Well I seem to have found a share horse that is going to work out which is fabulous. I put up an advert detailing my experience and what I was looking for and about a month later Corry and Onno contacted me. They have a 17 year old ex-trotter called Fantastic One (yes, that is actually his name 
) but we call him Tazz or Tazzie. They don’t ride him anymore due to various reasons so had a couple of sharers. After losing one of them they contacted me. So a few weeks ago I went to try him out.
Well, he is so much like my old horse, Jeremy, personality wise it’s scary. He’s such a nice ‘person’. Yet when you get on board if you know what you are doing he has that extra zing to make life a bit more interesting (but put a 2 year old on him and he’s as safe as houses).
The first time I rode him we just went into the school, he does have some tricks he uses to try and evade your aids such as sticking his nose out in front as far as possible and shaking his head from side to side (no, there are no health problems, its just him being a ninny) while ‘talking’ – he is the chattiest horse I’ve ever know, very cute. Lots of transitions and leg and he realises this doesn’t work and starts to come softer and accept the contact. We still need to do a lot of work to get him swinging through from behind better but he is improving every time I ride him and is obviously a quick learner. I have a few of my own issues that I need to work on (like my stupid right arm which is far too stiff and tends to lock at either the elbow or shoulder, though weirdly if I lock at the elbow I still have a nice bend to it… I’m just weird. I then try and make my right arm relax and concentrate on that too much and I lose stability in my lower leg… fix that and my arm stiffens again, etc etc. Think I need to find an instructor to just yell at me )
Anyway, he’s also great out on the roads as well, we’ve been out for an explore and went up to the lake to have a paddle. We also had a nice fast canter (no gallop yet) while we were out which apparently makes me crazy as it was only the third time I’d sat on him – though personally I think the people who get on horses who have been stabled for 3 weeks without a hat on are crazy (yes, someone actually did this – different safety cultures I guess). Anyway, I got some pictures while we were out and about:
Having a paddle
A very tired sausage
“Stop taking photos and give me my dinner… I’m tired!!”
So I’m now riding 2 weeknights and Sundays which should be interesting through the winter! But it makes the riding in the summer all the more appreciated. We’re also hoping to get to the beach some time soon which will be amazing! Also, I have discovered that I am still able to fully muck out a straw bed in 10 minutes.
Going up this evening and just having a quiet stroll about as he had new shoes and the physio yesterday. The physio apparently commented on how well he’s moving at the moment due to the work I’ve been doing with him which made me feel very proud!
