Latest disaster!!

ladywiththebaby

ladywiththebaby

Active Member
Mar 6, 2007
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OK so today did not go to plan.

The good part of the day though was that the pony (Meg) was not bothered by the wind at all. Phew!

However, one of the first things I discovered about her was that she had only been broken to ride 4 months ago. Oh dear. I appeciate for any 'normal' rider that would be fine but I really want something that really knows their job and that I don't need to educate (because I don't have a school, the time or the confidence to do it). She's always been driven though so was fantastic in traffic and on the roads and totally unspooky.

Anyway, the seller gets on and does a bit on the school in walk and trot. I asked if she'd canter her to be told, "oh she doesn't really know how to canter in the school". Fair enough given her background but again, just not what I'm after. Seller tries but fails to get her to canter - she just rushes and runs on in trot.

So she gives up and we go out for a hack. Daughter takes a 13h ish nutty, sharp pony (her words) to accompany me. She really didn't understand me when I asked her to trot on the road - her sides just didn't seem to register anything. She also liked to walk in the middle of the road (again due to driving) and I just could not get her to move over unless I walked her forwards on a diagonal line (again understandable but just not what I want).

First opportunity for a canter. I'm told she may try and rush but to try and get a steady trot first. We start to trot then canter. I'm trying desperately to get my pony to canter but she's just speeding up in trot (which to a nervous rider feels like she's running away - even though my rational brain does really know she's not). Pony in front is all over the place - mainly up and down and side to side - just not forwards! Meg decides we can't possibly wait for him and so overtakes him (I could not stop her! :eek:) and canters off! I let her go for a bit (because I am a wuss I worry that if I argue with them when they're worried they will buck me off) and after a while I asked her to slow and stop, which she did. Phew. But I was shaken.

Anyway, the next grassy track owner asks if I'd like to trot. I say "yes but I'd like to be far away from your back end please" to which I was told, "oh he only does that in canter, he won't do that in trot". Wrong.

Starts to trot, Meg gets very excited thinking we're going to canter, I'm telling her no we aren't we are trotting, which apparently wasn't the right answer and Meg starts trying to sneak around small pony in front. To which, he replies with a swift kick DIRECTLY. TO. MY. KNEE!!!! :cry:

Cue a huge amount of crying, swearing and panicing as Meg is still merrily trotting off and I can't remember how to ride as I'm worried if my knee cap has actually been split in half.

Luckily she responds to voice commands so she did come back to a walk and then stood while I swore A LOT. It hurt so much. If I could have got off I would have but I knew we were far from home and walking would be more painful, plus I wouldn't have wanted to or have been physically able to get back on as it was my left leg if I had.

So walked home with me crying silent tears all the way home - not just from pain but because I know with every viewing I'm getting worse and I don't know how much more of this I can do. I now have a new thing to worry about when hacking - what if I can't get the horse to stay well behind the one in front and I get kicked again. :cry:
 
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Oh blimey! So sorry to hear you had another unsuccessful viewing, did you do any damage to the knee or is it just bruising?

Maybe take a break for a while and start looking again after a month or so and in the meantime have some riding lessons to help regain your confidence.
 
Oh dear.. look on the positive though, she came back to you, you slowed her, she responded to your voice... it was the other nutty horse that did the damage - you did not come off!!!!
You did it!
Ok so shes totally not suitable for you and the seller (bangs head) should have been a heck of a lot more honest... but you go girl you dealt with that! Next time you will hold back a bit more.... we all learn from experience and thats what makes us better!
Glad your ok and plenty of ibuprofen tonight but take pride from what you achieved... she cantered off yet came back and you had the confidence to trot again.... I say well done xxx
 
Did the owner disclose that horse had only been broken a few months ago?? Please don't think you are getting worse, you just haven't found your idea partner. Hope your knee feels better soon, that's an incredibly painful thing to happen!
 
Oh dear I really feel for you at the mo, I'm tempted to say would your budget stretch to a Criollo ? (just thinking allowed and you may think I'm barking). Healing vibes for your knea. ever thought of going bigger!:ninja:
 
Oh blimey that sounds like a complete disaster :frown: ! I hope your knee is just bruised and not properly damaged and that you're on the mend soon.
 
What an absolutely awful viewing for you. Sounds like a driving pony with the trotting in the middle of the road. I would have been crying a swearing if I got kicked too. Hope it is not hurting as much now.

I can understand where you are comming from with the wanting a ready made pony I went for that being a novice rider. I feel though not 100% bombproof on the whole Eva does not panick or spook to often so I can concentrate on my riding and my position, instead of having to school her.

Keep looking but do take care of your confidence hun, it is easily broken :)
 
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Oh dear. Not good... again :(

TBH all your bad experiences have been down to the owners not beng honest and are in NO WAY your fault at all.

You should have been told about how green this mare was in the first place. And the owner should have been more responsible. I wouldn't worry too much about it happening again. I know plenty of horses (mine included) that if you can't stop, just go into the back of them. My boy has been shunted a few times, as well as shunting a few other too.

I just really hope your luck starts to change soon. Because that's all it is... bad luck and not your ability!
 
Ouch you poor thing.. i hope your knee isnt too painfull for you now.

It was rather naughty in my opinion of the owners of the horse to allow tht to happen, 1. with the horse you went to try as i assume t isnt the truth wht was advertised!!!! and 2 they must of known the other ponys habbits and how it behaves etc..

Please dnt let it put you off .
 
That's excellent cantering on a horse that's only been backed for four months! You are far braver and calmer than I am :)

Keep searching and remember that you can say no as soon as you feel something is not right eg young horse ( you will hear the alarm bells next time). Chin up it sounds like you did great.
 
Ouch - agree with what others have already said in that you didnt fall off and you managed to get the mare to come back to you.

If it were me, i'd either take some time out for a couple of weeks or only look at horses that are known to people who know both you and them. Has the lady at the RS got anything else in the pipeline that might be suitable

Dont give up hope just yet - the right horse is out there for you
 
Og dear LWTB poor you and healing vibes on the way. You can completey ignore this if you want but I really think you should take a break and get back to riding at your RS or another hacking yard where you can just get your confidence back hacking and schooling and remembering why you are putting yourself through this.

I love reading your posts but each one brings me down and I really want you to enjoy the experience of horse owership not the bad expereinces your are currently having,
 
Is the Horseworld one of the most exasperating places EVER !!

Well at least you are OK, no real harm done, you managed to stay on
and ride home which is more than a lot of people would do...........

Look at it this way.........riding all these Horses is actually improving
your riding:bounce: But I appreciate its not doing much for your
confidence.

Ask around AGAIN, bug every Horsey person you know, tell them exactly
what you are looking for, put notices up in tack shops etc.

I am still convinced your Horse is out there, you just have to get thro'
the sh*te to find the right one:wink:
 
CRIKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!

All of your experiences so far are down to dishonest sellers and are no way down to you.

Try and see today in a slightly different way, today you rode a pony who has been broken in for four months, you hacked out and even felt confident enough to try and canter!!! there are many people who are perfectly confident who wouldn't have the guts to do that.....give yourself a big pat on the back!! :dance:
 
OMG poor you. Bloody sellers :timebomb:

All you can do is be completely honest on the phone to sellers and explain exactly what you what and be as clear as you can be on that.

I really feel for you and your poor knee. Have to say though that I am seriously impressed at what you did on such a green horse. I'm sure that many of us on New Rider wouldn't have done what you did so don't put yourself down xx :wink:
 
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