Starting back when I was getting ready to go to NY for my dad's
funeral, I forgot to call the blacksmith to tell them Toga's feet were a
mess even though he wasn't due to be shod that week. Forgot until the
day before Middleburg, so I went to that show with shoes hanging by a
thread. Lost one in dressage, had the show farrier put one on, went on
that day to jump clean in stadium. Next day was XC and when I went to
jog in the warmup he hopped three legged for about 8 steps. I jumped
off and looked at his foot and thought well that's it. While I was
waiting for the vet I got back on and then when I jogged he was
completely sound. So (against the bad feeling in the back of my head
driven by the fact that I was 2nd going into XC and could WIN) I went to
the start box where he almost walked in. THAT should have been warning
enough because usually we go into the box on two legs with fire up his
ass. He stopped at the fourth fence, I felt it coming from ten strides
away (another LOUD signal I ignored). Once again I went on against my
better judgement so when he stopped at the seventh fence I pulled up
ashamed of myself for starting in the first place. He had lost the
other shoe by then. He was sound, but I knew something was up.
The
next week was a cluster**** of trying to get shoes on. We wanted to
wait a day to see if he'd stepped on a clip or nail, then decided to
glue shoes on since Fair Hill was three weeks away and again we'd be at
the end of a shoeing cycle. I turned Toga out for a few hours before
Tom got there - my NEXT mistake since you can't glue shoes on wet feet.
SOOOOO another day goes by. Finally get the shoes on and Friday Toga
was sound and schooled amazingly. But on Monday his LF was on fire with
a little filling in his leg. We gave him banamine and amacarb (sp?)
for two days hoping to slow down what might be a bruise. But he's just a
little off on that foot and there is still heat and a pulse. In the
meantime, he hasn't galloped since five days before Middleburg so even
if he's completely sound today, there's no way he's fit enough for 9
minutes of XC next weekend. My head keeps saying "well maybe if...."
but no way. I'll wait till the last minute to scratch - not sure why
I'm definitely not going - I guess that voice in my head is still
hopeful in spite of everything.
In the big picture though, this
has been a great year for Toga and me. We got to Bromont CCI** early in
the year and it was a BLAST to ride there and we did a respectably good
job. Finished in the ribbons at Stuart CIC** and the AECs. My show
jumping phobia is slowly going away as we are more experienced every
time out. We jumped a few clean rounds this year, and the rails have
been simple tips, not blatant mistakes or misses. We finished in the
top ten six out of ten starts...not bad!! Toga is a cross country
MACHINE it is soooo much fun to steer him around. He just looks for the
flags :) If I can get south enough this winter, I'd like to shoot for
the CCI*** at Bromont...yikes but totally possible. Really the only
thing standing in our way of doing just as admirably at Advanced as we
have at Intermediate is our mutual distaste for dressage - mine because I
never seem to know when it's right (it feels great to me the judges
hate it; it feels like crap the judges hate it) and his because he's a
TB and we are too wound up for that stuff. Jump jump jump. Plus lead
changes, what a drag.
I'm going to take both horses to the
Virginia Horse Trials - if both are sound...- and that will be it for
Toga for a bit. Ari may do some unrecognized stuff but he'll go with me
this winter with the hopes of moving up quickly to Training. I lost a
lot of time with him this year between his weird two-week-long fever and
the foot issues that followed. He's very brave and loves to jump just
needs to get the back half into the same county as the front half. He
is a gorgeous mover and soon he'll be getting amazing scores - maybe Ari
and I won't have to jump our way up from the bottom :) No offense
Toga, but that gets a little disheartening. Next year could be an
outstanding one I'm really looking forward to it.
More after VHT :)
Sheri
The Surrey Blog! Maryland's oldest full service saddlery, The Surrey was originally established in 1953. Now located in Darnestown, MD and continuing our tradition of good service, good quality and good friends. Offering unique items and gifts for you and your horse! (301) 299-TACK! Our blog lists current sales, area events, and our sponsored rider Sheri Thornley's blog. We hope you will come back often and soon!
