Watty's Awakening

savingholmes

Sorry about CC. Sorry MH is not behaving. Glad you still get to have cuddles with CC though.

Cherryfudge

Watty1 said:

 acting like a giraffe on a pogo stick. 

This image is going to stick with me.

PennysIntoPounds

I know you're sensible and clever but make sure you're not letting emotions about CC cloud your horsie judgement. There is of course accepted risk with everything anyone does and enjoys, but if you don't feel safe or aren't enjoying it, stop.
You don't have to prove anything to yourself or any of the horses or anyone else.
Here endeth Pip's stern lecture 😁

Brewerspride

I shouldn't laugh but the giraffe on a pogo stick did make me giggle.  It will be interesting to see how FP's rider handles MH.

Watty1

PennysIntoPounds said:

I know you're sensible and clever but make sure you're not letting emotions about CC cloud your horsie judgement. There is of course accepted risk with everything anyone does and enjoys, but if you don't feel safe or aren't enjoying it, stop.
You don't have to prove anything to yourself or any of the horses or anyone else.
Here endeth Pip's stern lecture 😁

This is a good lecture.  The bottom line is I stopped jumping MH because I don't enjoy fizzy horses, I like the calm measured approach to life of CC.  I feel he is safe and reliable and I think that is part of my emotional response to his sudden and enforced retirement, in all the upset before I left PPH CC was there, listening, we spent hours during covid walking around the countryside, exploring pathways and chatting.  CC helped my emotional health and is part of the reason I was strong enough to leave.    CC has been a rock and he still will be but part of our life has gone.  It is, in part, touching the trauma of PPH times.

MH is a drama queen, surprising me sometimes with his sensible head but mostly drama queen over nothing. 

Watty1

The above comment made me look at my vision board. I think it is time for a new one.  Dreams have had to change.  The current board has lots of pictures of things CC and I were going to to together and pictures of the barn conversion that is currently on hold.   

I've no idea what my new board will be. Or even where to begin with that. 

KajiKita

Do you think you can ever get MH to a place where you will both enjoy jumping, in a controlled, safe, pleasurable way? I know diddly about horses or riding really, but it seems like you are on a hiding to nothing here? You’ve invested a lot of time and effort in him already but it’s not coming together? Like I say, I know nothing of this so may well be talking through my elbow! 😉😊

Or could you bring in a loaned horse that you could trial-ride elsewhere and get to know a bit before you bring them in. Assuming you could cover the cost of the extra feed etc.?

KK

Baldybear

Watty1 said:

PennysIntoPounds said:

I know you're sensible and clever but make sure you're not letting emotions about CC cloud your horsie judgement. There is of course accepted risk with everything anyone does and enjoys, but if you don't feel safe or aren't enjoying it, stop.
You don't have to prove anything to yourself or any of the horses or anyone else.
Here endeth Pip's stern lecture 😁

This is a good lecture.  The bottom line is I stopped jumping MH because I don't enjoy fizzy horses, I like the calm measured approach to life of CC.  I feel he is safe and reliable and I think that is part of my emotional response to his sudden and enforced retirement, in all the upset before I left PPH CC was there, listening, we spent hours during covid walking around the countryside, exploring pathways and chatting.  CC helped my emotional health and is part of the reason I was strong enough to leave.    CC has been a rock and he still will be but part of our life has gone.  It is, in part, touching the trauma of PPH times.

MH is a drama queen, surprising me sometimes with his sensible head but mostly drama queen over nothing. 

Delurking to say know how you feel.  My first pony ex riding school was arabxwelsh only 13.2 and i trusted him with my life, we didnt do water or jumping, cat leaping lol not my style but we loved to hack anywhere and je was my escape.  When he died so did a little piece of me, my username reflects him.  I jumped in quite quick with a new one french trotterxcob and about 15.3hh and a mare lol and ended up with an unhandled yearling who i had for 7 years and although she was lovely she was a little bit feisty and was always a little bit scared of her.  When dd came along i sold her to a good new home as no money or time and was pleased, if it had been old pony would never have sold loved him too much.

Would love one day to get another but always wantt them to be like the first and prob nothing will ever live up to that.  Animals are so rewarding and also so hard too.  Can imagine its like a loss and you are grieving even though he is still with you.  Take time and big hugs, yoy have shown so much resilience and come so far ☺️

Watty1

@Baldybear I totally understand your feelings about the first horse.     @KajiKita I think Most Handsome will be fine, we just need to get used to each other again.  He has had so many sick notes in his past and retired maybe 3 times that all this being ridden is maybe just so exciting.  Years ago I taught him a complex move (changing legs in canter for the horse people) and he was so proud of it that he would happily do it for fun, even on the road where canter was unasked for, he just wanted to show off!

I hadn't meant to jump him really but the woman was booked so we had a go. 

Most Handsome has been jumped by BabyFell person today. She loves jumping and was so happy to try him - and he had a blast. We came to the conclusion he was just over excited and I'm so used to Charming Cob that my brain had a meltdown at the excitement because Charming Cob has always thought that excitable silly is a waste of energy.   

So far, this year Most Handsome has tried dressage (he was a star) Working Equitation (not going near the long stick thingy anytime soon but quickly grasped the point of the rest and we will do more of this) and Jumping and it is only the 2nd February. Once the summer comes he will be fine, he is always so much better when the sun and warm weather is with us.   He will be entering a Working Equitation competition this summer because CC was doing it, and now that is off the cards Most Handsome can take his place. 

I do not have the grass, the time or really the money for another horse, so, until BabyFell leaves home with his person which will happen one day I think, then we will just carry on as we are, and I can work on the other goals for now.

KajiKita

Ah, okay so MH has the will, the skill and the intelligence, just not quite the self control yet. 😊 And you need to get used to ‘rolling with’ his style … 😉
(I love that Charming Cob is so mature and sensible that he views excitable silly as a waste of energy - he sounds like such a solid, grounded character ❤️). 

You sound more upbeat about the whole thing. I’m glad. 

KK