Dakota and I had just began our growth process together, fast trot and all. I planned on another lesson with her (after riding her about 3 times)- never ready to turn down a challenge. I showed up at the barn the next week and found out I wouldn't be riding Dakota that day. Her owner at the time used her quite frequently, specifically for jumping, as she was advancing and was supposed to ride her the day later in the schooling show at the barn. The day before the show, the young owner showed up to find Dakota lame.
A lame horse is never a good sign- but especially not for this young rider with immense ability to grow into a great rider and the intense desire to do so. After a vet visit, Dakota was diagnosed with pre-navicular syndrome. It would take me years to explain in this blog what all this means, but if you are interested, here is a great link: http://www.ed.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.18062!/fileManager/dvepfactsheet-navicularsyndrome.pdf. Basically, with horse shoes, some bute (pain reliever like aspirin) and less work, advancement of the disease could be prevented. Her owner at the time knew that she wouldn't be able to grow as a rider if she kept Dakota. After all, Dakota could no longer jump, canter, and really needed to be only walking and trotting. They decided to release themselves of their ownership of Dakota. However, this was just the beginning of Dakota and I's future together.
In the midst of the chaos, I had shown up for my lesson and would have to ride a different horse because of Dakota's lameness. My trainer did not want to put me back onto a slow and stubborn horse as I had already began to feel the rhythm of a "real horse trot". That day, I rode Cinnamon....a horse I didn't know, didn't trust. Before we even made it to the ring, this horse was out to get me (I know, an animal out to get a human?) But as I have learned, horses sense fear and anxiety. I have always been an anxious person- now stick me on a thousand pound animal that is smart enough to sense an unexperienced rider and you have a bad combination. Cinnamon kept trying to pull me right and left. My trainer decided she would help walk us out with the lunge line as Cinnamon seemed "antsy". Before we get to the ring, Cinnamon rears and spooks, determined to get me off of her with every muscle inside of her- leaving me with my left foot caught in the stirrup and my entire body dangling on the right side of her body. I knew I had no choice but to somehow get myself off of this horse- it was like a scene out of the Hunger Games. Fight or Flight. I pulled my left foot out of the stirrup with all my might, and before I knew it Cinnamon was pulled on top of my body. As she stumbled to stand after rolling over me entirely, she stepped directly onto my pelvic bone. Fall #1 had happened- and it was a nasty one. After your first fall, every rider is encouraged to get back on the saddle to quell any future fears of riding. I, however, physically could not do so. I wanted to vomit, almost passed out, and had immense pain radiating from my pelvis. That day, I landed myself in the E.R. with no fractures and no internal bleeding. However, my anxiety levels were at a new high.
The next time I showed up at the barn, "birds were chirping" about Dakota being up for lease or ownership. She was the only horse I trusted at the time- an angel that needed someone to rehab her and take the recovery process slowly. I immediately contacted the barn owner inquiring about what was involved in owning or leasing her- not only financially but with concerns of board and future vet bills. The boyfriend, again being the amazing man he is, helped me work out the finances of it all. It took hours of playing around with the budget but before I knew it, I had become the owner of Dakota. I had no idea what went into owning a horse- but I knew I was up for the challenge. I also had little idea of how this ownership would lead me into personal challenges of overcoming anxiety and learning to love an animal that had the potential to kill you. I was going to have to learn to trust this horse- after all, I had made the decision to OWN her. I would have to learn how to live on a budget. Prior to owning Dakota, a bill of $25 at Target felt like nothing. Now- nothing felt worthy of being bought for $25. All I could think was, "I own a horse now....I have to be responsible".
I began researching ways to bond with your horse, while in the mean time finding that shredded wheat seemed to do the trick. I wanted her to KNOW me. I wanted to trust her, but I knew I had to gain her trust first. But how?
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