Recently my horse life has been intensely emotional.
The Problem
Cruz made it painfully clear that he wasn’t enjoying the life of a dressage horse. He didn’t want to go round and his canter was getting four beat/lateral and flat. At our last show he threw his head in the air, his equine equivalent of flipping me the bird.
This caused me to indulge in much weeping and gnashing of teeth while I considered whether we had a future together.
Taking Action
I decided to practice cutting the umbilical cord (remember, I bred, backed and trained this horse) and get used to the idea of saying goodbye to Cruz by trying out new horses for sale.
While I did this, at the suggestion of my trainer I sent Cruz to Steuart Pittman, brilliant local event rider, for a month’s training to re-establish my gelding in his old career as a one-day eventer. And find him a new owner.
Cruz’s Reaction
The very tall Steuart made my 16.2 gelding look like a little pony as I watched him ask Cruz to walk over a teeny-weeny ditch. My previously brave eventer looked at it in horror as Steuart told him to stop being such a woosy dressage horse. Eventually I walked in front to show him it was safe, and Cruz took the exact same route over it as I had done.
After some flat work and a few jumps (which Cruz attacked with gusto) Steuart rode him back to the barn. Cruz was then washed off and put in a stall.
I drove away, listening to his pitiful whinnies but sure I’d done the right thing.
Over the next few days Steuart got him jumping quietly, going on trail rides and being turned out in a big field with ten geldings he’d never met before. In short, Cruz went from spoiled brat to being just another horse. He was treated well, but not as anything special.
Feelings…. (Sound of violins)
I felt uncomfortable on all the horses for sale I tried out, ended up taking an off the track Thoroughbred to an OTTB rescue center instead (more about that in another post) and only felt at home when I got back on Cruz for a couple of lessons with Steuart.
Cruz has become humble: he doesn’t want to be sold.
Progress
After three weeks I brought him home to enter a local dressage show.
For the first time in four years I gave him no calming supplements. Although he whinnied for his buddy CD who was also there, he didn’t do anything naughty. He was a superstar in the warm-up, even when a horse came and kicked out next to him.
His three beat canter was back (he got 7 for his gaits) and despite our recent lack of dressage work, we still came in second!
The CoolStance Feed Factor
The CoolStance feed is a big reason for this. Cruz has quietened down so much that I sometimes take his temperature to make sure he’s not coming down with anything!
He hasn’t become a zombie by any means, but he’s calmer and happier. He’s putting on weight and doesn’t spook at everything. I’m no longer afraid to take him out on trail rides, in company or alone, and I jump him for fun, to vary his work.
What Next?
Cruz was getting bored with pure dressage, and it adversely changed his way of going under saddle. He returns to Steuart next week for his final six days of training, and I’ll have some jumping lessons, too. This will keep him interested in his work.
I’ve changed the way I ride dressage with him with positive results. I'll write more about that next time.
I’m more relaxed on him because I’m having fun with him, rather than only concentrating on riding perfectly. As a result we’re both enjoying a better relationship.
Maybe there’s hope for us yet.
