Lynn Green`s Story:
We bought Hocus Pocus as a 5yo advertised as broken and turned away. The advise from the Irishman who sold him to me was “lunge him for 15 mins to get the magic out of his head” 3 days after we got him home I realised two things 1. why he had been broken and then turned away at 5. 2 It was going to take more than 15 mins to get the magic out of this horse’s head!
I suppose I was a bit naïve but I work with unbroken and broken thoroughbreds and see a big variety of temperament in some form or fashion we always find a way forward with them.
The top and bottom of it was I`d bought a big strong cold backed nervous horse who I think at some point had had a serious beating.
We spent the next two years parting company on a regular basis. For a long time it seemed every step forward meant six steps backwards he just would not trust me.
Everyone I knew kept telling me to get rid of him. Perhaps I would have but then one day I managed to stay on board long enough to jump him. We did not have any jumps at home only barrels and poles. We jumped barrel height with a pole on top and it felt like jumping a cavaletti. He felt so powerful straight and bold – from then on I was hooked.
So for a while we stumbled along, if all was going well I would take him to a small show or RC event. I fell off a lot, got a lot of concussion and even broke my ankle at a hunter trial when he panicked after my number bib came undone! Once I had learnt how to stay on the bronking he started bolting with me!! One day while out hacking with a friend he bolted with me then dumped me and to insult to injury he then galloped home through woods, across a main road then jumped a 4ft wall to get back into his yard! It was after this that my Husband said “ That’s it phone the kennels” I was devastated – but he had got the better of me.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) the kennels would not take him. So we decided to sent him to a dealer in Cheshire ( who dealt with quirky horses) to sell him.
Two weeks later the phone rang – I expected bad news – however the dealer had jumped him and had seen his potential and advised me to take him back and to seek some help with him.
I do remember my first lesson with Ian, I am not sure who was more anxious me the horse or Ian!!
By the end of the lesson however I knew I had found the right sort of help in Ian, Ian was calm, patient and very very determined!!
That was 3 yrs ago and since that time Hocus Pocus has competed successful in all disciplines. Winning his first ever ODE at NEC 2 yrs ago and since he has barely been out of the placings. This year we have started doing affiliated dressage and he has already accumulated 4 points. The highlight for me however was when one of the judges comments said “What a well mannered, obedient horse”
I have hunted him with the West of Yore for the last 8 seasons but last year my 2 reliable old hunter`s sadly had to retire. I was not sure if Hocus Pocus would hunt (what with all that magic in his head) yet I need not have worried, due to his training he is proving to be a wonderful hunter he will jump absolutely anything.
I think I closed my eyes when we jumped the Holly hedges at Grewelthorpe but he knew his job that day!
We have lots of plans for next year (2010).I am hoping to qualify for the dressage regional`s and I`d love to do some BE Intros and maybe a Pre-Novice too.
However whatever we achieve I am always glad to still have him and so thankful for all the help we have had from Ian. |
