Fernando's Story - by Alida

Fernando’s story

My instructor suggested to me that I give up my lease on Big Chester as he was at an age where he was more suited to a life of leisure and a few lessons here and there, than the high demands of the dressage arena that I was putting on him.  I was progressing nicely and enjoyed the technicality of dressage a lot more than the showjumping.

After much deliberation and talks regarding guarantees (and threats!) about his future care, I accepted that this was indeed a good idea.  But who would I replace him with?  Ricus mentioned Fernando, and my heart stopped.  Fernando??!!  That beautiful 17.2hh giant I have admired only from afar, whom I had watched on numerous occasions in the show arena, wishing I had some of his riders’ bravery, ability or talent….Fernando??

Yes, said Ricus.  Fernando.  Lets put this in perspective:-

Big Chester.  Farm horse.  About 15.3h, 18yrs old.  Furry and fluffy, a bit scruffy and a good example of a general hack, who through hard work and plenty of time and effort, could barely manage a basic preliminary dressage test and for whom my biggest goal was to remain in the arena for the duration of the dressage test. Just don’t ask him to canter on the right hand lead! 

Now, compared with Fernando – 17.2hh, lean athletic, immaculately bred and trained Thoroughbred.  Could clear a jump a meter high on a good day and also did flying changes just because he could!

I was but a very average rider at best, but what I lacked in talent and ability, I made up for with carrots.  I brought a LOT of carrots.

Ricus convinced me to give it a chance, and with shaking boots and a nervous laugh, I approached Fernando that first day.  I got on the hay bucket I used as a mounting block for Big Chester, and realised: I was going to need a bigger bucket!  This boy was tall!  The fact that I’m mortally afraid of heights did not help matters much.

I managed to get up into the saddle with vertigo tugging at my innards.  Good start, I thought.  Then he started walking.  Oh my word!  All previous instructions from Ricus flew out my head.  I was a greenhorn on my first horse ride ever!  Well, that’s what it felt like.  I didn’t know what to do with my hands, I forgot about heels, shoulders and hips and I kept looking down to see if I really was that high off the ground!  His first trot in the arena had me unbalanced and it felt like he was very fast.  Later on, when I viewed a video clip my friend took of the ride, I said to her that I didn’t realise that her camera had a “slow motion” function.  It didn’t have one – that was just how he moved!  Although from my perspective in the saddle, it felt like he was preparing for take-off.

Have you ever driven a 1980’s Toyota Corolla and then gotten into a 2011 model Mercedes S-class?  Well, that was the difference between Fernando and Big Chester.  Even at the same speed, the difference is just remarkable.  I was too scared to apply leg pressure or adjust my reins – he had power steering!  The slightest flex of my wrists or pressure from my calf would have him responding immediately.  And his brakes!  I would merely think ‘halt’ and just close my hands around the reins, and he would go from a forward, working trot into a dead stop.  On more than one occasion I ended up chin to mane because I did not expect his halt to be so sudden! 

I had to lighten my riding style from keeping a vicelike grip on the outside rein with Big Chester, to having cotton wool in my hands for Fernando.

Slowly but surely we set off on our journey together. 

To come:  I take flying lessons..….