The morning started well but ended on a serious downer. Mainly due to the pain in my nose.
It began with me deciding that I would try Teddy with a Hanoverian bridle and a snaffle bit to see if this helped with his head tossing. I tacked up and then decided that I would take him across the road to the arena seeing as things went so well the last time we were there.
All was fine until we got to the grounds and were just near the arena and discovered that Kyneton Pony Club were there with about 30 horse and riders all set up to do various activities. At first Teddy was on high alert which was no problem, similar to last time and he took so much interest in the two other ponies. Then when we got to the arena I was told that on pony club days the KDARC arena was meant to be used for the pony club and I was asked if I'd be happy to share. That was very nice of them to offer but I was happy for them to use it for themselves, I just didn't know that this was the arrangement. It also wasn't a big deal as Teddy was getting more and more excited and needed to calm down. About 20 horses were closing in around the area and Teddy was becoming more and more reactive. I hadn't got on his back and decided that seeing as we couldn't use the arena I would stick around so Teddy could get used to the goings on around him and calm down.
Unfortunately he didn't calm down amongst it all and I didn't want to freak the kids out so I decided to take him to the edge of the paddock, about 100 metres or more away from a group of about 10 riders taking poles out of the ground. I stood well enough away but Teddy just ran around me in circles endlessly. If a horse neighed out he neighed back and he pooed a total of 6 times! Over excited, stressed, whatever he was going through he was running and tossing so I decided that I would just let him go through it for as long as it took for him to either calm down or tire out.
After about 20 minutes of this he was finally 'beginning' to calm. Steve showed up and was very nervous about the whole situation (thank god he didn't see Teddy at his worst!). I understand his apprehension as he is worried that Teddy is going to hurt me or someone else. After all my hard work Steve was starting to change his views on Teddy but this was taking us back a bit. Picking up on Steve's vibe Teddy started to nudge into me and when I was talking to Steve, not giving the situation my full attention, I turn right into a massive smack in the nose by my horse's head!
OMG it hurt! It hurt so much I let go of the reins and grabbed my face! Luckily I realised what I had done and grabbed hold of the reins again before Teddy bolted off and caused Pony Club mayhem! I stood there holding my nose with tears pouring down my cheeks. I thought I had broken it but there was no blood. Steve looked horrified and all I could think was that he would hate and fear Teddy again. He checked my nose and gave it the OK and then he said "He's dangerous!" My heart sank.
I tried to explain that this was just as much my fault for losing my concentration in a situation like this but Teddy was still hyper so it just wasn't the time or place. We headed home.
On the way home Teddy became much calmer, just being away from the environment and being one-on-one again did wonders for him. He was 80% better by the time we walked the five minutes to our house. At home I took him for a ride around the paddock until he was totally calmed. Unfortunately he was still tossing his head.
The cartilage between my nostrils hurts like buggery but I'm more sad about how Teddy behaved around other horses. I know its not the arena as we have been there before so it had to be the other horses and this really sucks because I want a trail riding horse. I don't know how I am going to work him through this but I'm determined to give it a red hot go!
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