My horse was a disaster...

I didn’t have a lot to look forward to, as my horse was a disaster. The partnership was doomed from the start and there was no future for either of us. The poor animal was wooden and irresponsive, and despite my best efforts I was unable to communicate with him. He was hard work and always managed to do the opposite to what I wanted. He’d change stride unexpectedly and switch from a trot to a canter and back again without warning. I couldn’t make up my mind, whether he was stubborn or just plain thick, and every ride was a marathon, and life was a constant battle without results. He was a small, strongly built, ungainly animal, and may have been badly schooled by a previous rider without finesse or sensitivity with his hands, as his mouth was wooden and he didn’t respond to delicate commands to the bit. Despite his failings he managed to get both of us over some high fences and even managed combination jumps in his own awkward way.