Champ

By Anonymous

Your news

21 June 2008 14:50

I am 45 years old and have always had a love for horses. I rode a bit when I was younger but nothing serious. Due to my mum dying when i was 11 I couldn't afford to keep riding so I had to make do with sitting on a wall and pretending. A few years passed on I got married had two lovely daughters who grew up and met their partners and eventually left home.

I was lost so I took up riding again. I rode my friend's horse a bit. My husband has a serious heart disease so i found riding a good way for me to de-stress. One day I came home from work and my hubby said "We are going to look at a horse to buy." I was shocked. I said "I can't afford a horse."

He said: "I've found a field and stable." I panicked: I can't look after a horse. I havent a clue." He had all that taken care of too. I went and had lessons on how to tack up and brushed up a bit on my riding.

Off we went to look at the horse. He was a lovely chap called Champ. He's 15.3 and a russian cross welsh trotter. I fell in love with him but had to think about it as it was a huge comitment. My husband and family talked me into it. So the next week we went to pick him up. I was a nervous wreck. We brought him back and put him in the field where he setteld in nicely. We spent the next week bonding.

I lost weight and couldnt sleep I was terrified but I thought: "Get a grip lass. This is a dream come true." So we organised the saddle fitter to come and measure Champ (he came with tack but it didnt fit properly). So I got a new saddle etc. He looked smart. I was never happy with the saddle it kept going over to the right but the saddle fitter said it was my fault as I wasn't sitting properly so me a complete novice I believed him.

So we plodded on. I started having lower back and groin problems. I was in agony everytime i rode so my GP sent me for physio. I had to have intense physio twice a week. I wasn't improving so they sent me for an MRI scan and a doctor who specialises in chronic injuries took me on.