doesn't like the schooling ring and was developing the habit of not going forward at all and barging at the gate.  My riding is not the best and so both he and I were unfamiliar with the schooling ring which probably didnt help.

That said I have now learnt how to tack up properly, a bit more about grooming and definitely more about mucking out, lol.  I have also learnt how to delouse a horse after there were a few cases at the new stables, although don't think Sam actually had them.

Unfortunately, the last week has been a bit of a disaster.  On Saturday, after a nice little walk and trot out in the lanes, I decided to hang back once we got back to the farm and ride him round the field whilst the others went back to the stables.  After a very reluctant start, it took me about four attempts to turn him round and go back in the opposite way of the other horses, we managed to get into the field.  Having walked him away from the gate and trotted a little we cantered back up the hill a couple of times and he went like the clappers.  This from the horse who is normally reluctant to get out of a trot to the point on most of the treks where I have ridden Sam I miss half the canters.  Unfortunately, when I went to walk him back in the other direction for the third time, he took off from a walk in a canter/gallop not sure which and I promptly fell off, although I did manage to land on my feet with the reins in my hand which was something and I got back on and decided it was time to ride back to the stables.  My friend ticked me off for cantering him an open field but I hadn't believed he had it in to go that fast.  Won't make that mistake again.

My friend rode him for me on Monday (she can actually ride properly) because I was working and he seemed fine.  However, when I tacked him up on Wednesday to ride, I had a bit of a nightmare.  I got on in the schooling ring after Saturday's hiccups and he immediately moved sideways and rammed my leg against the gate and refused to move.  I managed to get him moving and he did it again nearly trapping my foot against the fence post.  Got him to start walking round the school and was feeling very nervous as he seemed to be behaving strangely.  I wasn't sure but he kept putting his head up and thought he was trying to buck, but this is out of character for him so thought maybe it was just my nerves. And before we were even half way round the ring, I realised he had definitely being trying to buck when I went flying up and off him and landed on the floor in a heap.  Whilst it was not the first time I had fallen off, every other time it was very much my fault because my position was poor and I lost my balance and sorta slipped off the side as opposed to getting tossed in the air.  Scary moment as wasn't sure how I was going to land but luckily it wasn't on my head.  Hit the ground hip first.  The only thing I could think was I needed to get back on or wouldn't get back on at all.  I got back on briefly and he bucked twice more without unseating me before I got off again.  This all happened in the space of about ten minutes.

After dismounting and untacking, we had a look at him and he seemed to be flinching when his back was touched just below the withers so I felt a bit guilty about riding him as this was probably the main reason for him bucking.  It was recommended I not ride him for a few weeks and then see how his back is doing.  Not sure what the problem was because it was quite sudden so guess we need to monitor it for a bit.

Having spoken to Sam's owners, he is going to go back to the trekking centre because she was a bit concerned about how much he had been playing me up and the fact he doesn't seem to like the new stables.  Although she has said I can still come up and ride him over the winter, even though the centre is closed for the winter. Hopefully, in familiar territory, he will revert to being the lovely slow plodder he normally is.

Whilst it is a bit disappointing it hasn't worked out quite as planned, if he has possibly got an injury would rather she was around to oversee his care and I will still get to ride him, but in familiar territory for us both.  Undoubtedly, it will be a lot less work too which may be just as well because my housework and kids have been feeling a bit neglected in favour of the horse.  So a bit of a set back, but not enough to deter me from riding for the moment.  Although I thought I had got off scotfree in terms of bruises etc it seems that 24 hours later, that it wasn't exactly the case although just aches and pains rather than anything serious.