2nd Lesson with Belle - broken bridle!

HollyWoozle

HollyWoozle

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www.farandride.com
Following our successful lesson last week, I was all hopeful for my second lesson with Belle today. Tacked her up and she was pretty good and then I clipped the lead rope onto her bridle to stop her walking off. She is nosey and leans over fences and can wander off if not tied, so I felt that it was safer to leave her tied up with the lead rope and stop her getting her bridle caught anywhere. This was just whilst I put my high-vis tabard on and got my gloves (just a few metres away).

Anyway, something spooked her, and I have NO idea what, and she went a bit loopy (as she has been known to do), pulled back and snapped her bridle. Awesome. Fortunately Inca's old bridle actually fitted and we hacked the 5 mins up the road to the school and were just a few minutes late. Was actually good in a way as we were without a flash noseband and it didn't make a difference. She was spookier than usual but was excellent in the lesson and for the first time, we did the short hack back on our own (usually always have someone walking with us when hacking) and she was brilliant.

Got back, untacked, tied up with headcollar and tried to sponge her down... pulled back and snapped the baler twine she was tied to. In the end, I held her and got a horsey friend to sponge her down.

I feel feel annoyed for the bad things even though it was a really successful lesson, we went out without a flash and we hacked back on our own with no problems. I just can't help feeling negative because of the bridle and sponging incidents! Safe to say that I have learnt my lesson and won't be tying her any longer if possible, it's always been clear that she has been beaten before so I guess now that she feels insecure when tied. Can someone tell me to get over the negative things and be happy about the good stuff?

Thanks and sorry for the length!!
 
They are sent to try us!! You have had a good lesson so focus on that. My Belle pulls back all the time when i tie her up she is a nightmare we have been through numerous headcollars and lead ropes. I bought off Robinsons website a quick release extension lead for £2.15, it basically is a piece of webbing that clips onto the tie ring, it has a metal ring on the end that you tie the leadrope to, it has velcro so if the horse pulls back the velcro comes away and you have no broken bridles/headcollars. I have a couple and don't tie any of mine up now without it.
 
It could be or a stroppy mare problem!! My Belle has issues from her past (she started life as a racehorse and obviously wasnt treated well) and is quite quirky but i just make allowances for these issues (she is terrible to get rugs on, she windsucks, can get colicky and stressed) but on the whole she is lovely and has impeccable manners so I just ignore these things and enjoy all the great things about Belle.

Your Belle looks lovely, being pretty is definatley a Belle thing!!!
 
Thanks Belle31... she is pretty but she's not easy to deal with! At least not for someone like me. She has many many wonderful points though and is kind but just afraid. I suppose I can't be too upset about that.

New bridle ordered and hopefully our lesson on Friday will go well. :)
 
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