veronicascloset
19th Dec 2001, 01:08 AM
On October 26, 2001 at 36 years old I bought my first horse. They had forgotten to tell me she was afraid of the reins and when I was dismounting I threw them to one side to get down. My horse reared 3 times and the third time planted my left hip in to the ground. Two days after her purchase, I had 2 slipped discs and a fracture of the lumbar vertebrae called L3. I had tremendous pain, numbness down my left leg, and lost 1 inch of height from the vertebrae getting crushed.
On December 16, 2001, I sat on my new horse for the first time since the fall. Sweat was dripping down my face, my back, and my legs. I was sick to my stomach. I was shaking. I clinched the horse so tightly with my legs that she thought she was supposed to walk forward, then I would pull her reins back to stop her but held them too long and she would back up. She kept stepping forward then back. Finally she stopped, turned her head around, looked at me for a long time blinking at me. I was afraid to move, I was afraid to breath. She started to get tired of standing there and shifted her weight to a different foot, not moving forward, and I screamed.
My trainer told me not to move or I would get myself in to trouble. She kept reminding me to breathe. She had me move one arm at a time in circles to try to get me to relax. I was finally able to let her move the horse. As I calmed down I was able to pick up the reins and walk with her next to me. Calming more I rode in a circle around her, always walking. I was gradually able to move to the rail and walk. My trainer kept reminding me to answer her. I was so petrified that I couldn't form an answer to her questions.
By the time the hour was over, my sweet new mare had taught me that she would do what I asked and I could see that she would have immeasureable patience with me. We were able to jog and cantor around the arena. I had never done this before in my life.
I will never let this horse go and I will do my best to make her happy too.
Now, what should I feed a 20 year old horse, and is there some secret thing that horses love?
On December 16, 2001, I sat on my new horse for the first time since the fall. Sweat was dripping down my face, my back, and my legs. I was sick to my stomach. I was shaking. I clinched the horse so tightly with my legs that she thought she was supposed to walk forward, then I would pull her reins back to stop her but held them too long and she would back up. She kept stepping forward then back. Finally she stopped, turned her head around, looked at me for a long time blinking at me. I was afraid to move, I was afraid to breath. She started to get tired of standing there and shifted her weight to a different foot, not moving forward, and I screamed.
My trainer told me not to move or I would get myself in to trouble. She kept reminding me to breathe. She had me move one arm at a time in circles to try to get me to relax. I was finally able to let her move the horse. As I calmed down I was able to pick up the reins and walk with her next to me. Calming more I rode in a circle around her, always walking. I was gradually able to move to the rail and walk. My trainer kept reminding me to answer her. I was so petrified that I couldn't form an answer to her questions.
By the time the hour was over, my sweet new mare had taught me that she would do what I asked and I could see that she would have immeasureable patience with me. We were able to jog and cantor around the arena. I had never done this before in my life.
I will never let this horse go and I will do my best to make her happy too.
Now, what should I feed a 20 year old horse, and is there some secret thing that horses love?