Turning Corners

I bought Charlie at the end of March 2012 an ex Ledbury Hunt whipper in horse. I was warned that he would need schooling by the dealer I bought him from but most important to me was character and temperament and that Charlie had in bucket loads. I have known the dealer for many years he is a good friend and i had been very fussy about the horses I tried but so was he as I used to ring him about horses i heard he had in and get told 'No that won't suit you.' It took me 7 months to find him.
He rang me about Charlie while I was awaiting vetting of another horse elsewhere that failed luckily for me. Then I finally rang him back about Charlie and was told he would get him in from the Ledbury for me to look at. He wasn't called Charlie I never knew his real stable name they nicknamed him something else. I arranged to go and try him, next minute another phone call 'You won't like him he is hogged' yes I am hogged mane predjudiced.

Went and spoke to my best friend who called me an idiot and I duly rang back and rearranged the trial ride.

So we spent 6 months of ecstasy with Mr Perfect and then my walls came tumbling down and KS was diagnosed.

Now, here we are taking it steady and I have been riding him since December 28th so that is um err umm gosh just over 5 weeks it seems longer than that.

My confidence is increasing, my understanding of Charlie is increasing and here we were today doing leg yield and shoulder-in and quite literally turning corners. I know we have a long way to go but I really feel that we are making headway.

He doesn't truly understand contact but is learning I am not doing the rehab of a post op dressage horse I have done the rehab of a post op hunter and now we turn him into a dressage horse .........with a mane :)

Charlie the Hogged Hunter after a day with the Berkeley March 2012