All THREE horses got ridden today. Am I Superwoman? Well, yes, of course I am :-) but actually two young friends came up with their mum and I took them out on Radar and Jazz. They are only 13 but 5ft 8 and 5ft 6, and the boys were great and we got on well. The bigger one is the girl who has George.
The fly in the ointment was Ace. He was a complete dork. While the other two were happily pootling along the lane, he was rearing and spinning for home. What an idiot, eh? I never expected THAT when he was out in company. He got a good wallop each time he did it, because is was about 6 times in 45 minutes. He did it when he was in front (possibly excusable) in the middle (not excusable) and at the back (downright inexplicable!).
If he wasn't so quiet and easy and supple on the arena I would hazard a guess that there is something wrong with him pysically that I need to get to the bottom of. But it just appears to be that he wants to be at home, even if Jazz and Radar are with him. Maybe he was upset at leaving Buttie home alone, who knows?
Ace also came in without his muzzle on this morning. And with pounding pulses and hot feet, so we do know now that he really can't tolerate this grass now that the rain has brought it on. I took his breakfast away quikcly, and he has hardly eaten any haylage yet today, so he has a bellyfull of grass and gas. I walked the field and found the muzzle intact and still done up, so I'll try again tonight, and have a word in his ear that if he takes it off too often he'll be in the barn overnight instead of out with the others.
C
Oh dear, norty boy. He'll learn.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed more of those vertical hairline cracks in my mare's feet this week. I've been giving them extra grass once a day, strip grazing very sparingly but still its too much for her. I took her out galloping tonight though and she's really sound galloping on darn hard ground, so I have to go with her vote. Eventing on Sunday and I was considering pulling out, but I think I'll start and see how she feels as we go.
Glad SH is on the mend, life is good eh?
xx T
What a silly boy Ace is. You are right...pretty inexplicable, except that's exactly the kind of behavior I had from Tucker. (Pre ulcer meds...and pre "Boot Camp" with Kenny Harlow) It didn't matter if he was with a group or not. Kenny's description of first attempted trail ride, "Tucker went ballistic." Could be the extra anxiety aggravated the ulcers?
ReplyDeleteMiles of mountains changed his attitude and the ulcer meds helped as well, but I still don't trust him 100% out on a hack.
BUT, on the plus side!! Jazz!! We knew Radar was a star, but who would have ever expected Jazz to be so well behaved?? A big congratulations to you for all the time and patience you have given him to make him into a good solid hack.
I expect Ace to make it too...eventually...but if he has the same kind of mindset as Tucker does, he may never quite come around to "total trustworthy aside from exceptionally scary conditions."
Glad you got everyone out. That must have been fun for you.
I think the cracks are partly because drier feet shrink a bit Tracey, and then expand in the rain, or dew, and the movement just makes tiny stress cracks. Jazz has loads at the moment.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun riding with all three of my horses. I must say I was so impressed with Radar under saddle - he is one smart cookie! And Jazz was gorgeous and Helena would have taken him home. She was stunned by his trot and says that she has never ridden a trot like it.
If Ace wasn't schoolin so quietly I'd pu thim back on ulcer meds Jean, but he's a little lamb in the arena now. All I can think of is that he wanted to be back with his little playmate.
C.
You must go Tracey, she'll tell you if she's not happy.
ReplyDeleteC
try plaiting over the poll and tie the muzzle strap into that? would save him being able to pull the strap off over his head... friend does it that way, seems to work.
ReplyDelete