Polly Mallender’s horse FATHERS FLIGHT BARNEY May 1994 – September 2012


You came to me big and bay


But I have so much more to say.


Your legs were bumpy, full of scars.


Broncs so big I saw stars. Eventing was not for you,


Dressage and water no, no, no. Showjumping it had to be


So off we went you and me


Novice, discovery, newcomers too


There was no stopping me and you.


Then one day you went lame


We didn’t know what to blame.


We really did try our best,


Even gave you a good long rest Alas it was to no avail


And your health began to fail.


So rainbow bridge was calling


Although it broke my heart


It was time for me and you to part.


So now you are free from pain


And one day we will meet again


So Barney I want you to know


That I really loved you so Night night, Mr Feral. Lorraine Mallender


Tor Heard’s Equestrian Life


This past two months or so have proved to be an utter roller coaster ride for Tommy & myself. Back in May we endured our second novice of the season, after 4 cancellations, at Little Downham.


We scored a 35.5 dressage, which I was over-the-moon with, but uncharacteristically rolled two poles in the show jumping, and had to retire at fence 9 on the cross country due to Tommy going very green & babyish on me, which I put down to our lack of outings. I felt the xc was lovely and very doable for us, so I left feeling very disheartened.


After 2 months of lessons and more event cancellations, I opted for some summer time show jumping. We were chosen to


Injury


represent Area 26 as the 1m15 horse on one of the teams at the regional competition held at Arena UK. Typically, 10 days later, he went mysteriously lame. After having both the vet and physio look at him, we concluded it could well be a pulled muscle in his shoulder, but without nerve blocking him we weren’t to know for sure - cue 3 weeks box rest and missing Aston-Le- Walls novice. He came back into work just in time for the Arena UK qualifier, but not before opening a whole other can of worms...


During his time off, I would turn Tommy into our indoor school for a roll and leg stretch whilst I mucked him out. On one occasion, he came in with blood gushing from his head just above his eye. I cleaned it, but wasn’t happy, so called the vet out, who told me it was too deep to stitch, and it needed to bleed itself clean. He gave us some anti- inflammatories and left us to it.


We then came back into work. Tommy’s flat work had suddenly improved ten-fold, he wasn’t arguing or tensing against the


contact, and his medium paces and collection were simply amazing. At Arena UK we jumped a double clear, helping the team land second place and a qualification to Scope festival - but he didn’t quite seem himself. His usual pzazz for jumping wasn’t there, and although he was clearing the fences, he didn’t seem right. I assumed it was due to three weeks off...


The following weekend was the long-awaited Arena Eventing Final at Vale View - our Intermediate 1m contention went clear show jumping, two poles xc and a near miss into the water, but VERY fast - until I didn’t go through the timing equipment at the end. I could have kicked myself. The Open 1m10 course was very tough, and proved too much for Tommy, who stopped dead in the middle of a bounce of roll tops, decking me in the process. As this was so out of character for him, I had the vet out again to take some bloods to test - the first thing he pointed out was the unsightly bulge on his head where he had banged himself two weeks previously. As I assumed the swelling was due to bruising and soft tissue damage, I was shocked to discover that if it was infected it would cause eating to be difficult


and even painful, hence his lack of enthusiasm and inability to jump at his usual standard. We arranged to go for x-rays at Chine House Veterinary Hospital, which showed what appeared to be a very irritated jaw bone socket caused by the infection. As the x-rays only showed a 2D picture, we were then referred down to the Royal Veterinary College in London for a CT scan, and possible surgery... Cue some very sleepless nights and unavoidable worrying.


Next month: CT scan results, Tommy’s Royal Vets experience, and the best friend ever.


Celebrate the horse Love your friend


barney


Available in gold, silver and bronze ...


Arena Eventing Final Fall


www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk 59


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