I hopped off at the first check, remembering to undo myself first, and got a piece of baler twine that I "just happened" to have in my pocket and put it on as a standing martingale. That did the trick, though I shortened it another four inches at the next check.
He was still very , very boisterous and very difficult to steer and yanking the reins out of my hands. In attempting to catch the others in front up , he was escaping through his shoulder and threatening to run straight into hedges while his head was looking the other way. And once nearly dumped us both into a deep ditch full of water doing the same thing.
I had to wrap my reins around my hands to stop him pulling them away from me, which is not safe if you fall off, but the likelihood of falling off at very high speed if I didn't do it was enormous!
I had him then. He could not escape me, and from then on each leg was an improvement on the last. He was never exactly "good", but Radar was much worse on his first day out - he ran straight into a barbed wire fence and brought himself an me crashing to the floor. But if I had a tenner for everyone who commented how brave I am today, I would have come home with quite a few quid :-)
But what I can say, confidently, is that his improvement as the day went on, when many beginners just get worse and worse as they get tired, points to him becoming, if I can get him out a few more times without completely putting Radar's nose out of joint, a very, very decent hunter.
He has it all. He is keen, forwards, brave and extremely athletic.
Here's the photos from the meet, some action shots to follow later, there were two photographers out.
So good to tack up!
And so quiet at the meet.
At the end of the day. Oh boy, that was fun!
(SH thought it would be cute to photoshop the headcollar out, he is not standing loose!)
C
Angel status has not been awarded. Apparently Woody has some work ahead of him if he plans on moving up out of the underworld. *G*
ReplyDeleteGlad you are OK. I would say you deserve the bravery accolades. But I'm wagering the next time out you will have a different combination of tack on him, including a martingale and perhaps some other bitting rig???
But, traveling in company like that often sets some horses off until they realize the others are not actually running for their lives.
Looking forward to seeing the pictures of you and Woody "in action." He does look deceptively quiet and calm in all the pics you have here. At least it's nice to know he travels well and essentially chills out in new places--until the action starts, that is.
It was such a surprise the way he reacted Jean. I have tested him in company, holding him back from the others, and he was absolutely fine. I just did not expect it (but I carried the twine just in case!). I think eventually he will hunt nicely in a snaffle, but next time out we will possible have a pelham on.
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criey! glad you survived that...
ReplyDeleteand i note the hit air jacket! (thought you'd bought the point 2?) .. i bought the hit air yellow hi viz after my fall september gone...
It is a P2 Claire, just the angle of the shot. I lost my spare cylinder too - he bounced it right out of the pocket somewhere - Radar never did that jumping five foot hedges!!!
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