My final replace noticed Mr The Aristocracy and I getting ready for our first present on Aug. 5, a hunter/jumper present at an area barn close by. It was meant to be a beautiful little education present, solely 10 minutes away, only a good outing to see what sort of horse we’re working with within the atmosphere. The good factor about these reveals is you could ship in and college over the jumps the day earlier than, so it’s very pleasant to inexperienced horses permitting them to see every thing. Or so we thought…
Let’s rewind a pair weeks, quickly after my final weblog got here out, eight days earlier than the horse present. The large horse was working actually properly and we had been having a few of our greatest rides. On one explicit trip, we had simply completed a bunch of canter work over poles engaged on straightness and striding, and he was completely good and centered. As we rounded our final nook of canter earlier than transitioning down to finish the trip, he slipped, or tripped – I’m nonetheless not even positive because it occurred so quick. All I do know is, I felt him battle and go down. Fortunately we had been cantering, in order he fell I received pitched ahead and didn’t find yourself beneath one other horse. My knee and my head took the brunt of the autumn. After I realized what had occurred, Mr The Aristocracy was already up and my first thought was “Crap, I’m going to must chase him across the farm to catch him.” However he instantly circled and came visiting to examine on me. He seemed shell-shocked like he had no clue what simply occurred.
Total, we had been each very fortunate: my helmet undoubtedly prevented a serious damage and I escaped with solely unhealthy bone bruising on my proper knee and delicate concussion signs that basically solely lasted about 48 hours. Mr The Aristocracy additionally appeared to flee the incident with minor physique soreness and only a small superficial nick on his pastern.
We did loads of stretching and Bemer remedies for the subsequent 4 days, and by the point we rode once more he seemed and felt nice. I shoved my swollen, very bruised leg into my half chap and on we went.
We schooled over some jumps on the present venue on the Sunday, the day earlier than the present. The large horse was truly fairly good; we undoubtedly had quite a bit to work on however there was loads of positives popping out of the train.
Mr The Aristocracy noticed two horses education within the ring beside us towards the tip of the trip, and he now not may operate on the duty at hand, so we did decide to drop out of the .60m jumpers and into the cross rail jumpers. Because it was his first present, we knew there is likely to be challenges, and simply figured even when he’s extraordinarily distracted he can get his 17-hand physique round a course of cross rails safely.
My expectations for the present had been easy: to achieve worthwhile expertise in a present atmosphere, don’t fall off, and to make it out and in of the present ring safely. Two out of three issues occurred – fortunately for me I didn’t fall off! We did NOT make it into the present ring.
What we realized is that we have to begin doing all the issues off-property efficient instantly, and introduce all the distractions. Mr The Aristocracy received off the trailer and mainly misplaced his thoughts and couldn’t deal with the ambiance. Ahead was not a course he remembered – solely backwards and spinning in circles. My coach managed handy stroll him with me on him across the warm-up ring however he was not in a position to operate.
We determined to scratch all 4 courses, untack and easily hang around by the present rings till he relaxed. It took a number of hours however by the tip, the explosions had been fewer and much between. Apart from the time when a pony got here up behind him and he virtually fell down spooking at it, I hoped he gained sufficient expertise that the subsequent present might be far much less stunning for him.
With the Thoroughbred Makeover looming within the very close to future, and Mr The Aristocracy needing to be taught in a short time that displaying is enjoyable and never overwhelming, we entered one other native education present, this one dressage, on Aug. 17. We stored it easy getting into solely the three stroll/trot courses; wanting him to be taught to calm down within the atmosphere and go forwards as an alternative of backwards was the primary purpose, so we simply wished to maintain it enjoyable and light-weight.
I’m comfortable to report that his second present was significantly better than his first. I deliberate to reach further early, simply to let him stroll round see all of the rings, take a look at every thing, graze and calm down. This labored very properly as we had been the primary ones there, so he was in a position to watch the horses trickle in slowly vs. displaying as much as 50 horses wandering round.
He held it collectively fairly properly, so I tacked up and received on to heat up half-hour earlier than our first take a look at. He had a number of points within the warm-up the place he was very excited, tense and unfocused however we went ahead! We made it to our first take a look at and he surpassed our purpose for the day: calm down sufficient to get a warm-up accomplished and end a take a look at. He was tense and a bit naughty all through the take a look at however we completed the entire thing! The choose even commented that he seemed like a really proficient horse however was a little bit of a “problem.” Boy did she hit that nail on the top!
Mr The Aristocracy accomplished all three exams and received higher and extra relaxed each time. We even received a 7 on our free stroll! He had some moments of absolute brilliance – even among the bystanders commented on how good of a horse he’s – and he additionally had some undoubtedly child moments. There’s nonetheless quite a bit to work on with connection and rest, however I used to be so pleased with the change from present 1 to indicate 2.
There was just one pony at this present, however Mr The Aristocracy did stare it down prefer it was from outer house, so we do have to work on the truth that regardless of most ponies being brats, they may in truth not eat him. Thank goodness most OTTBs ought to be over 13 fingers so he hopefully gained’t see any little Martians on the Makeover!
The purpose for the subsequent few weeks is to take part in additional reveals – actually ALL OF THE SHOWS – and taking him off property as a lot as attainable to make sure he understands displaying isn’t any large deal. I’m additionally an in a single day present to present {that a} trial run, so hopefully that works out as properly.
It’s crunch time now because the weeks wind all the way down to the Makeover so fingers crossed we proceed to progress hiccup-free for the subsequent six weeks!
The Jockey Membership helps many aftercare initiatives together with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the one accrediting physique in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which inspires the retraining of Thoroughbreds into different disciplines upon completion of careers. View all the initiatives supported by The Jockey Membership.
