No, not Allan chasing the blond blue-eyed physio. Ace!
I took him out for a hack and for the first time he thought he could dictate to me where we turned for home (I don't have any suitable circular routes for him yet, they are too long or the road is too dangerous.) Worse, he was spinning violently left, and rearing if I stopped him from turning left. The one vice I will not try to sit out is a rearer who is gradually going higher and higher. So I got off and walked him down the 75 yards of hill he did not want to go down. Got back on and rode him back up, turning back away from home for a few steps every 20 yards or so.
He would do that until he got back close to the top, and the road for home, when the rearing would start again. Thankfully I knew the friend whose house I was due at would understand where I was, and I just kept on getting off and walking down that damned hill until I lost count. Thirty times at least. At least we got plenty of practice mounting from the verge! He gave in after about an hour, I guess.
He doesn't fight particularly hard or dirty, he just gets completely obstinate and then hops off his front feet. A whack with the whip did not work. It didn't bother him much but it didn't send him forwards either, he just spun more determinedly to the left to get back home. Making him turn in the other direction (it's a three way junction) and go up a hill did not work either, he just refused to go down the other one as soon as we got near it.
I did feel it was important to win this one today. His attitude was all wrong. There was no attempt to negotiate, he really thought that he could choose how far he was going to go before he went back to his buddies. I thought he should understand at the first occasion that all that attitude results in is more work and a longer time to get back home.
After all that, it was a rest to drive to the hospital and sit with SH for the afternoon and evening. He's ticking! It actually makes a much louder noise than I had expected. I knew he would tick, and I have joked that he mustn't sit on pubic transport with a rucksack or he will scare people. But it REALLY ticks, to the extent that it keeps him awake at night. Unfortunately, he's never liked the noise of a ticking clock and all ours are silent for that reason. He's been signed off to go home Saturday by the physios, so now we need the warfarin stabilised and his heart to settle down to its proper rhythmn, and he should be allowed out.
C
I hate rearing worst of all,that's for sure. Glad you got off. Ace does appear to have quite a stubborn streak in him, doesn't he? Sounds as if you may have convinced him for at least that one spot on the journey. Now if only the lesson will stick for the next trip.
ReplyDeleteAs for Allan...only more good news. He seems to be doing really well for so soon after surgery.
So good to know that Allan is so well and getting around after the surgery.
ReplyDeleteNot all that relevant, but I had a weekend in B'ham Children's hospital many years ago when babies were being brought in for heart surgery, mostly hole in the heart. They arrived on Friday looking pale and wan, had surgery on Saturday and went home on Sunday looking pink and very well, so the effect of the heart surgery was an immediate improvement.
Fantastic.
As for Ace, I remember having an argument with an awkward 4 year old once, when we were halfway round a ride and he didn't want to go past some pigs in a field. I confess to losing my temper and I was determined not to let him win, and after a LONG time he decided he could go past after all. Although I felt guilty I had got cross with him and walloped him, I never had such an incident again and in fact it was a turning point and he was never as naughty again. I think there often comes a time with a young horse when there is a bit of a showdown; you only have to hope that he learns his lessons quickly!
The change of colour is amazing isn't it Judith? I was so used to Allan being grey I had forgotten he was actually ruddy-faced in the old days.
ReplyDeleteI felt the moment was right to refuse to give in today. I hope he will have learnt the right lesson from it Jean.
Off to bed now.
C
A ticking SH eh...that will take some getting used to!
ReplyDeleteAs for naughty Ace, you've said he is a fast learner so lets hope the lesson sticks and that is the last incident of this sort. Definitely agree with you on the rearing though,staying on at the risk of the horse going over and hurting you both just seems daft to me.
Don’t worry you and Alan will soon get used to the ticking :0) we have a wind up clock complete with pendulum and chimes and anyone staying over cannot sleep for it. We never hear any of it.
ReplyDeleteOh Ace has really pulled out the stops on that ride flippin heck well done for persevering and out witting him. Hopefully you have totally flummoxed him and he has learned his lesson. It was a pretty major strop for one so young do you think he has got away with things before you bought him, it was truly a battle of wills and he seemed to have perfected his repertoire perfectly and seemed determined to have his way don’t you think or do you think it came out of the blue?
Anne I don't think he ever hacked out before he came to me, and unfortunately I am, as usual, forced to go out alone because of my isolation here.
ReplyDeleteI will do a post of what I think is happening.
C