In simple terms my beloved Lexi completely lost her nerve with me onboard. We tried everything to help her, with renowned so called ‘natural horsemanship experts’ visiting her and achieving absolutely nothing other can worrying her even more, so I did the only thing I could for her and called it. She went on to have over a year off being a horse and when she did come back into work it was ground work with me to re-establish her confidence around me.

Lexi lost her nerve when I fell from her – it was during a training session when someone working at the yard appeared from behind the mirrors and startled her. It wasn’t a huge spook but it was sideways and quick and I can’t sit those so off I plopped. I hit the ground hard and although I got back on and completed the session because I could see she was worried, I had actually fractured my pelvis, so what followed for me was 5 months off. When I returned to the saddle I thought I would pick up where I let off but it wasn’t’ to be, she was just too worried about why I fell and I had another near miss which was when I called it. My horses will always come before my ambitions, so if she needed tie off then that’s what she had.

For her return we did lots of ground work together as she was never worried about the scooter or me it was just when she had to look after me aboard that she struggled with. We even did a local in-hand showing competition and had so much fun, she was lit up when we arrived as she evented before she came to me and thought she was going cross country but settled the moment I took up the lead rein. We didn’t have the correct tack etc but we still placed and it was an eyeopener for the rest of the field and judge who had never seen it before.

I am delighted to say that Lexi is now back in full work and I have even taken her to a demo where she behaved impeccably in full confidence which was remarkable and so heart warming.

For me the love of the horse is the top priority and I have that in abundance with Lexi as we have an incredible bond – I simply adore her and I cant wait to return to the international circuit with her later this year.

In my next blog I will tell you why I have been out of the saddle for 2 years and how I have made it back into the arena with my 2 incredible horses.