hi guys

[Dummer&Drummer]

firstly, thank you for ALL of your pm's - they were ALL appreciated xxx

ive had a well needed 2 weeks off work. unfortunately drummer has been treated for a bit of concussive laminitis and he spent my holiday on box rest, tiring for me, not so bad for him - i spent my 2 weeks off babying him, occupying him, making him stable toys and did at least 5 visits daily to him and making sure he did not get bored and took him swimming/paddling a few times (great fun) :rolleyes: :) he has had a total of 3 weeks off work now

i was able to get back on saddle friday just gone and he is back in light work and is having a bit of turn out/grass and is as sound as a pound. he was not 'really' lame but was treated that way for precaution and not to aggrivate a bit of soreness in this legs

3 weeks off work including box rest, and he is a dream to ride (had advice to lunge first) and jumped in the saddle for a bit of walking and trotting - so proud of him and his behaviour - ive even been able to manage a bit of a outline in stand, walk and walking in counter bend and briefly in trott and this has been rewarding as normally for me walk and trott i rush to get to the canter and jumping, and i have enjoyed the playing that i have done in the last couple of days. i took him on a short hack sunday, and he strutted out of the yard actively and was a saint - i think he is appreciating this after box rest - he is lovely to ride and wondering how to proceed re how much exercise as schooling wise he is lovely (as you can imagine)!!!!! ???

after 10 days full box rest, to being allowed out just 2 hours in the afternoon, drummer is waiting at the gate for me after that time to be brought in :rolleyes: :) bless him

re recent goings on, i am quietly becoming a bit more independant with my horse and confident in making my own decisions and have found the break at home needed and me and drummer seem to have found 'an at peace' with each other and i have a great appreciation towards him- im just quietly enjoying him keeping my head down and seeing what happens at our yard. Drummer, me and amy are the important things and just try and let everything else happen around us and let some of the hurt settle

being stabled for so long and me being his chief entertainer/redcoat, he obviously greets me with MASSIVE neighs nickers and head tossing now which is very welcoming lol :) he also puts his ears flat back to other horses and warns them off when im around (im guessing he's protecting his food more than his mom) :) lol. he has followed me around the arena like a dog for the last few weeks which has been fun just to get out his stable, where i go he follows :p

i cant say i am estatic over wat has happened at our yard and the things i have heard and experienced, but i do feel mellow and relaxed and i am at peace with my riding and drummer and my 'change' in attitude towards riding -whoever/watever brought this about - and i WILL continue and work towards my showjumping next year but maybe slightly differently to what i have this year and more 'quietly'


it feels quite nice to have found some 'peace' with some decisions ive 'had' and choosen to make for various reasons - im not looking into the future and just enjoying what i have, taking all the pressure off myself and just 'seeing' what happens x

[Ross]

Hi there - great to hear from you again :)

I'm glad you have reached the peaceful state that you have; it's a shame it had to happen, but you might come out of it better off in the end.

Ross

[teabiscuit]

glad you're back D&D
hope Drummer is ok now

[Imp]

I'm glad you're feeling a bit more like it DD. You've given Drummer and yourself some much deserved TLC. Well done :D

[Dummer&Drummer]

thanks guys, yes drummer is as sound as a pound now, being eased gently back into work, but it wont be the sort of work he has been used to ;)

good points

im going to learn to school, appreciate it and enjoy the rewards (inc hopefully sj next year and a more relaxed attempt than what i have enjoyed this year - and i have loved it) and learn to long rein on a circle to help me and drummer in canter and take things a step at a time

im quiet, unlike the old DD (that bit makes me a bit sad that ive lost a lot of things riding and personal through that and im self protective and not as confident) but ive mellowed because what has happened and chilled, so that should come through in my riding, well apart from when im concentrating so hard i go rigid lol

im a bit more independant with any decisions re drummer and my riding

and more importantly its brought me closer to drummer, he's not just there to teach me to ride teaching me to ride and i am more compassionate towards him,(not that i was not anyway, but my priorities have changed) a bit more horse kind and listening to him more and praising - we are going back to basics me and drummer

ive found it suprising rewarding that me and flat work ri have been trying to teach him to drop his head carriage in stand still and asking him to let go (he would never do this), ive been able to gently school for the last 3 days and yesterday he was 'OFFERING' the head carriage as soon as we came to a halt without me really asking - he was praised immensley :) and it is coming in walk although i can not sustain it in trott - MY LEGS i think still not strong enough (tips would be great from you guys)

Ross - i think this may be for the best, im ok though and i think the one thing that sums up all i am trying to explain and write - is i wont get hurt like this (sad really) but i think it may do my riding good more long term to do and enjoyu the above, the 'buzz' of doing all i have after just 18 months and is short lived, this is something more solid for me and drummer to work towards, just sad why i had to come to these decisions and unsupported, but ive wrapped myself up in a bubble and im ok staying there for a while and see how things go xx

[teabiscuit]

im a bit more independant with any decisions re drummer and my riding


that can only be a good thing :)

[Tots N Dots]

I understand what you are trying to say :)
good on you babe, sometimes putting the walls up isnt nice but needed, I think you sound as if you and Drummer are becoming more of a team, thats nice, and you are right, its you, Amy and Drummer that are important here :D

[Guest]

that can only be a good thing :)

I agree, I have been encouraging DD to have more faith in her own judgment for a long time, she's not stupid and alot of the time it's just about thinking things through logically.

Things will be just fine, if I can figure things out then so can you and just remember, it's not the end of the world if you make a few 'errors' in judgement along the way. We all learn as we go along.

[Dummer&Drummer]

it is a good thing, im still a bit sad ive been made to feel i have to change myself though and had a bit of me taken away, ive learnt not to trust, this week someone told me what ri has said about me, but ill let this go over my head, the way i was feeling it was water off a ducks back, i could not have been hurting anymore than i was anyway so i could not get any more upset than i already was so...........i just taking time out to enjoy what is important and to take a step back from it all, im slightly confused by all that is going on anyway and a step back is probably the right move :rolleyes:

but riding wise and drummer wise my new approach can only be a good thing, something more solid to work on, build and learn some foundations and not rush things

[RustyMary]

Glad to see you back and sounding so positive DD :)

[NoviceNic]

It sounds like you have a good plan of action DD. Good to see your positive post. I did miss you. :( Dont think you have had to change the way you are, just think of it as an experience and keep your defences alert for the next attack gal. ;) Poor Drummer as least you seem to have caught it early. :)