Out of luck
Our lucky streak is officially over. All was well until we started cantering about three weeks ago. Ever since we added canter work into our training there's been a gradual decrease in Caven's performance. At first it was hardly noticable, but then it got drastically worse with each training session.
And that's only been two weeks of minimal canter work. We're in the third week now. I stopped cantering last week after both my trainer and I realized how much Caven's performance has suffered in this short span of time.
Caven has become terribly stiff and tight under saddle, he struggles to move correctly, makes use of all the wrong muscle parts, and on top of that he's lost his concentration and focus. He's almost back at the point where he's ready to bolt at any given circumstance. Luckily, he hasn't yet.
Everything's been going perfectly well until we started cantering. So, naturally, my first thought was: "Something has to be wrong..." Does he have serious back issues after all? I was relieved to hear that one of my trainers noticed and thought of the same thing after these two weeks. Like she had before, she suggested having Caven's back x-rayed to be absolutely sure.
The thing is, I have two trainers. And today my other trainer said something completely different. He, too, noticed the decrease in just about everything we've been working so hard on over the past two months. He doesn't think that cantering is the cause of all evil in this case, though. He was trying to be really nice about it, but he basically said I can't ride well enough to be able to train Caven properly, the way he obviously needs to be trained.
I don't disagree. I know I'm not a good rider (yet) and I certainly don't have any talent, either. But I had honestly hoped I could ride well enough in order to not cause any harm/damage to my horse. So, bummer.
There is just these two options left now. Either Caven has serious back problems, or I suck at riding, (or both...). Either way, I'll feel like a total asshole for getting Caven's back checked, trying to find the cause of our problems there, when I know very well the cause could simply be me...
Well, I feel like crap.
I also don't know what to think. Over the past two months we've been treating and training Caven, I was the one who rode him into shape. No one else rode Caven. I did, and according to both trainers and our physiotherapist, I did well. Caven recovered. He healed and got back into shape. There was noticable, visible progress, every week.
And now I'm the one who destroyed that? In a matter of days?
If so, I should probably not ride horses... If we check Caven's back and there's nothing wrong with him, it's all my fault. Honestly, I'm afraid of what the result will be, because it can only be devastating. I'm either a horrible enough rider to make me realize I should quit for my horse's sake, or my horse has serious enough back problems for the vet to retire him as a riding horse. Worst case scenarios, obviously. But also, likely.
I have another lesson tomorrow, and directly after that Caven has an appointment with his favorite physiotherapist (he enjoys her massages A LOT), so we'll see how things will go then and what both trainer and therapist have to say about Caven's condition. And I'll see to it that Caven gets his back x-rayed, either at a clinic or a vet who can do it on site.
The ups and downs of a horse owner. More like, the downs and downs... I know I'm being unfair, but that's what it feels like at the moment.
We're trying so hard. Maybe the two of us are not meant for each other...
And that's only been two weeks of minimal canter work. We're in the third week now. I stopped cantering last week after both my trainer and I realized how much Caven's performance has suffered in this short span of time.
Caven has become terribly stiff and tight under saddle, he struggles to move correctly, makes use of all the wrong muscle parts, and on top of that he's lost his concentration and focus. He's almost back at the point where he's ready to bolt at any given circumstance. Luckily, he hasn't yet.
Everything's been going perfectly well until we started cantering. So, naturally, my first thought was: "Something has to be wrong..." Does he have serious back issues after all? I was relieved to hear that one of my trainers noticed and thought of the same thing after these two weeks. Like she had before, she suggested having Caven's back x-rayed to be absolutely sure.
The thing is, I have two trainers. And today my other trainer said something completely different. He, too, noticed the decrease in just about everything we've been working so hard on over the past two months. He doesn't think that cantering is the cause of all evil in this case, though. He was trying to be really nice about it, but he basically said I can't ride well enough to be able to train Caven properly, the way he obviously needs to be trained.
I don't disagree. I know I'm not a good rider (yet) and I certainly don't have any talent, either. But I had honestly hoped I could ride well enough in order to not cause any harm/damage to my horse. So, bummer.
There is just these two options left now. Either Caven has serious back problems, or I suck at riding, (or both...). Either way, I'll feel like a total asshole for getting Caven's back checked, trying to find the cause of our problems there, when I know very well the cause could simply be me...
Well, I feel like crap.
I also don't know what to think. Over the past two months we've been treating and training Caven, I was the one who rode him into shape. No one else rode Caven. I did, and according to both trainers and our physiotherapist, I did well. Caven recovered. He healed and got back into shape. There was noticable, visible progress, every week.
And now I'm the one who destroyed that? In a matter of days?
If so, I should probably not ride horses... If we check Caven's back and there's nothing wrong with him, it's all my fault. Honestly, I'm afraid of what the result will be, because it can only be devastating. I'm either a horrible enough rider to make me realize I should quit for my horse's sake, or my horse has serious enough back problems for the vet to retire him as a riding horse. Worst case scenarios, obviously. But also, likely.
I have another lesson tomorrow, and directly after that Caven has an appointment with his favorite physiotherapist (he enjoys her massages A LOT), so we'll see how things will go then and what both trainer and therapist have to say about Caven's condition. And I'll see to it that Caven gets his back x-rayed, either at a clinic or a vet who can do it on site.
The ups and downs of a horse owner. More like, the downs and downs... I know I'm being unfair, but that's what it feels like at the moment.
We're trying so hard. Maybe the two of us are not meant for each other...