8 weeks after my accident, I finally got back in the saddle yesterday afternoon.  While I am still having some issues (specifically migraines) from the concussion, Calli and I needed to get back to work.

I started with groom her in the aisle way of the barn.  One problem we have, is Calli doesn’t respond well to pressure.  When she is cross tied (or tied in a stall or to a trailer…), if she raises her head the halter puts pressure on her poll and she freaks out.  Her immediate response is to pop her head back with enough force to break something.  Sometimes the sacrificial pieces of twine holding the ties break.  Sometimes the leather strap on her halter breaks (3 so far).  Regardless, it is not the type of response I desire in a horse, especially around kids.  As soon as she is free, she is fine, and rarely tries to run out of the barn.  So, for this grooming and tacking up, I let her stand free in the barn.  I held on to the lead rope (careful not to let it tangle my legs or wrap around my hand in case she bolted).  She seemed much less stressed.

Then it was off to the arena.  The farm has been muddy and Calli hasn’t been worked in 8 weeks.  Anna did about 10 minutes with her on the lunge line.  I was concerned that the circling might be more than I could handle and didn’t want to overdo things.  It was good to lunge her first because I was able to watch her move and see what I need to work on.  And she had some energy to work off as well.

Then, it was time to get in the saddle. I was a bit apprehensive.  While I have been thrown, and I have been injured before, I have never suffered an injury from the horses that has been as lasting as the concussion.  Once I got on, we just worked on some walking, turning, and stopping.  I tried to back her, but she still doesn’t understand.  I need to study teaching a horse to back.  I did a few minutes of trot work and that was enough for the first day.  I spent 15 minutes in the saddle, and I really needed that to reconnect with my horse.

Observations and plans:

1.  Calli is very stiff, in particular to the left.  I need to spend a lot of time on suppling exercises and I think we are going to have a chiropractor come do an evaluation.

2.  I need to learn how to teach her backing.  This is a real concern because when out on trails, sometimes she needs to back instead of turning.

3.  I have to focus on encouraging impulsion from behind and collection.  Right now, she doesn’t try to use her rear end to propel us forward.  This is critical to proceed with jumping training this year.  One thing that will be helpful is working on hills.  We ride trails that have some decent hills and that forces her to use her hind end going up the hills.

I was very encouraged by the ride.  We seem to have a connection (that Anna does not share with Calli) and work well together.  I will need to be patient and consistent in the training process.