| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Crusaders Angel |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 11:24:52 AM
I've not been a regular visitor here lately due to family stuff, work etc but thought I'd just give a bit of an update on mine and Roo's progress as it's been three years since I bought him in September 2008 when he was 3 1/2 and had been backed for approx 3mths.
As some of you may remember things got to a bit of a traumatic start. After posting on here about buying him it turned out that he was sold illegally and I didn't own him at all. Thankfully he was allowed to stay and I was able to get his proper AHS passport. In December 2008, just as I was getting over that little trauma, he decided to take exception to the horse next door and got his hind legs fast in the only section of barbed wire we hadn't been able to replace which resulted in nasty gashes and cuts which he wouldn't let us treat. Whilst the wounds were healing we had a cold spell which made the fields all icy so he kept splitting them open again when ever he slipped. Thankfully these have healed up really well with only bald lines showing where the injuries were and no damage to the hock or tendons etc - good job I didn't have ambitions for HOYS 
The extent of the injuries and then the weather meant that he was field-bound and his education was neglected until March 2009 which resulted in him turning into a real handful and me almost losing my nerve about handling him - it took 2 of us to get him out the field and he was very nervous and explosive in the stable (which I later found out was due to a very bad experience early on in his life and left him partially sighted in his right eye). Trying to lead him out was almost impossible due to him rearing up and snaking his head about so in desperation I attended a Natural Horsemanship day with him and, apart from one explosive moment when he reared up and came down on top of me at the start of the day, he was incredibly well behaved and it was the turning point for us and I finished the day by riding my "wild and unruly" horse round a 20 acre field in just a halter, through a water complex and over our first jump.
From that day we started to really build a partnership and learn to trust each other and . It's not been easy and he is still very "kick first, look later" which resulted in him fracturing my pelvis just before the pre-ride vetting in April 2010 at our very first Pleasure Ride together  Luckily I didn't realise and although it was painful it wasn't immobilising so I tacked up and with much trepidation we set off and had the most amazing time - he was on his toes but was listening and respectful and thoroughly enjoyed himself.
Setting Off
We ended up having almost all of 2010 off whilst I healed but managed to sneak another Pleasure ride in to finish off the season where he was much less reactive in the vetting and very good out on route.
And then we have this year (so far) - well, what can I say, except WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! its been fun, frightening and fulfilling in so many ways
In April we went back to Thoresby Hall to do the Haywood Oaks EGB ride (where I got the fracture last year)to do our first Competitive Ride together and despite a very explosive pre-ride vetting we started unscathed and had a fabulous ride and he came back with a Grade 1  .
The beginning of May saw us going to RAF Cranwell for our 2nd Competitive Ride where he was much better in the pre-ride vetting, amazing out on route and he earned himself another Grade 1  and at the end of May we went back to Thoresby Hall for the Dukeries EGB ride - this was to be our final Novice ride with the hope of just completing so we could upgrade to Open. He was very chilled at the pre-ride vetting (HR of 32) and just fantastic out on route to come home well inside the time with a HR of 31 to earn himself another Grade 1.
In June we joined the local riding club and had our first jumping lesson
Practising our showjumping canter
Concentrating intently
Lift off
Hope you enjoyed our little update - thanks for reading  |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| leiat8 |
Posted - 10 Sep 2011 : 10:17:37 AM
one word......... DEDICATION!!!!!
i wish we all had the mental strength you have |
| Pasch |
Posted - 09 Sep 2011 : 11:43:23 PM
Well done for sticking with him despite the difficulties.Great pictures,especially the jump!Hopefully more nice,fantastically scarystories to tell us... |
| Helen Newton |
Posted - 09 Sep 2011 : 10:36:25 PM
Yay! Well done Lucy and Mr Roo  |
| Nia Shadow |
Posted - 09 Sep 2011 : 4:41:22 PM
What a great adventure, i have goose pimples and foggy eyes. Hope your future adventures are even better. Good luck for the future !! KAZ |
| Pop |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 9:26:02 PM
"The saving grace is that he is a very loving and genuine little soul who tries his hardest to keep me safe and to listen and understand and when I've fell off he's stayed with me and been very upset and turned himself inside out to not step on me "
Been there. I have a feeling this partnership will end up more special than you could possibly imagine.
|
| Honeyb060674 |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 9:15:45 PM
WOW! What a roller coaster You both look amazing, a real testament to what time, patience & tlc can do. Fab pictures you must be so proud of him..well done |
| natntaz |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 8:56:35 PM
Well done you both look great together |
| Crusaders Angel |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 8:28:34 PM
Thanks guys
When you write it all down it does seem like its been one drama after another but inbetween we've had some great times and just mooched about the woods enjoying each others company and building a partnership.
It has been difficult at times and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about selling him as he felt like he was just too much for me to cope with but I've had a lot of support from some great friends who have listened to me moan and whinge about him and then helped me see the positives about him and how much we've acheived together.
Most of the problems we've had are related to him having limited vision in his right eye which causes him to spook sideways and vertically at the same time which would be easier to sit on if he wasn't looking behind him, tipping his barrel and making you fly out over his shoulder The scar is across the front of the eye with a thick part down the centre and clouding spreading out from it over the front and bit at the back of the eye is clear. This means that objects are fuzzy when they are in front of his shoulder but as he goes past them they suddenly come into focus making him react.
The reaction part wouldn't be so bad on a normal horse but as he's long-legged and short backed he can really get some oomph into the spook too - all in all it makes for a very eventful time  . The saving grace is that he is a very loving and genuine little soul who tries his hardest to keep me safe and to listen and understand and when I've fell off he's stayed with me and been very upset and turned himself inside out to not step on me 
I forgot to July - we went to Sherwood Pines to do our first Ride by ourselves. Previously my mum has come with us on the Pleasure Rides and Competitive Rides but next year she doesn't want to do the bigger distances so we've got to go on our own. I'd originally booked in to do a 20 mile Competitive Ride but, thanks to an unsheduled stunt dismount caused by a rabbit running out of the stubble field and under Roo's belly (can't blame him really), we down graded to the 10 mile Pleasure Ride. Roo was VERY excited at the venue and tried to come out the trailer over the front bar when we put the front ramp down so we quickly shut it up and waited for the trailer to stop rocking before we opened it up again 
To say I was petrified about getting on would be a huge understatement - I couldn't speak and had trouble tacking up as he was piaffing on the spot and launching himself forwards.
Eventually it was sh!t or bust time so I led him up to the mounting block and immediately he stood quietly and waited for me
We had an absolute ball, he was forward going without being strong, over-took ponies and left them behind without a backwards glance and on the two times we were overtaken he kept himself together and didn't try and run off after them. Before I knew it we were back at the venue, hardly sweating or out of breath having done 10 miles in 54minutes
I got off and had a bit of weep I was so pleased with him - he has given me some of the most heart-stoppingly fantastically scary moments I've ever experienced with a horse and I will be forever grateful that he was allowed to stay with me. |
| Kharidian |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 7:23:07 PM
Oh my goodness - that's a journey-and-a-half you've had together! Well done for persevering with your boy.
Caryn |
| georgiauk |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 6:55:00 PM
Well Done |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 2:35:17 PM
I've missed hearing about Roo.... I can't believe its been 3 years....! Well done for sticking with it. You have both done really well |
| alison |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 1:43:33 PM
I salute you, many people would have just given up and what a wonderful horse he looks like now. Wishing you much luck in your future riding career together.
Alison |
| arabianrio |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 1:30:52 PM
Wow...what a lot you have both been through...congrats on all you have achieved! |
| sarahjo |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 1:18:11 PM
omg can't believe you've had Roo for 3 years! Doesn't time fly! So glad it's all working out now. All your hard work is paying off - well done!
Sarah
x |
| KatDancer |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 1:15:38 PM
That nearly had me in tears!I have glimpsed parts of you story on other forums too and its lovely to know how you stuck through it and are now being rewarded with such results. How many would have baled out before now? Well done Lucy and good luck |
| Suelin |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 12:37:54 PM
Yaaay fab pictures Lucy. Have been following your progress elsewhere. You have done so very well with him well done to you and Mr Roo. |
| honey |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 12:12:43 PM
well done indeed hes gorgeous, and really seems to be concentrating on the jumping. Looking forwad to the next update |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 12:01:31 PM
Well done. Lovely to see you riding in a halter. Sometimes less control is more control. Obviously I am a convert.
He is a lovely boy. I am so glad things are looking up for you. |
| jackiedo |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 11:47:18 AM
well done lass... that's dedication for you |
| Callisto |
Posted - 08 Sep 2011 : 11:47:00 AM
Fantastic! Enormously well done for carrying on through all the traumas and massive congratulations for all you have achieved! Onwards and Upwards! |
