Anyone believe in miracles?
I can hardly believe what I'm about to write. Pinch me and wake me up someone. I think that although he looked the same, I brought a different horse home from the hospital.
We set out on the winter farm ride and we turned a corner and there in front of us was the first fence, tyres. I felt him see it. I thought "oh here we go". Then he took trot, then he went to canter, then he cantered up to the fence and jumped it. And he carried on like that around the whole of the rest of the ride. Some fences he went in at trot, took a look to size it up and then popped carefully. Most, he took canter entirely of his own choice and jumped beautifully. Several, he speeded up and flew. The only time it went wrong was when we had just turned away from the quicker route home and had just passed a digger and a load of wierd stuff and he was tired after a long canter. I could feel him thinking backwards instead of forwards and I should have let him have time to look at it but I pushed him on. He refused the fence and then went and flew it easily the second time. By the way I had deliberately left off my spurs because I wanted to test his attitude.
He cantered and cantered and cantered. When I stopped him cantering he trotted. If I didn't make him walk he just went back to cantering again, as if out of pure joy that he was able to breathe. And he was really enjoying the jumps. He was not the same horse!
I think this must, surely, be definitive proof that the change I have noticed in his level of bravery is a result of the operation? - and WHAT an unexpected bonus! To say that I am pleased with this morning would be the understatement of the century. I even got so wet that my filthy coat got washed and no longer needs to go in the machine, and I didn't give a damn :-))))))))
C
posted by cptrayes @ 2:28 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Wow! This is the best post ever! I am so thrilled for you!
If this keeps up then the theory is proved. Jazz's bad attitude and "fear" of jumping was a fear of not being able to breathe. I guess it must be like a person with asthma, and the lack of oxygen can cause a panic attack?
Having gone through the ulcer thing with Tucker..and now I am sure a little back problem, as he is still reactive to that pressure point...I am growing more and more convinced that a large number of training behavior problems with horses are physical problems first.
The problem is to identify the problem. If a soundness exam doesn't work, then perhaps other tests are needed. I'd put ulcers up there as a prime suspect considering the statistics I've been reading. But what about breathing issues, blood problems, metalbolic problems, reactions to feed stuffs, allergies, etc.
I will grant that there are plenty of horses that have been badly trained and handled and have behavior problems as a result, but even in those cases, could it be that a physical issue still isn't influencing things?
Editorial over and on to the sheer joy you must have felt sailing over those jumps on Jazz. When you come back to earth, plese go out and give that big boy a hug from me. Tell him I never lost faith and I'm rooting for him to be the best darn event horse you could ever hope to ride.
And now, do you still have to take the risk of hunting? Any more farm rides going on? Any place to do some more schooling?
I am smiling for you.
Side note: Keep the ulcers in mind for Zip. Each time he worries about something, it could aggravate things. He is a lot like Tucker that way.
For a human, having one's airflow restricted is very, very frightening indeed.
Being enabled to breathe freely - even if it is through a tracheotomy - is a most liberating experience of relief and bliss.
One only has to read the stories of diphtheria treatment before the days of widespread vaccination to know that this is so.
Although a horse will not be psychologically affected in the same way as a human, the physical effects of increasing blockage of the airways will be similar - and the realisation of relief almost as dramatic.
Michaela
Jean I think hunting is probably out of the window. He was taking those fences on and enjoying every minute, so the risk is completely unnecessary since we have a whole winter to continue to train. The more he does the more he will realise what fun it is, and I can see him getting too strong and needing holding back yet! It nearly happened today a couple of times.
I agree with you that there are behaviour problems in horses that no-one realises are physical in cause. Tetley failed to round up when carrying my amount of weight in a fixed tree saddle. (ML has a plastic tree and is at most 60% of my weight, so is fine!) Smartie cribbed when he had a foot abcess brewing and never any other time. Jazz had issues, being a horse that likes to be in control, with not being able to get enough air. I think about Zip and ulcers a lot and I'm monitoring him day by day. If the meds weren't so expensive he'd be on them just as a precaution.
Michaela one of the wonderful things, which you might not get with an adult human because they know what their situation is, is that I can feel him trying things and then saying to himself "hey, that didn't make me ache, lets do some more and see what happens then!" He is "unlocking" as the days go by and he realises the extent of his freedom to move. It's the best darned money I've ever spent!
C
WOAW what a GREAT report! And it reinforces what Mark Rashid says about horses they WANT to get along with us ...
When they do not, it is because they have a problem !!!
I am so pleased for you. It is really nice to hear your enthusiam and Jazz's too.
You must be so happy ;-)
I'm grinning from ear to ear with you - what a fantastic outcome!!! Any pics??
Have you thought of trying an antacid with Zip? far far cheaper than ulcer treatment and works for a lot of horses with ulcer type symptoms. Feedmark make a very good spec one called Settlex.
Cassie
everyone else has said pretty much most of what i would have said.
save for one thing.
pre novice? intro? Novice? i reckon you'll be able to aim high with this lad. his only limit will be yours....
Wow! I can't resist adding my voice to the rest. What a fantastic outcome! While giving the obligatory but genuine nod to life's essentials, this kind of experience with a horse is right up there at the top.
ML
I'll checkout Settlex Cassie. No pics, it was raining and Superhubby was tucked up in the lorry.
Thanks everyone, I was thrilled and I'm still thrilled. I just knew you'd all be happy too!
Claire, first event in 08 is Stafford at the beginning of April. We'll probably start at Intro but aim to go Pre-novice just as soon as we can. It's not the size that matters to him so it shouldn't take long. My eventual hope would be to get him to Novice, which is huge and certainly enough for me. I'm not sure we'll get there, because I may not have enough courage for it any more. At least I've got confidence we'll be eventing next year now :-)
I plan a winter of minor showjumping competitions indoors and training sessions over showjumps and cross country - the course I use mostly is open all year round. I won't have to get him, or keep him, too fit if he's not going hunting, so hacking can stay a relaxation for us both.
He has three days off now due to my commitments, which will allow him to recover from the enormous increase in activity today, and hopefully leave him stronger still.
I feel like singing :-)
C
C
Thats absolutely BRILLIANT news!! Chuffed to bits for you:)))
Do you know that it is most inappropriate to sit in court with a big grin on your face? I had to keep wiping it off. It's back now, and it'll probably last at least the weekend. I'll let you know on Monday, when I'm back in circulation.
C
ps the other thing making me grin is the most fantastic pictures of Tetley on Mary Lou's blog - take a look if you haven't seen them.
http://web.mac.com/clsmfmly
Now we will really see what the boy has to offer!
SO PLEASED for you both :-) Happy days, and can't wait for next season - think your fears about not being able to match Felix may not really materialise!
BTW, I have sorted out the glitch on my blog that was messing up your comments - thanks for that, and have replied - incidentally Monsoon is another horse who had "behaviour" issues that were purely physical...There are a lot of them about!
Congrats again, and looking forward to hearing more :-)
Well there is a distinct possibility that I'll be able to give you a run for your money now!
C
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