Then Sunday, he was lame. This time on the left front - and it's an altogether different kind of lame that the thrush problem. He's mostly fine on straightaways, but struggles badly on turns, and positively refuses to trot. I suspect soft tissue injury in the foot, because it's very similar to how his other S/T foot injury (on his RF) presented 18 months ago. There's no heat or swelling anywhere, but something is most definitely not right. The vet was due out yesterday, but had to reschedule for tomorrow. In the meantime, Paddy's been on stall rest and limited turnout. Fun times.
So there I was Sunday morning, watching my plans to move up to First any time soon dissolve before my eyes. And then I realized... hey, we do actually have another really talented dressage horse, just standing around eating ('cause hubby has been gone so much this fall). Before poor Brego quite realized what had happened, I'd groomed him, tacked him, and we were on our way for a little spin.
It's the first time I've ridden Brego since we tried him out in August 2014. To say he's a bit different than Paddy would be the understatement of the year. Paddy's like riding shotgun (and therefore hanging on for dear life) in an Audi Quattro rally car, where the driver is a kid who is doing donuts at 100 mph in the parking lot but really questions why you have to practice this boring stuff. Brego's more like piloting a Sherman Tank, where you're the cocky (yet apparently clueless) gung-ho new guy and the rest of the crew has 10+ years of experience and 187 medals among them, and would really rather be sitting around eating Cheetos and telling stories.
Me: Hey, big guy, how about we trot?
Brego: *stuffs Cheeto in mouth and starts licking cheese dust off fingers* Huh?
Me: Trot?
Brego: *sighs* I remember back in Massachusetts, we were off on a hunt and trotted for TWO WHOLE MINUTES.
Me: TROT!
Brego: OK, OK, just a sec... jeez, don't get your panties in a wad about it. I swear. *shakes head and rolls eyes*
Not the ears I'm used to. Also, it's a long way down.
Of course, once you get Brego going, he's a total dreamboat to ride. Those years of experience and 187 medals come is really handy... it's just that getting him to dust all that knowledge off and motivating him to use it is a little... exhausting.
(Hey Megan, you know those walk/trot transitions for a lazy horse that you talked about? Yep, we're on it.)
Oh and also, I'm having to re-learn how to ride. Because Brego's movement is so big compared to Paddy's, he's throwing me around. I feel like a total noob. However, it's really amazing to ride an actual balanced canter.
So, since hubby stole my horse for two jousts this summer, I'm stealing his horse for the foreseeable future. Poor Brego, he's got no idea.
Ooooooooh nooooooo Paddybear.
ReplyDeleteGlad you have B to play with in the mean time.
B is not so glad about it. Paddy's just happy he gets extra sympathy treats.
DeletePoor Paddy, but Brego is a fun substitute.
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky to have a horse I can steal!
DeleteI <3 Brego. I especially <3 the image of Brego eating cheetos.
ReplyDeleteBrego would totally eat cheetos if he had any.
DeleteThis is great. The Brego thing, not Paddy. That sucks.
ReplyDeleteBrego isn't sure how great it is, but we're rolling with it for now.
DeleteI wish I had had time to ride him when I was down there. I had a total blast riding him up north!
ReplyDeleteHe's really a lot of fun once you get him going!
DeleteYay Brego! Boo Paddy. I bet Brego is going to have some choice words for Paddy once as he knows what is coming for him: so many boring walk trot transitions.
ReplyDeleteBrego's favorite part is the walk. He LIVES for those.
DeleteSo sorry Paddy is lame, but yay brego! :D Ramone I always refer to as a runaway semi truck, and Carlos was like driving a modified corvette. I imagine Brego is like Ramone but + a factor of 4-10
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about Brego is that he's not going to run anyway, even if he IS part semi. At least he's balanced and disinclined for speed!
DeleteThat comparison of him to an experienced crew eating cheetoes...I died.
ReplyDeleteBrego, buckle up!
Seriously, I feel like the clueless new driver and the whole rest of the crew is like "Oh look, it's the new guy. All excited and everything - isn't that cute? Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." *continues to eat Cheetos while ever so slowly going about their duties*
DeleteSo sorrybto hear about Paddy, inhope he makes a full & speedy recovery. *hugs&healing-vibes*
ReplyDeletePlan Brego sounds awesome! It took me a while to adjust to Nancys large stride after years of Kika's choppy gait (she is better now i think...well she give more over her back now so I'll take it and run lolz)
You painted an awesome picture with your Brego convo - such epic'ness
That's pretty much how a Brego is to ride. He knows *exactly* what to do, he's just not in much of a hurry to do it!
Deletei'm oddly excited to read about future dressage escapades with Brego!! what a disappointment about Paddy's lameness tho, hopefully it's a false alarm? :(
ReplyDeleteI'm actually excited about Brego too! If nothing else, I'm going to learn a lot... like how to move a Mountain!
DeleteHe is kinda tall, isn't he? But so handsome. Can't wait to video your First Level test.
ReplyDeleteI sure would like to do a first level test. Anything more than a western pleasure trot might be a challenge, though.
DeleteYour analogy is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI hope Paddy mends quickly.
Glad you were amused! I had a fun time coming up with it.
DeleteSorry about Paddy. That happened to Speedy and I twice, two years in a row. Just as we were making the move to First Level, he came up lame. The first time it happened, it took so long to resolve that we ended up doing Training Level again. The second time, we did make it to First Level (this year) and now we're knocking at Second Level's door. My point being: be patient and hope for the best. It's more likely something minor than not. In the meantime, riding a second horse is GREAT experience and will help you once you get back on Paddy. :0)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I remember that. No fun at all! I'm definitely being patient but it's nice to have a pony ... er, giant horse... to fall back on!
DeleteThanks for the link to the walk trot transition article! I'm stowing it away!
ReplyDeleteMegan is awesome and has SUCH great advice!
DeleteYay for Brego and boo for Paddy - sending sound horse thoughts his way! Did love the Brego/rider convos though; sometimes I think all horses talk like that to us!
ReplyDeletebonita of A Riding Habit
Oh yes, having conversations with different horses is definitely different.
DeleteIt was VERY strange to ride JP & Gilyan's new boy, Wrecker. He's got such a BIG trot and canter. It was so different from Kacey's... I felt like a total beginner. O_o So, I can understand that "relearning to ride" feeling. *laughs*
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have to say - Kacey is more of the Cheetoh-eating type than the Audi ;-)
DeleteHaha, yeah, I felt like a TOTAL noob!!!
Delete