That was two years ago. And we are still no nearer solving Dara's puzzle. The cycle goes on and on. Dara is good, sweet, obliging, only occasionally stroppy, and (sometimes) even interested in doing something like work. We have enjoyable hacks out, and short schooling sessions where we seem to be making real progress. We can walk, trot, and canter very nicely, and without arguments. We can even pop over a low cross-pole jump, which Dara seems to enjoy. And just as I'm thinking the Bad Times are finally over - he does it again. The full, explosive bucking bronco bit - out of the blue and for no apparent reason.
The last time he did it ( back in the school again, fortunately) I'd only just that second sat on him. He'd been gentle as a lamb to tack up, and lead round - almost dozy, in fact. He was in no way stressed, or excited. Nor was I - he'd schooled beautifully the day before, and I was expecting only another short-but-sweet little session. The day was warm, calm and windless. There was nothing at all to spook him.
I led him to the mounting block , got aboard cleanly, and said 'Walk on.' As he took his first step, Dara wobbled a little, and his left leg brushed against the mounting block....
Six gigantic gazelle-leaps later, I was on the floor, being gently scraped up by a hansome but shocked workman who had been plastering a nearby wall and had run to help this maiden-in-distress. So, we were back to Square One, it seemed - and the manly arms so caringly around me did absolutely nothing to cheer me up !
I have tried every kind of check and therapy I can muster. Dara has always had his teeth and shoes tended regularly, and his saddle checked for fit countless times. There have been a whole variety of consultations with vets, back specialists, chiropractors, McTimoney practitioners - even a reading with a psychic horse- whisperer. ( Why not try everything ?) Most of the time there is nothing, or very little, to see. So we do the recommended exercises, and all seems well - till next time. The consensus thinking at present is that the root of the trouble could be a nerve that occasionally gets trapped somehwere. The next stage, then, would be to have scans done, and possibly surgery - all very expensive! And meanwhile Dara grazes and grows fat, vastly enjoying being purely a pet, without a care in the world. ( He should have my vet bills !)
With hindsight, would I have done anything differently ? Hmmm.... I could have been sensible, of course, taken the vet's advice and not bought Dara at all. But like I said, it seems I don't do sensible, where horses and money are concerned.
Perhaps I should have done more diagnostic tests earlier on, and at last saved some time. With an older horse this would have made a lot of sense. But everyone thought Dara, being young and immature, would simply grow out of it; after all, he had never had a fall racing, or any other injury. Maybe I should have worked him harder, sooner, and brought the problem to a head early on ? So many maybe's....
Ah well, we are where we are. Dara is fat, idle, and happy as a little piggy, and I'm saving up to fund the next round of investigations. Maybe I need my head straightening out... ?
The last time he did it ( back in the school again, fortunately) I'd only just that second sat on him. He'd been gentle as a lamb to tack up, and lead round - almost dozy, in fact. He was in no way stressed, or excited. Nor was I - he'd schooled beautifully the day before, and I was expecting only another short-but-sweet little session. The day was warm, calm and windless. There was nothing at all to spook him.
I led him to the mounting block , got aboard cleanly, and said 'Walk on.' As he took his first step, Dara wobbled a little, and his left leg brushed against the mounting block....
Six gigantic gazelle-leaps later, I was on the floor, being gently scraped up by a hansome but shocked workman who had been plastering a nearby wall and had run to help this maiden-in-distress. So, we were back to Square One, it seemed - and the manly arms so caringly around me did absolutely nothing to cheer me up !
I have tried every kind of check and therapy I can muster. Dara has always had his teeth and shoes tended regularly, and his saddle checked for fit countless times. There have been a whole variety of consultations with vets, back specialists, chiropractors, McTimoney practitioners - even a reading with a psychic horse- whisperer. ( Why not try everything ?) Most of the time there is nothing, or very little, to see. So we do the recommended exercises, and all seems well - till next time. The consensus thinking at present is that the root of the trouble could be a nerve that occasionally gets trapped somehwere. The next stage, then, would be to have scans done, and possibly surgery - all very expensive! And meanwhile Dara grazes and grows fat, vastly enjoying being purely a pet, without a care in the world. ( He should have my vet bills !)
With hindsight, would I have done anything differently ? Hmmm.... I could have been sensible, of course, taken the vet's advice and not bought Dara at all. But like I said, it seems I don't do sensible, where horses and money are concerned.
Perhaps I should have done more diagnostic tests earlier on, and at last saved some time. With an older horse this would have made a lot of sense. But everyone thought Dara, being young and immature, would simply grow out of it; after all, he had never had a fall racing, or any other injury. Maybe I should have worked him harder, sooner, and brought the problem to a head early on ? So many maybe's....
Ah well, we are where we are. Dara is fat, idle, and happy as a little piggy, and I'm saving up to fund the next round of investigations. Maybe I need my head straightening out... ?
2 comments:
Hi. I wandered over from your comment on the marco.org article.
I'm wondering, does Dara ever buck after a warmup, or is it always early in the ride?
An ordinarily sensible horse who explodes when you first sit on him is sometimes called (unscientifically) "cold-backed"; it helps to longue or hand-trot them for a while before you get on so they are loose and warmed up.
Hi CJ !
Thanks for getting in touch - it's really nice to see people are interested in the blog, and I'm always open to suggestions on ways to keep my ex-racer tribe happy.
Sadly, the short answer to your question is 'Yes'; in fact, Dara's bucking sprees are usually after we've been riding for a while - half an hour or more. If he was cold-backed, I could cope with it - at least then I would know what I was dealing with . But as it is, his bucking is always completely unpredictable, with no obvious pattern or trigger-factor. The only clue I have now is that - looking back and trying hard to remember details - it seems that each episode has been when Dara was turning - or being asked to move off - to the right. Most of the time he does this without problem ( although he dislikes lungeing on the right rein), but then, suddenly - WHAM! This is what makes me think it could be a nerve that occasionally gets trapped somewhere. Oh, if only they could talk ! Failing that, I fear it's going to take an expensive scan to reveal the cause. There goes my new paint-job on the house !
Anyway, thanks once again for getting in touch - it's lovely to hear from you.
Cheers
Annerleigh
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