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A Long Update!

1K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  dressagexlee 
#1 ·
I thought I'd update you guys on what's happening between me and Freddy (see this thread, please).
So, I got the full details on the actual fall, since a only remember a fuzzy slide of it. We were cantering on a twenty meter circle at the C end (which I recall, I believe I was preparing for simple lead change serpentine). We came around to R, and Freddy put his head between his knees and let fly three massive bucks (keep in mind, he's also 17.2 hands). I sat through them (!), and I had taken full contact on the curb rein (pelham bit), and I was steadily pulling on it to bring his head up (I recall this thought going through my head). It worked, and he lifted his head, but kicked out to the right, catching me off guard and throwing me off his left side into the wall.
One of our riding buddies witnessed this, as she was trotting behind us at the time.

Freddy's owner had both his front legs injected last week, without first getting him examined. This would not have been the way I would've approached it (considering horses don't buck if their front legs hurt), but it's not my choice to make. We think it was either the lumbo-sacral gap, or something in his back out of alignment or locked.
But, the good news is that he's back to his old self. Really. Paige has been taking care of him and she says that he's absolutely crazy with a lack of work (he's still on light work after the injection), but he's showing no signs of discomfort or pain. He's been playing his usual games, and he's gone back to his surly attitude! Flexions, stretches, and massages are done daily to assess his soundness, and he's passing good enough. His legs are still a little heated, though, so he's getting rubbed down with dynamint and given a little bit of bute (and we are thinking of all sorts of sneaky ways to get it to him!).

I got to go and see him for the first time since the fall last night, and he greeted me in his usual manner: pinning his ears back, baring his teeth, then proceeding to act all cute for me! That's my boy.

The only thing that is bothering me is the rumors and comments surfacing at the barn. People are pushing the blame on Freddy: he's an aggressive and dangerous horse. He's too tall for her and she should've never been riding him. What was her trainer thinking? He's too much horse for her. He almost killed her. She's never going to ride him again. And on and on.
To be honest, I never regret having met Freddy, he's taught me so much and I've turned around and I'm teaching him in return. And never once have I thought of him as being too much for me. He's never done anything worse than throw a farting kick to the side, and he's put up with so many of my mistakes, more than I could ever credit him for: my quirky and ever-changing position, my experiments with different thing, my short-tempered days, my losses in confidence. He's taken me to my first real shows, he's taught me the beginnings of feel, and he's begun my journey as a horseperson. I don't care if he almost killed me, he didn't do it on purpose. He was hurt by something, and he spoke to me loud and clear. I just let my guard down and fell in the wrong direction, that's all! ~

We are ending the lease in a few monthes, but not because of the accident. We've been planning this since November, because it's time for us to move on to different horses. Even though I've been priviledged with a show-jumper that has tried hard to learn to be a dressage horse, I need to start on real dressage, with different horses.

But that's not to say that I won't get back on him again! I have something to prove here; to the other boarders, to my trainers, to Freddy, and to my self. When my concussion passes and I'm fit again, I'll get back on him.


Next time I see him, I'm giving him the biggest hug I can, I don't care that he will probably pick me up and shake me like a bagged ostrich! <3 That's Freddy's affection for you!
 
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#3 ·
That's great to hear! Don't let what others say bother you, you obviously ride him well, and handled the situation the best you could. You can't blame a horse for being in pain. Can't wait to hear how your first ride back goes!
:]
 
#4 ·
I can't tell you how many times my parents have said this about Ice, and he's only 16hh. Perhaps that's why rumors haven't started yet? He's bucked once, taken off from a stand still to a gallop (when i fell off) and they have actually suggested i send him to the meat market! I also plan on getting back on him as soon as I buy myself a new saddle, just to prove to myself that I didn't waste all of my money for nothing!

Having said that, be safe about your need to prove yourself! We don't want to read any articles on what a horrible death you faced.
 
#5 ·
Thanks guys!

They gave me the okay to go to the barn and watch my sister ride and help with small things like grooming. And it's a good thing, too.
She actually got kicked in the head last night. She has been exercising a green (and apparently starting to become a problem for the owners, as they didn't mention when she took the job), four year-old warmblood for the owners, as they are at the olympics. Well, this horse bucked her off yesterday, and he's been bucking all week (and the owner only made this clear last night that he's been doing this), so she decided to take him in the round pen the free lunge and burn some energy off.
He got down to roll, which is okay, but he was right beside the wall and we didn't want him to get cast. So she tried so encourage him back to his feet with the rope, but... when he got up, he kicked out. Hit her on the forehead.
Luckily, she's alright. It's safe to assume a mild concussion, and she's decided to take the rest of the month off from riding. We're just going to have to figure out something for Freddy; normally I would take over and ride him the full five days a week we have him for, but I guess we're both out for now.
 
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