This weekend was a tough one. Saturday, Toby/Cobie tossed Lynn off onto the ground. Several crow hops into the bushes and a couple good bucks thrown in. She did not have both feet in the saddle as she was in the process of getting on. She held on pretty good and has the sore muscles to prove it: shoulders, hands, clenching muscles in her arms and legs. She is bruised from the saddle horn and has a little scrape across her nose from the tree. She landed on her hip and back and probably has a few bruises from pokey things on the uneven ground.
She rode him on hard trot all the way to the top of Hennessey. When we caught up (lots of belly shaking whinnies along the way), Toby/Cobie was drenched in sweat and foam. It was running off of him everywhere. We rode a short loop and headed back home. We skipped the steep short cut from the top as Toby's ears were not pinned, but definitely showing his overall unhappiness. Later, Lynn thought about his behavior and said that the crupper had changed his performance. I agree, she had been getting on more easily prior to adding it.
Anyway, Shirley is never going to ride that horse. Never. He is too much for her. As smooth as he is to ride, and as sweet as his disposition is, we have decided he is pretty green and no matter what the lady said, he has not been worked with very much. We have had him since April (?) and he isn't any better about getting on. Lynn said someone who is lighter, faster, younger, etc. could probably get on quick enough that he would be fine. She thinks he would be a great endurance horse.
Bottom line: as much as we like him, he needs a new home. :(
