We Have Lift Off

Took advantage of Sunday being a very hot day and all the horses being very snoozy to work Max.  Had a plan of action, Max can get anxious if he is tied up for too long and other horses are leaving the yard, I have wondered in the past about ulcers with him because he is definitely happier being worked after eating.  Anyway got them all in and got Max tacked up straight away, bought the posh Peter Maddison-Greenwell dressage saddle down rather than use the treeless.  Happily the saddle fitted really well, Max has an old injury that effects one front hoof, this causes the muscle on the hoof side at the wither to not be as developed as the other side meaning that I often have to shim that side.  With the ground work that we have been doing is seems a lot more even so that is good news.


Bought the tree'd saddle down because earlier in the day I really fancied hopping on myself, of course once the OH realised I was up for that he insisted on getting on first, rather than encouraging me to just hop on.  If I was being charitable I would say it was to make sure Max was ok on his first ride in almost six months but I reckon actually he considers the ride on Max as his so he didn't want me to get on first.  I could doing him a great disservice here however it seems a bit weird that I encourage him to ride, get the horse tacked up, help him get on, open gates so he can hack around all the fields etc, generally be very encouraging about him riding, but he never does the same thing to me.  He also refused to get the higher steps out for me to get on.


Anyway I refused to get wound up and sent Neil off for a pootle around the edge of the field and that was fine so when he got back I put a crate on top of a couple of pallets and got on myself, wearing tracksuit bottoms and trainers.  The stirrups on their shortest hole were still about four holes too long so I could barely touch them with the balls of my feet, which of course put my heels up.  OH walked behind me and shouted encouraging words like 'get your heels down, why are your toes sticking out, why are you letting his nose poke out'.  The temptation to mow him down was very strong but I resisted.  One quick lap of the field and we were back safe and sound with Max seeming not bothered at all about being ridden by me.


Plan is for me to try and finish work early for the next week before all the election work kicks in, and get Neil riding him a bit more, then me hop on again at the weekend.


Feeling very pleased with myself, first time on a horse for a couple of years and although it was only a quick ride my back felt fine.  My sports massage person has been telling me my back is now fine to ride for weeks now so it was good to know that she was right.