Life after the Paralympics

Hi Guys, its been a while, well its been that long that I forgot my username and password to get on to my blog!! The week after I got home from Beijing I headed off to the National Championships to do the para class, didn't do very well. Youri was great in the warm up and not so great when we went into the arena. I had great fun anyway and partied the weekend away. Ruth and Sue took Youri up for me and I towed my brothers caravan to stay in which was grand. On the way home my sat nav brought me through every little back road and I ended up with a puncture in the middle of nowhere, I was going to ring home but I had no idea where I was. There was what looked like a pretty new van in a ditch where I pulled up and a few minutes later a car stopped with 3 men who had come to rescue the van (it had been stolen while they were in the pub!). They very kindly changed my tyre and gave me directions to get off the mountain. They said I was very lucky as the road I was on was rarely used. Thanks boys.

Well I made it in one piece and got back to Arklow and started the big move home. I put Youri out to grass at Helens and moved back to my little pad in Armagh. Youri went out and joined 3 mares and it took him all of 24 hours to turn them into his bitches, he could be seen every day herding them round the field. Youri had about 6 weeks off and then I started to bring him in at night as he had pretty bad mud rash on all four legs. It all turned into a nightmare as Youri reared and bucked when I went to bring him in and in the stable he was climbing the walls and I was afraid to go into him. I did bring in Helens mare Misty to keep him company but that didn't help.

Finally desperate and not knowing how to manage I rang a gentleman called Jim Fogarty, I met Jim at Nialls and at the Nationals. Jim is a Horsewhisperer/Gentleing specialist who said that I could call him if I needed help. A week after I spoke to Jim, he very kindly called up and took my little man away. Youri is still with Jim and is much happier than I have seen him in a while!! Jim worked with him on the ground and did join up and other exercises including desensitising as Youri can be quite sharp at times. Last weekend we went for our first hack on the road and he was a super boy and it was great to ride and not be under pressure to perform. The plan is to get Youri going willingly forward and in a good way. A huge thanks to Jim and if you ever need help with a horse Jims the man. You can find lots more info at http://www.horsewhisperingireland.com/.