Back on Canada’s back

The first time I rode Canada he bucked me off and I got some injuries. After getting better, Yannis discouraged me from riding him again before he could see that I was able to control him. My fall still is the worst that he has ever seen in his 27-year long career in equestrian and he wants to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. Consequently, I spent some weeks riding other horses and the lessons with them paid off.

So, last week I went to EGVUS for my lesson, chat and coffee and Yannis told me that I would ride Canada and see what happens, with Ali, the little worker walking beside me.

And here we go, I mounted, but I could not stop thinking about that specific turn near the stalls, after which all ex-racers here begin to canter and gallop. It’s the turn after which Canada bucked me off in a quite painful way. And it’s not the horses’ fault. They are ex-racers and the arena quite resembles a racetrack! Plus, they know that after this turn they get kicked hard to canter and gallop; so, if you were a horse knowing that this happens every time, why not save your belly some sharp pain and do what you are usually asked to do before your poor belly suffers new kicks? Personally, I would do the same if I was in Canada’s… horseshoes! But with the reins a bit tight, Ali saying that he wouldn’t like it if he threw me on the floor again, and a bit of his own thinking -I guess- Canada learned to pay more care when on that turn and quit his habit of accelerating. There were no kicks anyway!

Everything was going OK, until Yannis called Ali for a chore, a few meters before that turn. Ali said that he would need to leave me and Canada alone and Yannis responded that we didn’t need help… Damn it! And I found myself all alone on one of the second tallest equine in the yard, next to the -occupied- stalls and food nearby! My heart rates went crazy, but, thankfully, if there’s one thing that Canada seems to be used to, this is my fast heartbeats!

But, thankfully, it has turned out since then that I don’t need to worry much about it, plus I am able to use the reins better, which means that I can slow down Canada early enough. And this is important, because 1. of his absent noseband, which makes allows the bridle to go as far as it wants to the inside (causing damage to the horse’s mouth) and 2. the fact that, once Canada accelerates to 70km/h, it will probably be too late for me to slow him down.

In general, Canada and I are getting on better and better -saving on pain and frustration and allowing more energy for cuddles and play! And yes, I’m a proud “pink” horse owner!

Want to meet Canada and other horses while spending a few days off with your friends or family on the magic island of Crete? Why not check out the amazing villas offered by private owners through our partner Cretico?