Getting the weight back on Drummer was hard work. His digestive system was pretty shot after having scours. He still isnt particularly well muscled on his front end but is quite fit and with some good long, low work, his top line should improve and muscle him up. I used Mitavite Promite, sugar beet, chaff and copra to fatten him up. He got plenty of excellent quality meadow hay and was on reasonably good grass. Here is a photo of him on my nicely groomed pasture during his first spring here [about 9mths after bringing him home].
I started Drummer myself within the first year. Cant pull exact dates from the top of my head but it was a sunny day when I first backed him. My sister told me off for not having a helmet on - oops. She held him while I placed my 'mounting block' [wooden box] beside Drum and clambered up. I had done lots of jumping around him most days I had had him. I leaned over his back a few times and then slipped my leg over and sat on him. No problems! He just stood there looking bored. So from there I got on frequently when there was someone home to hold him. One time Mum was leading us around, Drum decided he wanted to hoon. Of course Mum let go and Drum bucked once, I went up, Drum ran out from under me, and I came down. Landed on my feet though!
I lunged him and worked him 'at liberty' during the first year. I managed to saddle up and ride around our wee home made picadero [Spanish arena, 11ft x 11ft] in front of the house. We had had a break through one day and I was so pleased with him, I gave him a cuddle then started to dismount. He spooked and I half fell, half leapt from him and landed in cow poo. Got it right up my back, but I got back on for a wee walk before finishing up and intentionally dismounting.
At the end of the first year I felt as though I wasnt good enough to carry on with his schooling. I made a huge mistake in my chosing a trainer for him. I thought I was doing the right thing sending him to a Parelli 'natural' horseman. It cost me a fortune and Drummer hated the experience. The horseman beat Drum in front of me one day because he wouldn't bend properly on one rein. Drum kept looking at me, wanting to run to me and I was rooted on the spot. I knew I should yell at the trainer and stop him but I just couldnt move or speak. I was horrified. Drummer bolted away up the hill and the trainer couldnt get near him that I had to go catch him. He came straight to me and tried to hide his face under my arm. I reluctantly handed the leadrope back to the trainer. Drum came home from that trainer a bad loader [I think he thinks I am going to dump him with someone horrible again] and had a munted back which needed heaps of chiro visits to fix. Drum tossed me again soon after and I turned him out for some months, feeling defeated.
To make things worse, I had a bad riding accident on someone elses horse and broke my back and all my ribs. I lost my riding confidence and Drum got no work during his second year with me.
Towards the end of the second year I started groundwork with him again. Lots of lunging, long reining and leading out. Lots and lots of standing by the mounting block while I leaned over him as though we were starting all over again. A local girl kindly took Drum over December and schooled him for me. He seemed very settled where he was and he was close enough for me to visit regularly. I had a good ride on him on his second to last day there. I was stoked! I went out the next day for a short ride and Drum decided that the electric tape we just passed was going to bite his bum so he leapt forward. I grabbed some mane and pulled him up but he mustve got confused as I also clutched hard with my legs in fright and he jumped around on the spot a bit. I gave up trying to stay on and got tossed. Gutted! I caught my breath and got back on which was great. Usually I wouldve chickened out but overcoming that small obstacle was good for me.
That brings us to the end of the first two years, almost exactly to the day. It was a slow two years but good things take time. It was also a very frustrating two years, not just in regards to Drum either so was probably good that neither of us had too much pressure to do stuff together and hopefully that means our relationship stayed reasonably untainted.
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