Equine Photographic Blog

This is a blog about my horse Vico - rhymes with psycho although he’s not one. Well, as long as he doesnt get any molasses, grain or alfalfa anyway. He’s an (almost) 5 year old Lusitano gelding, about 15.1h-thats him below. He was bred in Portugal and has since lived in Cornwall, Wales and Scotland.

I am an (almost!) 37 year old woman, English and living in Scotland. Started riding as a kid and had my own ponies, I then worked with horses on and off for years but he is the first horse that I have owned since leaving school. I’ve had him since January 2006 and he was brought up here after being backed and schooled at the yard where I bought him from. I had ridden Lusitanos before, on holidays in Portugal but it didnt cross my mind to look for one over here as didnt think I could afford one! I set out to find a Section D-even went on a lightening weekend trip visiting studs in Wales. We found one but she unfortunately failed the vet. Shortly afterwards I saw Vico on the interweb and was smitten.

I had already decided that a youngster was the way to go-simply couldnt find anything else I liked within budget. Vico was at the very limit of my finances but at the same time, so much more than I ever dreamed of. Another trip to Wales to go and see him and it was love on first sight-if subject to vet!

This blog is to describe his schooling and our relationship as he grows up.

To summarise the year that I’ve owned him- we had saddle fitting problems due to his short back, round ribcage and narrow shoulders. Luckily for everyone, Vico is very quick to decide which saddles he dislikes and displays his displeasure by refusing to go forwards and bucking. He also has very good taste and decided that a Wow saddle was the only one he liked (although we hadnt tried a reactor panel, orthoflex, Hennig or any other that cost more than £1400-fortunately for us). I lucked out though and found a 1/2 price ex-demo Wow at a show thank goodness. We both love the saddle though and he goes so much better in it than his last synthetic, seemingly perfect fitting ‘cheap’ one!

In the hot summer of last year he threw a small splint that didnt cause him any problems and then kicked himself in the field, resulting in a hot, swollen leg around his suspensory. This caused me far more worry than him though!I spent the next few days trying to freeze his leg off below the knee and he was put on box rest for 2 weeks. Luckily it proved to be an inflamed tendon sheath, with no lasting damage observed from the scan. He then had six weeks walking and from then to about Christmas I concentrated on hacking with the odd session of longreining.

A few weeks ago (during the month of the never ending gale force winds) I managed to come off (in walk-*hangs head in shame*) when he spooked and whipped round on a hack. I was concussed but more seriously he scared himself and legged it home-crossing a road and jumping a fence on the way. The road thing freaked me out and we suffered a lack of confidence which is slowly being restored.

Although I am given (so they tell me) to the over analysis of events, the fall was just one of those things. Have decided however, to up his work load and begin schooling and jumping again-give him more to think about! So thats where we are at them moment-and for those of you wondering why I chose a strange foreign pony please see the next installment which will contain some info on Lusitanos and my take on them.