Epic Fall (x2)

Two days ago, I trailered Kass to Woodside Horsepark. It was a test run to see how we would do together in another place. If he did well, it was my hope that we would do shows together. Specifically the Pony Club Schooling Show that was going to be held there in September. He was such a calm, trustworthy horse at home, and I had good expectations.

I was so excited! Kass's owner, Kass's pasture mate (Gentry), and Gentry's leaser came with us. Both horses were easy to load, and I was looking forward to riding at Woodside Horsepark's beautiful facilities. 

We started off by riding in many of the arenas. Kass seemed tense and spooky. I was somewhat expecting this. We were in a totally new place. We did some walk/trot work in several arenas. He was a bit high headed and did quite a few mini spooks at trees, horses, and signs, but nothing too bad. It was out of the ordinary behavior, but I wasn't too worried.

I wanted to do some canter work by myself in one of the larger arenas, so we had Gentry and his rider stand outside of the arena as I rode Kassian inside the arena. 

He seemed more insecure than usual. Maybe it was because we separated him from Gentry? We trotted around the farthest corner from Gentry. His trot started to get sticky and hollow. His ears perked up and his head rose up very high. His head looked to the outside of the arena. Almost instantly, he was grunting and charging back towards the opposite side of the arena. I felt him leap up several times and I was flying. Next thing I knew, I was falling forward off of his right shoulder, and onto my back. I got up to see Kass running at full speed and bucking away, the stirrup irons flying everywhere. He finally skid to a halt on the other side of the arena when his owner yelled out "WHOA!"


I was fine, and I wanted to get back on. I didn't want to give up. Gentry's leaser and I then decided to walk around the huge cross country course.

He was beginning to relax a bit. We tried trotting together around the fields. Kassian was being a little jerk. He was trying to get his head down to buck, and was trying to speed off. We resumed to walking. 

All of a sudden, we hear a women shout "RIDER COMING ON YOUR LEFT JUMPING THE COOP!" We frantically looked around and moved to our right. But then, we saw the rider coming at a quick canter right towards us! We then tried moving to our left again but we weren't quick enough. The horse jumped the jump and cantered away, but much to close to us. Gentry and Kassian were both squirming. We were trying to get them under control. I got Kass to a halt, but I was then pitched forward by him throwing a huge buck on me and I was on my back, on the ground, once again. I was angry and felt terrible. My back felt weird and I didn't feel like getting back on again.

So, we groomed our ponies, and trailered them back home. It was a huge disappointment. It wasn't my confidence that was shattered, but my hopes for showing Kassian. I would definitely like show other horses, but it was really Kass in particular that I wanted to show with.

After a rough day, there was still one question on my mind. Who was I going to take to the Woodside Pony Club Schooling Show, and how would I get past not being able to take Kassian to shows?