The Dreaded NOT QUITE RIGHT…

Last week, we had some serious rain.  The paddocks became mud pits.  The ponies became ‘creatures from the black lagoon’ or perhaps ‘swamp things’…  Not that they care!  Oh, the joys of a good mud bath!

I had pulled the Fancy Pony out to curry the mud coating off before a proper grooming and ride.  Underneath the mud on her legs, I found a small wound.  Just below the wound was a small amount of puffiness (no one else seemed to be able to see it), but I felt no heat.  I trotted her in-hand.  I watched her.  I had several others watch her.  No one could detect any lameness… So, I booted up and rode, paying special attention to the rhythm of my gaits.  Walk and trot seemed perfectly normal.  The canter was like nothing she has ever produced for me!

She was light and quiet in the bridle.  The canter was slower than usual and balanced.  She felt definitively uphill…  But there was just something funny… and it seemed to come and go…  It happened both directions…

Just for fun, I joined 2 other young riders practicing BN Dressage Test B in its entirety.  As in, we all rode it at the same time!  Three of us in a single file line!  Oh, how cool it looked!  The Fancy Pony was spot on and didn’t take a single funny step.  Hmmmmmm…

That yellow stuff isn't part of the wound...  The salve goop just smeared down her leg...

The next day, all signs of any puffiness were gone.  The small wound remained, of course.  Again, she appeared fine in-hand.  Under saddle, she was better, but there was just something…  Just in the canter…  Just a little funny…  This time, I left all leg-wear off to see if that made any difference.  She can be sensitive to things like sand falling into her boots.  We had cross-country schooling scheduled in 2 days and a schooling horse trial in 3 days.  I didn’t want to jump her if she was lame.  I didn’t want to miss it if she was really fine.  Oh, the agony!  This event had already been rescheduled once!  It was to be our first competitive horse trial of the year!  We were planning to debut at Beginner Novice!



Glory Days!  2 weeks earlier!

The universe was obviously conspiring against me.  As Coach was ready to remind me, you don’t want to take chances with limb lameness…  So, Friday night, I withdrew from the show.  Not because she was obviously lame, but because she was *not-quite-right*.