We did it! Emerald's been ridden today

[dalesnfellfan]

for the first time in 5 months, Sam came and rode her and she was very calm but kept stopping and turning round to touch Sam's leg just like she did before I stopped ridding her.  I've recently had her saddle checked and I had it checked when she first started doing it and the saddle fitter doesn't think it's the saddle or the girth as both fit well, although she has offered to lend me a Fairfax girth to try.

I thought it might have been due to discomfort in her leg before the operation so I got off her when she did it, so Sam thought she  might be remembering that and trying it on as a form of napping so she pushed her on and kept her going forward.  She did keep trying it but accepted it when Sam said she had to go forward and didn't do anything nasty.

She was doing really well when it started to hail, she hated it in her face and got really upset shooting backwards and sideways throwing her head around, Sam was just about to get off when Em took off around the paddock, she was in a panic, we've had some rain so the paddock was quite wet at both ends so Sam was worried she'd slip over if she turned her in a tight circle to stop her, she nearly collided with the tape fences twice before Sam managed to get her under control and almost stopped and jumped off before she could get up speed again. 

My heart was it my mouth, so much for only walking!!, but at least she didn't buck.

The hail only lasted 5 minutes and after walking her round to calm her Sam got back on (she's braver than me) and she had found forward, she forgot about stopping and touching her girth for a while and just got on with it and listened to Sam really well.

I was really pleased with her, even her panic in the hail could have been much worse, needless to say I didn't ride her and it hasn't filled me with confidence, I think I'll wait till Sam's got going really well before I get on.

[yanny]

Gosh I'm glad it went well in the end. Poor Em getting scared of the hailstones
It sounds like Sam will get her going. I bet you can wait to get on her again!

[tinkerdorisalison]

well its a start, don't get disheartened, it takes some a long time to get over things like this. Onwards and upwards xx

[Debbie]

I completely agree with Alison, that it can take some time to get Emerald going again, but that sensible Em can still reappear. What rotten timing with the hail I've had that happen before with all sorts, weather, traffic, loose dogs, screaming kids. I've lost count how many times I've wondered if something would have gone better if only...fill in the blank.

So sorry all this has happened, but I think Sam will be best to get all the sillies worked back out of Emerald for you. I wouldn't place too much emphasis on the whole head turned to the girth thing either, Em may have thought that was what she was supposed to be doing. You've done the checks to ensure nothing is wrong, so now it's a matter of retraining her that the head look doesn't mean anything. It may take a month or more of steady riding before she realizes what's required of her and to settle her down again for you. Or she may cotton on faster and be safe again after only a couple of weeks. The main thing is to let Sam get her going steady before you hop on.

[colmworthdales]

Sounds like Em was having a good try-on. Glad Sam sorted her out and rode her again after the hail incident. Think all the ponies are feeling very well at the moment with the day length increasing, and she probably just needed a little excuse to show off how well she was feeling. Hail made a great reason to play up!

Yes, let Sam do the hard work with her, and then ride in company for a while if you can. Good luck

[nedales]

Good to hear that Sam rode her right through her tantrum--the hail must have been a good size to have upset her! It does sound as though she is going through her bad-girl paces to see if any of it will work, be good to see her come out with her sensible sunny side up. Five months is a very long time between rides.

[dalesnfellfan]

No, Meg the hail wasn't big it was more like a cross between snow and hail, like small hard polystyrene beads and it only lasted minutes, I can only imagine she has become hypersensitive to it for some reason, Amy said she did much the same in the field when we had a bit of snow recently when I was away.
Last winter we rode out in some pretty grim weather, driving rain, high winds and sleet and she never even seemed to notice.

We should get the results of her tests back next week, it will be interesting to see what that shows up, if she is uncomfortable in her gut it could be making her less tolerant to things. Or maybe I'm just trying to find excuses for her and she was just having a good try-on as Kate says.

Either way she's very lucky to have Sam riding her, she is firm but very sympathetic with her

[Fi]

you've made a start - the first step is often the most nerve-wracking. Sounds like Sam is great with her.