Another big milestone reached. I put the sadde on Ace and girthed it up with no reaction at all. Not a twitch of the tail, never mind a swish. I lunged him in it for a couple of minutes each way - again no issues. He looked back at it a couple of times, but in a different way from how he looks back when his back hurts. If it's a back thing he twists and looks down from higher up. This was a lower head, turning to look at the stirrups, if anything. No bucking, no tension, just beautiful elevated trot and a rounder canter than ever before.
I have no intention of sitting in it for another two weeks. This part of the rehab makes sense to me. His astonishing change in foreleg action means that he is using all sorts of parts of his body differently, and he doesn't need an additional 11 or 12 stone on him at this point in time, even if his back would be happy to take it.
I've also ridden radaR today. Very nice work in walk and trot interspersed with our usual nonsense of backing off the contact and rushing forwards from the leg. He is learning, but so dreadfully slowly bless him. I think he's special needs - horse dyslexic maybe, though he occasionally verges on ODD - Oppositional Defiance Disorder (I kid you not, it's a real diagnosis in kids these days!!).
He got a serious workout because of it though, which suits me just fine.
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Ah, at last I know what's wrong with Tucker--ODD. Suits him perfectly. Could be, actually what's up with radaR. As long as he's doing what he wants to do, he's fine. It's when he HAS to do something he doesn't like.
ReplyDeleteAs for Ace, just more and more good news. Wise to start out with the saddle alone for a while. Get his back used to the slight pressure. Then, add yourself when it's time. That is going to be a wonderful day!
I'm getting more and more confident now.
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:-). Love it that Radar has ODD
ReplyDeleteLyndac
Otherwise known as 'needs a clip round the ear syndrome' :-)
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i need the "like" button for your last comment, caroline......
ReplyDeleteI just have a little nostalgia, Claire, for the days when a child 'suffering from' ODD was sent to bed with no tea. I have a feeling it was a rapid cure!
ReplyDeleteI could hardly believe my eyes the first time I read it in a psychiatric report.
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Ace was looking back, perhaps, wondering where the rider was :-)
ReplyDeleteWe can hope :-)
ReplyDeleteODD indeed. Maybe that's what my 2 year old has... Oh wait, no, he's just a 2 year old boy testing his boundaries and learning exactly where they are. I think ODD could also be known as Lazy Parenting Syndrome ;-)
ReplyDeleteFantastic news of Ace's acceptance of the saddle, I think you're right to be feeling ever more confident about getting back on him.
HPS I think Sarah. Some of them aren't lazy, just completely hopeless. You have to feel sorry for some of the kids I see in court :-(
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