Oh my goodness!

I am sitting here completely stunned. The difference in Ace to ride is nothing short of, as SH said when he saw him, transformational. That poor sweet gentle creature has been trying to tell me for two years that his back hurt. And since he didn't flash his tail at all today, except to gently swat away some flies, then we also have to assume that all the tail thrashing in the video before we bought him means that he has had this problem from before he was even broken in.

Another change was evident this morning. His back has been in spasm and it is now released. The result of that is that what I thought was muscle bulk was simply muscle tension, and he is now clearly lacking a strip of muscle immediately beside his backbone.

I lunged him with the saddle on and he was very free in his action but also quite a spooky boy to handle. A bit 'fresh' would be the usual term. I was pretty scared of getting on him and he seemed a bit scared too. But on I did get, and he stood there puzzled, moved off at his own choosing, and then appeared to be completely gobsmacked himself that his back was pain free. Right from the first few steps, his movement was longer, looser and higher than I have ever felt it.

It is clear now that he has such superb action that it was impossible, without knowing that, to tell just how much trouble he was in. His basic good nature did him no favours, plus the fact that it was all he has ever known, probably.

I have an answer to the barrels and the dressage letters too. He is a highly strung and spooky horse, so he naturally finds the barrels cause him a little tension. Likewise, competition builds the tension and the letters are both something to focus on and places where transitions are demanded.

So - his back hurts all the time. It hurts a lot more when he tenses up. He tenses up at the barrels and the letters, so as far as he is concerned those things genuinely cause him pain, and he reacts accordingly.

I hope that we can break that association in his mind and that it is not too late. Whatever, he is the most gorgeous horse and he is going nowhere, except to hospital.

I now want the operation done before the pain can possibly return, which is two months time. I hope that will provide a permanent cure.  I'm trying not to beat myself up that I didn't get him xrayed before, but his behaviour just wasn't that bad and his movement was superb.  Hindsight is such a useless thing, isn't it?


There is one bit of bad news from all of this - there is a battle going on between him and Radar for who is now boss. So far this morning I have seen Radar try to shove Ace around the barn, and Ace has kicked him five times to my knowledge.   His back has been affecting more than just his riding! I hope that they can settle their differences and come to a new agreement without any actual damage. Fingers crossed.


C