, but not today.Real Life and Real Horses · 9:33pm Apr 4th, 2015
TL;DR
Apologies, but it's looking like I won't hit the next chapter posting date, due to Real Life and Real Horses.
So. I finally found a horse (via an 'equine agent' -- someone who matches people to horses). He test rode very well, both in the arena and in a group hack, and is very easy to handle on the ground. Friendly, and gentle, more like a half tonne Labrador than a horse. He passed the vetting (an extended series of medical checks that look for any problems -- heart, lungs, legs, eyes -- followed by exercise and the storage of blood for future analysis if doping is suspected) easily.
He's lovely, he really is. Mister McCarthy -- 'Mac' -- a ten year old gelding, likely an Irish Draft-thoroughbred cross. Technically a grey, but he's grey the same way a polar bear is grey -- snow white and black skin.
...but that is only the start of it. After I said 'yes', things moved quickly. Mac was delivered the day after, and spent a few days at the sand school (the stables I belong to has two sites, a park and a school). Needless to say, I've been spending a lot of time down at the stables so he can start to know me.
It takes time, so I'm told, for a horse to get used to a new place. Mac is not finding it easy; he doesn't buck or kick, he bolts. He's done this on both occasions when I attempted a ride in the arena. The first time it was recoverable, the second...
If you've never experienced a bolt, it's a little like being on a motorbike with the throttle jammed fully open. Outside, in open space, is one thing, because you have time to try stuff, but an arena is only 40m long (and the horse isn't exactly using all the length, rather just dashing round and around -- you really don't want it to try and jump the fences, because beyond the fences are stable blocks and other very solid objects).
Everything seemed fine, until I did a down transition from trot to walk. In this, you are supposed to slow, then sit the trot until it changes into a walk.
What actually happened was Mac immediately went into a full-on bolt. I lost stirrup #1 at the first corner, but stayed on and managed to turn him around. Couldn't slow him, too busy trying to turn him to avoid the fences (never, ever, point a horse trained at hunting at a fence, because they will try and take it) and trying to stay on.
Five seconds later we come around corner #4, and now my way is blocked by the other two horses in the lesson. They have started to move off the outside track, but too slow. It is too late to turn, so Mac slams into the backside of Rupert (a 17hh chestnut who is a bit of a kicker), at which part he and I part company; I arrest my forward motion by way of my right shin against the stockproof fence. Mac runs to the back of the arena and tries to hide in the furthest corner.
Still not sure why it happened; best guess at the moment is a combination of a much richer diet than he was used to, and a busier environment. He seems calmer in the park, so will stay there until he's settled.
Mac is lovely, and I'm a little afraid of him.
This has been pretty stressful for me; my own safety is one thing, but Mac could have really hurt someone else or himself. This has been weighing heavily on my mind, and the writing will be taking a back seat until I can rebuild a measure of trust between Mac and I.
Awww. Sorry to hear you're having troubles with your horse. Hope things work out with a little time.
take your time if you have to. besides, gives you more time to make sure it's extra amazing.
Good luck with Mac
Sounds like he's wanting to get a little distance, and is a little tired of small circles in small areas.
Either that, or you're getting a little domininance training. Who's a good alpha? Yes, you are. (or you better be)
Aww I'm sure that in time you and Mac will be quite the team.
As for your story, take all the time you need.
Horse stuff. I don`t know anything about horse stuff. This was really cool though. Give us an update when you teach it how to do backflips.
Also, that's one adorable horse.
*cringe*
Please stay safe while riding. It would be horrible if something happened to you and you couldn't finish this story.
Ouch. Glad you're okay though. Good luck with the bonding!
Recover, dude.
Put yourself back on track.
And keep up the good work: nothing more ethical for writing about horses than first-hand experience!
Back on the horse, as they say. I hope Mac settles down and starts enjoying his new surroundings. And I hope that shin recovers! Gosh.
Thanks for the support, folks. Things seem to have improved; Mac likes the parkland much more than the arena, so he'll stay there until he's nice and content.
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He'll settle in, I'm sure.
That's the beauty of fight-flight reactions; there is no pain until afterwards -- I'm certainly glad I was wearing high boots, though!
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He's not really had much of a chance to get bored, so we're pretty sure it's the newness of everything. I know what you mean about dominance, but I've only seen submission behaviours from him (there's none of the barging or space domination I've seen in others).