I have missed two of four with Sam's training sessions. Last night when I got to the paddock I pulled into the driveway and looked over to the riding paddock and saw a horse cantering around, I thought too myself wow that horse looks nice, giving his rider a rough time but he still looks good. Would you believe it was SAM!!!!!!!! (They were a good 700m away)
I went down to watch the session and after watching for about 10min I decided to step in. This is a big thing for me. I don't normally step in and voice my opinion when it comes to my horse. I don't know why I guess because I am not confidant with my own thoughts when a professional is involved.
Just some facts before I continue. Yesterday was a really hot day - 42degrees so in Fahrenheit it was about 107.6. We have a dry heat but it was the hottest day so far after winter. Sam is not overly fit in my opinion, it was about 6.15pm, over cast so the heat was slowly going but Sam was drenched from head to toe. He didn't look like his liver chestnut colour but a dark brown, white foam even building in his nostrils. I do not like to see my horse like this.
Jane was working him at canter with transitions up and down. Also he falls out dramatically on the right rein. He looked like he was coming down in the canter transitions extremely tense and abrupt. She was giving him small breaks in between each canter but then was doing walk canter transitions. I hobbled over (will explain later) and asked what was happening, why did he seem so tense, what was happening with the transitions. I think I was overacting because she explained that he was falling onto the bit when coming down, hitting the bit and trying to figure out how to come down without leaning on the bit. I think Jane is very active with her seat and Sam just isn't use to it. He couldn't even stand still - this is not normal at all. Normally I can ask Sam to halt, drop the reins and he just goes to sleep. Jane asks him to halt and then he must hold himself in a frame without moving. This would be hard I understand.
I voiced my concern when it comes to my time to ride. He looks so alive and active with Jane on board. With me he is generally lazy and very quiet. Hopefully he will dull it down a little when I finally get to ride again. I have managed to find meadow hay that he will eat so hopefully that will help with the 'energy' levels. He has been on 7kgs of Lucerne Hay a day because there has been no other roughage around to feed. I will be able to cut that back to about 1.5kg and make up the rest with the meadow hay.
I was proud of myself stepping forward and voicing my concerns. I have never had a horse with a trainer before so it is a daunting time for me. I haven't known Jane for long, only been able to watch her ride and talk to another girl who had her horse in training with her. Jane is straight down the line very matter of fact and will put up with no nonsense which I like. She wants to do a ground work lesson with me as she thinks I am too soft on Sam and let him get away with too much. I like him the way he is and think he is easy to handle but he does stand right in your face and nudge you a lot and I have to stop him from doing that. I also am not allowed to let him rub on me anymore. Poor Sam doesn't know what has hit him - he can't do anything that he used too!!!!
He seems to be recovering well from his lessons though - tired afterwards but the following mornings he seems fully recovered.
Now about me hobbling. Last Thursday morning I went to turn a friends horse out, like I do every morning. I was closing the gate when her bum hit the electric fence, she lunged forward and decided to land directly on top of my left foot. She didn't get turned out that morning. I hobbled out of the paddock and rang my best friend Jodi thinking that she would be nearly at work so she could come and and pick me up - she had only just left home! Normally it would have taken her a good 45min to get to the paddock and she made it in about 35min. By the time Jodi arrived I had a cold bandage on the foot and the pain was slowly going. We dropped her foster dog off at the vet and we decided that she would drop me at the doctor surgery close to home so I could then catch a taxi home. Of course that surgery was closed for the day. Luckily my husband was able to get the day off work so he came and got me and took me to another doctor surgery. I got the wound dressed (she took bark off the top of my foot) had xrays (nothing broken) and I sat down for the rest of the day. So from Thursday to Monday Scott had to look after Sam for me - I still got to hop along and pat him :o) I went back to the doctors this morning and he has given me the rest of the week off - I can't get a shoe on and it is still very swollen. I have photos that I will post when I can download them! :o)
2 comments:
It's important to speak up for your horse - too many people don't when they should. Keep trusting your gut and speak up and make sure all is well for Sam. The other thing people forget sometimes, I think, is that the trainer works for you, not the other way around. If you don't want to do something the trainer thinks you should, or don't want certain things done with your horse, that's your call - and a trainer who doesn't respect that isn't one to work with. Hope it works out for you.
Sorry about the foot - ouch!
I agree with Kate. We're not there to see what's happening, but you are. If you're uncomfortable with what's going on, definitely speak up.
And take it easy with your foot. That sounds horribly painful.
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