Wasima2

I had thought that the large stones and sand on the beach would frighten her, but she trusted me more by the time we the first encounter took place. We were also improving at being tied up after several panics and broken lead ropes.

We gradually moved into trotting but we could only go as fast as she could assimilate the passing world. By late Autumn we were wiser and bolder. We took Wasima out with Saraband but she is an experienced endurance horse who travels about 7-8 m.p.h. in trot and Wasima certainly became frustrated when she couldn't keep up. Her lungs just weren't up to it and even though Saraband was trying to go slowly Wasima struggled. She used to cough on exertion which worried me but I kept telling myself she was young and would improve. We took them out separately to allow Wasima to gain strength, grow capillaries, stronger tendons, blood vessels and bones. We had her freeze branded because we couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her and not being able to find her.

Gradually everything was coming together until by Spring '97 we were ready for our first ride of 15 miles around February 14th. This was the first time we'd taken her in the trailer since we'd bought her, so we were anxious. Bless her she walked straight in, it was the other one who messed about. It was the first time Saraband had traveled in the side that our wonderful champion but bossy horse had occupied before we sadly lost her through grass sickness in 1996. I swear her ghost was in there and Saraband was scared! Wasima yelled a lot at the ride but managed to cope going round with Saraband, just.

As Wasima had grown in experience and strength she developed quite powerful bucks which often made me squawk as they caught me unawares! I was beginning to wonder if all was going to be well, however I'm always optimistic that as relationships build, and behaviour changes, and these little things get ironed out.

On March 2nd '97 we had a go at our first Bronze Buckle Qualifier on The Quantocks.We decided to ride separately so I hid with Wasima while Rob and Saraband left. Wasima went loopy and threw herself into a bank and I found myself suddenly dismounted with my feet on the ground. With help from a friend we managed to start with Wasima yelling for her friend. There were some steep hills and rocks and the last hill she looked at in disbelief but gradually made it to the top. Strangely it was after this ride, successfully completed around 6.5 m.p.h., that she stopped bucking. I think she had suddenly realised that the world was a lot bigger and more challenging than she thought and grew up a bit.

The next ride was a BBQ 20 miles at the Brendon Hills on May 4th '97. There was a very strong wind and stallions yelling, and she was on her own this time. She yelled and yelled. However she completed it at just under 8 m.p.h. and seemed to enjoy herself. We rode with another 6 year old horse and Wasima seemed the fitter of the two even though the other horse had spent a season hunting. I was pleased to see the other horse put it's head down in the same way as Wasima, as if to grab more air and stretch the neck and back, hardly surprising as the hills were steep.