Ouch.
My ride last night was mostly really good, but the bad was kinda scary. I had just gotten on Sid and was walking on a loose rein when we passed a large bush that sits alone along the arena fenceline. Right as we got next to it this cicada made a VERY loud sound and Sid spooked at the bush, did a cutting horse stance, wheeled around and started to put a moment of stupidity on the end of it. I whomped him with my leg and yelled “NO!” when he did that, but unfortunately for me I was still half pitched forward from the spook and spin when I did so. He flung his head in the air and whacked me right in the mouth, then to add insult to injury launched himself into a couple of halfhearted bucks.
I instantly tasted blood and felt very extreme pain that I could not pinpoint quite yet. I just KNEW I had jacked up a tooth. It was a well aimed hit. If it had been more frontal, the brim of my helmet might have kept him out of my face a bit more, but it was at the very side of my mouth. I had to keep him moving as he was super sucked back and felt on the verge of exploding, but as feeling returned I realized my lip had sustained most of the damage.
It took a good 5 minutes to fully get him back, and I made him WORK. I realized punishing him through a good boot with my leg or a whip smack is probably not a good idea. Working hard and intensely probably works better for this horse. He gave me some REALLY good work – trot and canter – though we’ve been doing so much lateral work lately he’s gotten a bit wiggly on me. We stayed straight and instead went forward, came back, transitions up, then down. Circles of all sizes and really feeling the half halt come through. He was a good boy.
I let him stretch after about 25-30min of work and we had a BIG stumble – almost to his knees – and then he thought about acting up again. Luckily it was more “thought” than “action” on that one. We left a huge cloud of dust in our wake.
Hairy start and end (the end through no fault of his own), VERY good middle. I think we’re ready for Maryal’s clinic Friday and Saturday – or I HOPE so, as he’s off today. I got my tack cleaned, packed in the trailer, and we’ll be headed over there after work Friday. Clinic report forthcoming.
As for my mouth? It’s quite sore today. I went to Jim’s softball games last night after riding and my upper lip was very swollen. I got some comments, to be sure. Great. It’s better today, but I’ve discovered a bunch of cuts on my lower lip too. I have one tooth that seems to be sore if I push on it. So, guess I shouldn’t do that, huh? I think it’ll be okay. My coworker said my lower cheek looks a bit puffier but it sure doesn’t hurt at all – just my lips.
Oh well, I just can’t talk as much. Everyone, enjoy the vacation.
