sense of self-preservation (the equine variety)

[RISTREE@aol.com]

Hey folks!

I'm in need of a good dose of reality from some of you old timers (ahem!  I 
mean experienced long distance riders) . . . 

Have been riding for a long time, doing long distance for the last three 
years with a couple of different horses.  Sold one to purchase a youngster 
that would be more competitive.

He's a 5 y.o. Arab/Trakehner gelding and extremely athletic.  I've been 
riding him nearly a year, and he's done well in a couple of 25 mile ECTRA 
CTRs.  Good recoveries, drinks, eats, has terrific gaits, and is generally 
bold and trustworthy.  His most significant challenge (and mine) is his 
unpredictability.  Much of it was chalked up to being a youngster, but 
combining the occasional brain fart with the extreme athleticism has landed 
me on the ground more times in the last year than I believe I've fallen off 
in all my years previous.  And a concussion.

Yesterday's event concerned me the most.  Cantering up a logging road with 
woods on my right and a serious wooded slope on the left, Boy Wonder spooked 
at object unknown.  Okay, I can handle that.  But he went left off the edge 
of the road, over the slope, and after several long seconds of struggling 
(both of us) for any semblance of balance, I landed with an unceremonious 
thud of my helmet against a tree.  He almost fell, but was stopped by his 
same body part hitting same tree.  He's uninjured, and mostly so am I.

However . . .   what are the chances that this guy just doesn't have the 
strong sense of self preservation required for our sport?  He's a talented 
dressage horse, and could be *just* that, but I'm wondering if any of you 
have experienced the same bizarre behavior in a young horse and found that 
the horse did, or did not, grow out of it with miles and consistent training.

Yesterday was just the most recent of many, many such "out of the clear blue" 
episodes, but clearly, an unplanned jump over a ledge does disturb my own 
sense of self preservation <chuckle>.

Anxiously awaiting your brilliant words of wisdom, and sorry to blather on.

Patti (bruised, but not broken) and Ned (really Mom, whatever it was that 
spooked me was vewwwwy, vewwwy scary!)


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=