Decision Made

I've decided to stick with it with spider.

Quite simply I think I was talking myself out of it before I had even really started. So start I did in the weekend been. 4 solid days schooling in a arena, with some helping eyes (and a ride) on the last day (sunday).

Despite the weather I was lucky to get rides in, its been terrible. The paddock is flooded, and wind has blown down on of our garden sheds (wee insurance companies rock - yeah right), there have been tornado's over the country (one death), thunderstorms every morning for the last 5 days.... oh and side note my cat - spewing 8 times in total last night. Poor mite but I'm so not impressed it was inside on the carpet. Saw her do another two outside this morning. I'll give her until tomorrow and take her to the vets if she is no better. Last time she was like this it was because she had found a old dead bird with maggots inside and ate it... so I'm imagining similar thing.

Anyway - back to spider. A good few sessions after 2 weeks of no work, and little handling he popped straight on the trailer, and popped straight off again.

Saddled up, and I hopped on and we walked off straight away. Took some time to get any response from him, a few clucks, hups growls and good boys... and I think he is getting it, and we starting pinging along nice and forward in trot.
Day two - much of muchness, except we put in some canter. And again just working on getting forward and spider maintaining it with out me working for it all the time... I'm puffed and sore and not overly enjoying this ride. However two laps later with no kicking hupping or growling and just lots of pats i'm pleased.
Day three, I hopped on and warmed up the same as the last couple of days. Small improvement noted he is forward straight off the bat. No diddling around sucking back, not going anywhere with a red faced rider on his back. It really is hard work when you can't use a whip.
Day four, same again and nice a forward walk straight away - that was really pleasing, and he wanted to go forward into trot super pleasing.
Friend jumped on as well today to have a feel/see what she thought of him to help me with my decision. We both came to the same conclusion he just has no idea what leg is, and he has no mouth what so ever. There is a little bit there at walk and trot, and absolutly nothing at canter. So forward plan is to get him off the leg, a bit fitter by cantering circles more (I tend to avoid them because he isnt very balanced).
We do however both agree something is a little off in the hind, one leg isn't stepping through as far as the other, we aren't sure if its pain, lack of balance or something else, so I'll give him a couple weeks work and re-asses the hind end and whether I need a vet out or not. I'll also get shoes on him in the meantime which will do one of two things if its in the foot, fix it (because he is a bit ouchy) or exaggerate it with the extra weight he will be carrying on the feet.

So I'm pleased I came to a decision it was doing my head in and he is cute, not a money maker or a 3 day eventer, but just a nice general hack to do bits of everything on, and you can't fault his nature its good. And how many green/young horses can you leave alone for over a month or more and bring straight back into work with little to no issues or having to lunh :)