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    Re: [RC] [RC] horse uninterested on training rides (LONG) - Tamara Woodcock


    I just have to relate a funny tale on this theme:

    My first LD was in January 1998, the then Cleburne Clop, now Meanwhile Back at the Ranch.

    Wildfire was my best friend from our collective childhoods and endurance was one in a long line of interests for us. Wildfire always knew the difference between practive and "for real", most of the time to my detriment, as he had a wicked sense of timing. He was a palomino blanket appy, 15 at the time, and we had been everywhere and done everything. This horse died in JUly 1999 due to a dead section of lower intestine and and infection from that. But back to the story...

    I was a bit scared of endurance, I mean the word even sounds scary. Someone said "rocks" and I padded his shoes, someone said beet pulp, so I changed feeding programs, read up on supplements. Worried, I way overtrained for this ride. This horse had had years of solid base on trails and was very well trained (very trail wise, had done playdays, wp, h/j, a real jack of all trades). I was doing 10 miles every other day on weekdays on both saturday and sunday, at about a 10-12 mph pace, hoping this would allow me to finish back of the pack <g> I was also working a bit on my sister's Arab, Falcomaar, for her to ride too.

    Wildfire got tired of my trail, as I only had the one, and stared getting a bit barn sour, but not bad barn sour. And he started not liking being saddled and bridled, gets grumpy alot <g>. Checked saddle fit, etc. No problems found.

    So our first ride and I made sure to tell my sister to go slower than slow, as Falcomaar was not as conditioned as Wildfire <g> And we set off at a trot.

    Wildfire was fine through 1st vet check, about 2 hours of riding, but the weather fromt he previous night and sheer stress were sure getting to me. I held long in the check to get up my nerve to go out again. My sister caught me in the vet check, her horse trucking along, happy as a clam. I steeled myself to go back out for last 10 miles...

    About 5 miles in, Wildfire just stopped dead, refused to pick up a trot. He was perfectly willing to walk, just no more trotting. But then the walk becasme more of a plod with head hanging and dragging feet. And I'm terrified. I get him to keep walking, and we walk the last 5 miles in, making cut off by 20 minutes And Sister and Falcomaar come in right with us, having caught us about 1 mile out. Horses vetted in fine though vet said Wildfire looked a bit tired. I'm still worried. Wildfire peed at the trailer, and it was just a little bit darker at end than the first part. I drag him to the vet in tears. Vets says he's fine.

    So back home after ride, I give Wildfire a week off then go for a training ride. 2 miles from barn, he stops, won't trot more than 3 steps at a time, hang dog, dead tired, etc. So back to barn for more time off. I'm sure I've killed him, he'll never bee rideable again, endurance is cruel and evil, and I am the most horrid person alive. Did I mention that I was going through a divorce and Wildfire was my "only child" and best friend?

    Another few days later, we go for a training ride. same problem. He "dies" at about 2nd mile. I get off sit and cry. He grazes. I get back on to head for barn. At the trail head (down a hill) I can see my friend coming out on trail with Wildfire's buddy. His ears perk up and he starts trotting, asking for more rein. Meet buddy horse, and he settles down immediately. Follow buddy (a dressage queen) on their "long" ride, about a mile out and back <g>, and Wildfire steps out whole time, asking for rein, wants to lead, jumps the creeklets, acts perfectly fine. Hmmm.. so what's up with Wildfire? I'm thinking I might have been played for a fool...

    Two days later we try again. This time I carry a crop! At about 1 mile, Wildfire stops again, won't trot, plods at a walk, hanging head, etc. I settle myself firmly in the saddle, grab a hadful of mane and WHACK! right on the butt. Wildfire jumps forward, and and cow kicks. I ask politely for a walk again, and we start plodding. I ask for more walk, and he ignores me. WHACK! WHACK! You could practically see the gears turning in this head. He walks out with more purpose, a normal free walk. I ask for a trot. He trots a few steps, grunting, then falls back to a plod. WHACK! WHACK! He picks up a jog trot, (Wildfire was a western pleasure horse at heart) then starts to slack off again, WHACK!. Trot goes back to normal. Did 6 miles like that, 3 out and 3 back. Every time he slacked off, asked once with my legs, then hit with the crop. He was a bit peeved at me. Next day, I took him out again. Only had to hit him once that day.

    I miss that $%^&* old horse.

    -Tamara

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