Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] horse uninterested on training rides (LONG)

I just have to relate a funny tale on this theme:

My first LD was in January 1998, the then Cleburne Clop, now Meanwhile Back 
at the Ranch.

Wildfire was my best friend from our collective childhoods and endurance was 
one in a long line of interests for us.  Wildfire always knew the difference 
between practive and "for real", most of the time to my detriment, as he had 
a wicked sense of timing.  He was a palomino blanket appy, 15 at the time, 
and we had been everywhere and done everything.  This horse died in JUly 
1999 due to a dead section of lower intestine and and infection from that.  
But back to the story...

I was a bit scared of endurance, I mean the word even sounds scary.  Someone 
said "rocks" and I padded his shoes, someone said beet pulp, so I changed 
feeding programs, read up on supplements.  Worried, I way overtrained for 
this ride.  This horse had had years of solid base on trails and was very 
well trained (very trail wise, had done playdays, wp, h/j, a real jack of 
all trades).  I was doing 10 miles every other day on weekdays on both 
saturday and sunday, at about a 10-12 mph pace, hoping this would allow me 
to finish back of the pack <g>  I was also working a bit on my sister's 
Arab, Falcomaar, for her to ride too.

Wildfire got tired of my trail, as I only had the one, and stared getting a 
bit barn sour, but not bad barn sour.  And he started not liking being 
saddled and bridled, gets grumpy alot <g>.  Checked saddle fit, etc.  No 
problems found.

So our first ride and I made sure to tell my sister to go slower than slow, 
as Falcomaar was not as conditioned as Wildfire <g>  And we set off at a 
trot.

Wildfire was fine through 1st vet check, about 2 hours of riding, but the 
weather fromt he previous night and sheer stress were sure getting to me.  I 
held long in the check to get up my nerve to go out again.  My sister caught 
me in the vet check, her horse trucking along, happy as a clam.  I steeled 
myself to go back out for last 10 miles...

About 5 miles in, Wildfire just stopped dead, refused to pick up a trot.  He 
was perfectly willing to walk, just no more trotting.  But then the walk 
becasme more of a plod with head hanging and dragging feet.  And I'm 
terrified.  I get him to keep walking, and we walk the last 5 miles in, 
making cut off by 20 minutes  And Sister and Falcomaar come in right with 
us, having caught us about 1 mile out.  Horses vetted in fine though vet 
said Wildfire looked a bit tired.  I'm still worried.  Wildfire peed at the 
trailer, and it was just a little bit darker at end than the first part.  I 
drag him to the vet in tears.  Vets says he's fine.

So back home after ride, I give Wildfire a week off then go for a training 
ride.  2 miles from barn, he stops, won't trot more than 3 steps at a time, 
hang dog, dead tired, etc.  So back to barn for more time off.  I'm sure 
I've killed him, he'll never bee rideable again, endurance is cruel and 
evil, and I am the most horrid person alive.  Did I mention that I was going 
through a divorce and Wildfire was my "only child" and best friend?

Another few days later, we go for a training ride.  same problem.  He "dies" 
at about 2nd mile.  I get off sit and cry.  He grazes.  I get back on to 
head for barn.  At the trail head (down a hill) I can see my friend coming 
out on trail with Wildfire's buddy.  His ears perk up and he starts 
trotting, asking for more rein.  Meet buddy horse, and he settles down 
immediately.  Follow buddy (a dressage queen) on their "long" ride, about a 
mile out and back <g>, and Wildfire steps out whole time, asking for rein, 
wants to lead, jumps the creeklets, acts perfectly fine.  Hmmm..  so what's 
up with Wildfire?  I'm thinking I might have been played for a fool...

Two days later we try again.  This time I carry a crop!  At about 1 mile, 
Wildfire stops again, won't trot, plods at a walk, hanging head, etc.  I 
settle myself firmly in the saddle, grab a hadful of mane and WHACK!  right 
on the butt.  Wildfire jumps forward, and and cow kicks.  I ask politely for 
a walk again, and we start plodding.  I ask for more walk, and he ignores 
me.  WHACK!  WHACK!  You could practically see the gears turning in this 
head.  He walks out with more purpose, a normal free walk.  I ask for a 
trot.  He trots a few steps, grunting, then falls back to a plod.  WHACK!  
WHACK!  He picks up a jog trot, (Wildfire was a western pleasure horse at 
heart) then starts to slack off again, WHACK!.  Trot goes back to normal.  
Did 6 miles like that, 3 out and 3 back.  Every time he slacked off, asked 
once with my legs, then hit with the crop.  He was a bit peeved at me.  Next 
day, I took him out again.  Only had to hit him once that day.

I miss that $%^&* old horse.

-Tamara

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