Clumsy Champ
Yeah, yeah, more Champ. Nothing exciting.
Although I did learn the most disturbing and ironic thing on Animal Planet the other day. I was watching Most Extreme and the episode was 'Dieters'. Number 1 on the list was none other than... Ticks. Did you know they average 10, and can go as long as 18 years waiting for a host to come along?
So wrong.
Found another 3 on Champ yesterday: 2 in his tail (one that I must have missed the last few days because it was huge) and one on his leg. Apparently they hurt quite a bit, because he flinches every time I touch one that's embedded, and I nearly got kicked going after the one on his hind leg. Ouchies.
I went on the trail again yesterday. This time Dillan came with me. And wow. Is that boy ever clueless! His horse has 3 gaits - choppy powerwalk, should-be-pulling-a-sulky trot, and head-for-the-hills canter. And whenever he opted for the last one he would do so with no warning. Thank Epona that Champ doesn't care if he gets left behind! For a horse that freaks out about being separated from his buddies he was sure laid back about Jack galloping away from him! Sure, he tried to follow a time or two, but when I asked him to stay in trot he was totally cool with it.
His first canter departure of the day was good, the rest he still kicked and plunged into. I'm really starting to enjoy it though! He doesn't rush, and is starting to get pretty rhythmic. I can't wait until he can balance better!
Dillan couldn't even hold Jack in a trot beside Champ. Anytime I caught up to him he'd take off again, and any time we trotted Jack would take off in a canter and Dillan seemed unable to stop him or even slow his trot. *shakes head* At least when he wants to stop the horse listens. I guess since all he's after is a fun little trail ride there's no harm, but I cringed every time I saw that horse do anything!
What's concerning me most about Champ is how much he trips. He trips a lot. So far, *knocks on wood* he hasn't tripped up at the canter, but he's terrible at the trot and walk. He actually stumbled so bad while walking that he went down on his knees yesterday. I glad I was able to sit up and catch his face so that he didn't lose himself completely. Big idiot.
Seriously though, it bothers me. Nothing makes by heart jump into my throat like a horse stumbling. I'd rather he pitch into a bucking fit than that! I took a good long look at his feet when I got back to the barn, but no, everything's good. He's still weeks away from a trim, and his shoe are snug.
Has anyone else had an issue with tripping? Did it become a serious problem? Did it turn out to be caused by a different issue? Did it go away as the horse started to balance themselves under saddle?
Aside from that though, if Champ keeps progressing like he is he'll be a stellar trail horse in no time. I've still got about 2 months to get the dressage basics on him though.
Although I did learn the most disturbing and ironic thing on Animal Planet the other day. I was watching Most Extreme and the episode was 'Dieters'. Number 1 on the list was none other than... Ticks. Did you know they average 10, and can go as long as 18 years waiting for a host to come along?
So wrong.
Found another 3 on Champ yesterday: 2 in his tail (one that I must have missed the last few days because it was huge) and one on his leg. Apparently they hurt quite a bit, because he flinches every time I touch one that's embedded, and I nearly got kicked going after the one on his hind leg. Ouchies.
I went on the trail again yesterday. This time Dillan came with me. And wow. Is that boy ever clueless! His horse has 3 gaits - choppy powerwalk, should-be-pulling-a-sulky trot, and head-for-the-hills canter. And whenever he opted for the last one he would do so with no warning. Thank Epona that Champ doesn't care if he gets left behind! For a horse that freaks out about being separated from his buddies he was sure laid back about Jack galloping away from him! Sure, he tried to follow a time or two, but when I asked him to stay in trot he was totally cool with it.
His first canter departure of the day was good, the rest he still kicked and plunged into. I'm really starting to enjoy it though! He doesn't rush, and is starting to get pretty rhythmic. I can't wait until he can balance better!
Dillan couldn't even hold Jack in a trot beside Champ. Anytime I caught up to him he'd take off again, and any time we trotted Jack would take off in a canter and Dillan seemed unable to stop him or even slow his trot. *shakes head* At least when he wants to stop the horse listens. I guess since all he's after is a fun little trail ride there's no harm, but I cringed every time I saw that horse do anything!
What's concerning me most about Champ is how much he trips. He trips a lot. So far, *knocks on wood* he hasn't tripped up at the canter, but he's terrible at the trot and walk. He actually stumbled so bad while walking that he went down on his knees yesterday. I glad I was able to sit up and catch his face so that he didn't lose himself completely. Big idiot.
Seriously though, it bothers me. Nothing makes by heart jump into my throat like a horse stumbling. I'd rather he pitch into a bucking fit than that! I took a good long look at his feet when I got back to the barn, but no, everything's good. He's still weeks away from a trim, and his shoe are snug.
Has anyone else had an issue with tripping? Did it become a serious problem? Did it turn out to be caused by a different issue? Did it go away as the horse started to balance themselves under saddle?
Aside from that though, if Champ keeps progressing like he is he'll be a stellar trail horse in no time. I've still got about 2 months to get the dressage basics on him though.