Re: RC: Young Newbie

[David & Vicki Wheeler <dwheeler@icx.net>]

At 08:48 PM 10/19/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Linda Flemmer replied to:
>> recently while at a local indoor arena, he reared up on me for the
>> first time.  I heald him back until we got next to this group of
>> bushes. Yehaw! He reared, almost flipping us over backward, then we
>> jumped the bushes, not volunterily on my part, and ran back to the
>> barn.
>
>You need to seriously consider getting an experienced trainer to work
>with him before you are HURT!  Misbehaving & being hot headed are one
>thing.  His actions are dangerous now.  It is quite easy to be crippled
>or killed when a horse rears or runs back to a barn.

Linda is so accurate on this.  When I was 14 a horse spooked, reared & fell
over on me.  That was in 1976 so artificial joints weren't perfected the
way they are today.  I spent 18 months on crutches, had 2 major surgeries,
with the last one fusing my foot to my leg -- no ankle per se.  The only
reason they didn't ampute was because my doctor was willing to treat the
injury as a war wound.  

I have no flexion in my right "ankle" which limits lots of things -- no
heels over 3/4", no tall boots, no running (I can't even trot my own horse
out at vet checks), problems mounting from the left side (no spring to
propel this body).  

I consider myself lucky because in the past 23 years I have met folks with
less traumatic injuries than mine that did have to have amputations.  A
rearing horse is EXTREMELY dangerous & should not be tolerated.  I have
fallen plenty of times since then & am even stupid enough to have a 2.5
year old stallion as my next endurance prospect.  But I demand respect &
obedience from these massive, loving animals because I know first hand the
pain & agony they can put you through.

Please get some experienced training for your horse before you end up at
the emergency room.

Vicki Wheeler
Knoxville, TN


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