Probably Sounds Pretty Lame Right?
Well, considering that I have only walked and trotted. With a few steps of canter here and there since I got hurt, I never would have expected I would stay on if my horse bucked. I did though!
Sunday Funday
A group of us at the barn were playing mounted games. We played the ring relay, rock on a spoon and a pathetic attempt at barrel racing.
Teaching Finny To Neck Rein
I have recently been teaching Finn to neck rein in the last month or so. Disclaimer, I have no idea how to really teach a horse to neck rein the “right” way. Needless to say, my horse pretty much can be steered with one hand now.
Jump Standard Bending
This game seems to be the best test of Finn’s neck reining. He did not disappoint me at all. I was proud of him. We did all the turns with me holding the reins in one hand.
Oh S**T
The first time we went a little slow around the poles. A slow trot that is. The second time around he started cantering and before I knew it he was bucking. They were pretty serious bucks.
I was impressed that my old instincts kicked in! I stuck my feet out in front of me and yanked his head up. It all happened kind of fast. I remember saying to everyone ” well at least I can still ride a buck!”.
Luckily for me, with everyone there, I didn’t have time to over think it. Now when I got off, and was untacking that is when I started thinking. Oh crap, I could have fell off and landing on my head! Stuff happens with horses, I know that, don’t we all!
I guess I was just in shock that I rode through it and then I just had to remind myself, there are lots of ways to get hurt besides horses. I shouldn’t fixate on the incident. Especially since nothing bad happened!
Why Was Finny Bucking?
I’m really not sure. He went through a bucking phase a while back, but it seemed to work it’s self out. We just ended up thinking he was fit and feeling good, so when asked to canter he would throw in some bucks.
We are in the process of trying to get his feet comfortable. I had to give him a lot of time off because he was lame, super sore in the front end, and also off in the back end.
Our vet said she thought that his back end was sore because he was compensating for his front feet hurting. So we tried glue on shoes and shoes with pads. Currently he is in bar shoes. He has only had them on for a week. So far I think he may be a little more comfortable, but I need to ride him more before I can be sure.
He is an old man, so he is at a point in his life when he has limitations. I’m determined to keep him comfortable and rideable for as long as possible. Even if it is mostly just at the walk and trot.
#HOOD ( Horse Outfit Of The Day)
At our barn, we are kind of obsessed with saddle pad colors and matching polos. Our horses are always styling! Yesterday, Finn wore his Jurassic Park saddle pad, with color coordinating red and orange polos.
This is one of many “looks” Finn has! Kemerton has some “looks of his own”, and some of the saddle pads and polos they share between the two of them. Needless to say, even if they are lame and misbehaving, my old thoroughbreds are looking good!
Speaking Of Looks!
Check out old man Dublin, eating his lunch with bows in his hair! Every horse should be as lucky as mine to have a whole bunch of lesson kids to love them!
