A day of firsts

Well, today was a little more exciting than I had planned!

Becky had a lesson on Tartine, which went really well, from what I saw of it.

Then I had another lesson with Blitz.

We started with out routine lunging; this time moving around the carrière much more, so a lot more travelling in straight lines.  He was absolutely fab on the left rein, and we trotted around the entire arena.  On the right rein we did the same exercise, but in walk as he was still a little agitated in trot (though 100x better than other days)

Then I got on and continued from where we left off on Saturday. Walk/halt transitions on the lunge, but on a much longer line, so getting more and more independence from the lunger.

I had another little trot <3 including some work in a straight line; and then for something completely new Becky came back in with Tartine, to give us a lead while we played "follow the leader" first of all with Katia about 6 feet from me, and then without a line at all, but still with Katia walking by Blitz.  Eventually she also moved away, so we were working completely independently.

We had made a couple of turns across the school, and when we came away from the wall Blitz was a bit unsure so he stopped.  It took Katia to walk beside us for a few more steps to unstick us, but he didn't really react at all, just stood still.

Then came the exciting bit...

We were about 1 minute from ending the lesson when a car came hurtling along the track at the top of the school. It made no effort to slow down as they approached the school and when they hit a puddle the water plumed up either side of the car, which spooked Tartine and she took off, and then Blitz took off after her.

The next 15-20 minutes are more than a bit fuzzy, as I came off hitting my head.  I have no recollection of walking Blitz back to his box, or untacking, and when I walked back round to the school I apparently asked which horse I had been riding.

Unfortunately when Tartine spooked Becky came off (she was riding bareback), and Tartine stood on her leg, so an ambulance was called and Beckys leg was splinted and she went off in the ambulance.  Because of my memory issues I was also ferried off to A&E (my first time in French A&E).  After speaking to the attending physician, she sent me for a CT scan, which was really interesting (and thorough!) (my first CT scan!).

After waiting a bit longer, I was told that my scan was normal.  Beckys x-ray was also clear and she just has some deep bruising.

So, apart from a bit of a sore head on my side, and a sore leg on Beckys side we are all OK.

I just hope this hasn't knocked Blitzs confidence at all.