Life with My Horses

"Hi Jackie,

First: everything is okay, despite my alarming title.

Well, we were having a pretty good week until yesterday . . . a little more trotting, a day of free jumping, the usual routine. Then yesterday, just as I was getting on, without any warning, a huge pile of snow avalanched off the roof. It was probably the worst crash I have heard yet in that arena. Luckily I was pretty much settled. Cat spun and ran across the ring, colliding with the wall and spooking with the horses standing in the paddock right outside. They crashed across the snow, spooking Cat back the way she had come. She came to rest, shaking, in the middle of the ring. Basically she listened when I asked her to stop, so I was reasonably pleased about that. After a bit of recovery time we did a bit of walking and she was wary but obedient. Obviously anything else stressful was out for the day. Unfortunately these things will happen - if it wasn't this it would have been another horse running off or some other such thing - but I always hope to avoid them as long as possible. She's physically unharmed and I think, with a few easy days to feel good about things, she will be back on track. I planned to give everyone a day off today because of the cold snap but I did go up and do some easy ground work with her in the arena, just to give her a comfortable day. She seemed good, maybe a little edgy, but there was no ice coming off the roof so it was hard to judge.

I have taken her off the Happy Mouth bit because I was finding it too big to ride in comfortably (it is a 5 1/2" - she needs a 5" or even a 4 3/4") and I do not seem to be able to locate the smaller one I used to have. I'm not a fan of loose rings for young horses so I have gone to a D-ring thick-ish stainless. (The loose ring is designed to be used with a flash/drop noseband - the "German" system - to guard against the bit pulling through the mouth. I don't love drops for more sensitive horses as I find they can cause as much tension as they might avoid, but I will go with one if I think the horse is developing a habit. he D-ring is less likely to "pull through" and provides some steering help.) Unfortunately yesterday was the first day for this so it's too early to tell . . . I still feel she is fussier in her mouth than she should be, even on a lighter than necessary contact, and if it continues after we have her teeth looked at I will go with the flash. Hopefully she will sort it out on her own.

Sorry to send negative news but other than these topics she is fine - getting stronger and fitter everyday. She has risen to the top of her paddock pecking order, somewhat surprisingly. I also think she has gained some not-entirely-necessary weight but it is hard to tell with the furry coat. As soon as we can see warmer weather I will pull her mane if you want, but I think it helps them stay warm for now.

Hope things are well and I'll keep you posted on the aftermath.

R."

Here is part of my response to her email. It pertains to my exciting lesson again for the second week in a row. I am sure you can tell I was not impressed with this schooly horse of my coach's. Even less impressed when Daniel (my 17yo natural at riding) sat there and laughed. Then when Michele was cantering him Daniel came running back in cause he thought Rader had succeeded in bucking me off. Little brat. Anyways I will keep you posted on Cat's progress.

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