Next I had to work out where to put the mounting block and at the same time I realised I didn't have a hay net so I went into town and bought one along with a bale of lucerne. When I got back I spent a good 15 minutes trying to work out a way of backing up the ute to the float by myself. It wasn't like I could nudge the float around if I was off centre a bit as it weighs over a ton! And I couldn't see the coupler. I ended up driving a stake into the ground right in front of it and tried to line it up that way. That worked pretty well, the problem was getting the tow ball directly under the coupler. That had me in and out of the car many times - an inch back, two inches forward... but I eventually go there. I was feeling pretty happy with myself.
Then I had to hook everything up and in the process caught my little finger between the tow ball and the coupler! Good thing I had already packed the first aid kit! I will probably lose my nail and I've got a blood blister that covers the entire tip. It bloody killed so I ran around with a throbber for about half and hour, but finally got the float hooked up and ready to go.
Next challenge wasn't too bad. I had to get Teddy in the float and it only took about 5 minutes and he wasn't being a lala, just cautious. With Teddy all set up we were off. As soon as we got the the reserve he unloaded well then went into Teddy hyper mode. High alert and on edge. When I put him in the corral he nipped me on the arm so I wasn't happy. I saddled him up and took him to the arena. I lost the key to the club arena so had to use the one next door. Then we had the worse game of "Keep Tania off Teddy" we have played in ages. Around and around in circles he went. Once I was on him, he was jumpy and decided that a bench on the side of the arena was a monster and spooked at it a few times. We eventually made the monsters acquaintance and he was ok with it. I tried to keep him occupied with serpentine work and he eventually calmed down, but not enough to stop tossing his head. This neurotic response of his has been pretty good of late, but not today. It did not stop. We had a small canter but I didn't ask for it so I put that to a halt straight away. The rest of the ground work was trying to ease him through the big new scary place and trotting and walking work. The wind was driving us both nuts too, but we rode for about 45 minutes to an hour.
Next was the most annoying part of the day. Teddy didn't want to get back in the float! I was very, very patient and after about 10 or 15 minutes he went in. It was all a matter of Teddy being a turd, no other reason for it. Backing up, pulling, going sideways, little rears, you name it he tried it without being aggressive. It was a battle of wills and patience but I eventually got him to load without it becoming a traumatic experience for either of us. We then headed home and he let out a huge sign as soon as he got in his paddock.
This picture was taken just after I reloaded him. I know it looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth but don't be fooled, he had just finished being a pain in the finger (float injury), elbow (falling off injury from last time) and arm (from the bite today). After cleaning the float I was exhausted.
I know next time wont be quite so bad but how am I going to have lessons with him if I don't know how long it will take to load him and be a lala when he goes to each new environment. A one hour lesson will be at least 3 hours and that will be on a good day. If I book for 12pm I could be still having issues until 12.30pm. And what will become of Teddy if this doesn't go well?
I have the next six weeks to find out.
