Scotts of Thrapston

Battered and Bruised

Posted on 10. Dec, 2010 by James in James Scott, Rider Development Programme

Apologies for the lack of blogging recently! I was hoping to entertain you over the coming six to nine months with tales of my eventing career and the progress I have made.

However, the tale doesn’t really get off to the best of starts!

My first riding lesson was a great success, well that is until two minutes from the end! I got to know the pommel quite intimately on a number of occasions that resulted in a few minutes required to …compose myself.

However, all in all, it was a great lesson and Tim Brown was an extremely good instructor. Even teaching someone with my special needs!

Anyway, just as I was congratulating myself on a lesson well done, the horse, “Jigsaw”, thought he should teach me a lesson of his own and basically bolted!!

To describe in a touch more detail, my foot left the stirrup!  I gripped on fearing the worst, only for Jigsaw to move up a gear!  Not the plan at all…

I recall circling the ménage 3 or 4 times… each time I came to a corner of the ménage, images of dearest Jigsaw leaping the fence and hot footing it into deepest darkest Northamptonshire, with me in tow, struck me as a very realistic outcome.

I recall Tim Brown’s instruction to lean back….LEAN BACK!  I was most certainly leaning back, yet 5th gear was reached and by this time we were moving at such a pace I reckon any bookies watching would have slashed my odds for next years Grand National…!

So, the decision had to be made… continue in my futile attempts to slow / stop Jigsaw, who for the record now seemed crazed and slightly wild, (the “pocket rocket” reference made by the groom as she lead him from the stable suddenly made sense) or to jump ship!

Self preservation has always been high on my life agenda.  A 6’5” lock forward running at me in rugby would normally result in a deft side step… plus with a failing arm in an attempt to tackle, normally resulted in a pain free outcome.

So, on the final circuit of the ménage, that I was now adamant would result in the leaping of the fence to freedom, it was decided that a stunt man-esque demount was on the cards…

The next thing I recall was coming around sat in the beautiful surrounds of a Scotts of Thrapton timber stable yard, purchased by Tim Brown from us only 12 months earlier.

Fine craftsmanship I was thinking until I got onto the reason I was sat there in the first place.

I had somehow landed on my head. Arms it seemed making no attempt in breaking my fall. It was commented that I did indeed knock myself out and remained incoherent for the next 5 minutes.

In fact the resulting head injury affected me for the next month!  The following few days were a blur.

I even did a presentation for the Midlands Family Business awards, which for the record we came second in, that I remember nothing about!  I think you will find that to be very skilful!  I thank you.

This incident has made me reassess things. For one, my respect for those who work, on a daily basis, with these dangers has gone through the roof. I have spoken with work colleagues and family members and I have reluctantly had to take a back step and will look to slowly learn to event in my own time and with no pressures!  And I will most certainly stick to the day job of selling timber stables!

So, as a result, Scotts of Thrapston has reviewed the programme for 2011 and will look to continue a similar development opportunity for two local, amateur riders as has been undertaken this year. More details will be available early in the New Year.

The main lesson I have learnt from this process is that event riders are only to be admired. I take my battered riding hat off to all of those taking part in this sport and look forward to being an enthusiastic spectator rather than a reluctant participant in the year ahead.

James

P.S. I have a pair of very nearly new £500 riding boots looking for a new home!

Tags: Eventing, Midlands Family Business Awards, Scotts of Thrapston, Tim Brown, timber stable yard, Timber Stables