Plan B: Naughty Pony Camp

Have you ever owned a horse that you no longer enjoyed riding?  For the first time in my 30+ years of riding, I am at that point. 

Ketel has been on his ulcer meds for 2 weeks now so I thought that on Monday I would put him on the lunge and see how he was.  He was wild.  But at least he was moving forward and not rearing.  Good start.  Tuesday, more time on the lunge and he was fantastic.  Today I lunged him in his tack and thought if all goes well again I will get on.  It did and when I started to lead him to the mounting block it hit me.  Dread.  I absolutely did not want to get on him.  I have lost all trust and faith in this horse.  Plain and simple it is not fun to ride a horse that is bucking and rearing and you get no where with.  Plus I ride at home and most of the time I am alone.

I got on anyway and initially he was fine walking around and then it started.  He did not want to move past the gate and pitched a tantrum every time.  So then it's the confirmation of "see this is exactly why I didn't want to ride him."

This is disappointing for so many reasons.  He was the reason I started blogging.  I wanted to document our journey of bringing along an OTTB.  It's disappointing because I wanted to take him to the big shows with me and prove to my counterparts that OTTBs are awesome and you don't need a big fancy expensive warmblood.  But most of all it is disappointing because I feel like he is becoming the stereotypical crazy OTTB and proving the naysayers right.

I texted my trainer who immediately replied to bring him to her.  So Ketel is going to "Naughty Pony Camp."  Poppy went to camp once too.  Sometimes no matter how long you've been riding and training horses you need some help.  This is also one of challenges of riding at home and not being at a training facility.  Hubby fixed the brakes on my truck this evening so now I just need to figure out when I can make time to get Ketel to camp.

On a positive note we have had a few dry days so the ground dried up enough for me to jump Poppy around.  I don't remember the last time I jumped her due to the awful weather we have been having.  She was a bit full of herself but rightfully so given she hasn't been on our regular program.  Now that one... I love to ride.