The Ticking Time Bomb

I love my horse.

Though I don't think love is a strong enough word for what I feel whenever I'm around her.  And over the past months  (Is it 8 or 9 months since she was injured?  I haven't counted recently).  I've learned a whole lot about her.

Recently, I've re-discovered how respectful she is.

Friday night was our trotting night for the first time in a little while (It's the third first time).  And when I first started I wasn't sure if she was coming up lame, or was stiff or what was going on.  So I asked my coach.  She described it as she was rushing the front legs and trotting normally in the back.

Made total sense, and after getting over the initial fear, then confusion, I had to giggle.   My coach said she looked like a bomb waiting to go off, and she definitely felt like one.

But, despite how desperately she wanted to go, I had no issues at all keeping her in that weird two paced trot  (I was having trouble getting her to relax into a real trot, but I think that'll take a few trot days).  Despite how desperately she wanted to explode, she didn't.

I adore her.  And even though I was terrified doing it, I trotted her a few laps each way.  She still felt like she was going to burst at any second when I hopped off, and hopefully it won't take too long for her to be able to do the really fun stuff she loves to do.  I haven't told her yet about the no jumping thing, and hopefully she'll be too distracted by learning all the fun lateral movements to notice!  I am hoping we'll eventually be able to do at least tiny little cross rails, just to say we jumped.

That's also something I realized lately.  I haven't missed jumping.  But I really miss jumping her.  She's definitely the funnest horse I've ever jump, full of spunk and can-do attitude!  It didn't matter what angle I pointed her at a jump she'd do it, but would also quickly tell me I was insane if I went a little too angled.  And when I wasn't letting fear get in the way, we were really, really good at turning really tight.

I think I'm finally over the disappointment of not getting into the jumper ring with her.  Though every so often still get a teeny pang of longing.