zandp
Well-Known Member
I know I'm v new here but am hoping that I'll get some opinions based on fact on this.
I lost my confidence totally when 17 gave up for 13 years, came back to riding at 30 and 4 years later bought my first horse, an ID/conn mare, aged 10 at the time. I then lost my confidence on her - lots of bolting incidents and me cracking my ribs. I battled for 3 years as thought that the problems were mine - or pain on her side. I was right and all medical problems have been resolved, saddle fits very well now and we've been doing really well together, with me a happy rider again, cantering out on hacks, doing all the things that used to make me feel sick.
When the older mare was very lame, before we found out what her problem was, I decided to buy a youngster as thought retirement was impending. I now have a young QH/TB mare, she's now aged 4. I've had her for almost 2 years now, as she was growing up we did lots of groundwork, some longlining and loads of walking in hand all over the place. Then we moved yards, working in the school became very difficult as she was understandably not too keen on being taken away from my other mare who she bonded very well with once moved. I finally conquered that and I backed her end May/June and rode her for a little while - on the lunge - but got walk and trot out of her. We were going quite well and were about to try off the lunge when I fell off her (my fault, she stopped, I growled at her to go on, which she did and I bounced off her neck as she leapt forward). I injured my cocyx and couldn't ride for 6 weeks.
I then moved yards to my RI's yard. Thought the more ready access to help for me and her would be a boon, and it has been as since this move she's become very difficult to tack up, especially bridle, and picking her feet up has become a bit hit and mis again as well. She has had locking stifles and so I don't push too much for the back feet as I know she's not doing it because it hurts. A few weeks ago she started rearing when tied up, rearing and kicking out when being bridled and the RI was the only person who could manage to do anything, until she was working when she became great again. She likes to work, once you get her there that is. She loves our in hand hacks and when I can catch her i'm concentrating more on them.
I firmly believe this is toys out of the pram behaviour as i'm working her more regularly and am insisting that boundaries are kept and behaviour is good now, keeping her out of my space etc.
RI asked me last week if I'd thought about selling her, IF it had been anyone else I'd brush it off but she helped me get my confidence back on my elder mare and knows how nervous I got. She is concerned about the effect on my confidence and the fact that I work full time and juggling job and 2 horses is proving very difficult.
In character she's sharp, very intelligent but doesn't tend to react massively to things - she's always going to look but her initial reaction is an ok, how can I explore that rather than a "OMG run away".
She's definitely the boss of the field, always has been unless there's a mare to tell her what to do, my other mare's far too soft and she's beaten up all the other geldings who we've tried to put in with them.
I'm thinking that she's unsettled, we've moved twice this year now, she's no longer in a herd situation which is what she's used to, i've been too soft with her and she's thinking she's the boss.
RI asked me if I'd thought about selling her, I was thinking I'd keep her forever, I wouldn't be in a quandary if it hadn't been RI asking me but she does know me, although has only seen the misbehaving side of my youngster and isn't her biggest fan
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I was going to start longlinging again early next year and then I'd send her away to be professionally backed, giving her the rest of the winter off (maybe some in hand hacks for a bit of variety and for the stifles). Working with the person doing the backing/rebacking as much as I can and then making a decision about whether she's too sharp for me or not once she's being ridden regularly.
Do I sound like a total loon to be even considering keeping a youngster when 3 years ago I couldn't even trot outside without feeling sick ?
I lost my confidence totally when 17 gave up for 13 years, came back to riding at 30 and 4 years later bought my first horse, an ID/conn mare, aged 10 at the time. I then lost my confidence on her - lots of bolting incidents and me cracking my ribs. I battled for 3 years as thought that the problems were mine - or pain on her side. I was right and all medical problems have been resolved, saddle fits very well now and we've been doing really well together, with me a happy rider again, cantering out on hacks, doing all the things that used to make me feel sick.
When the older mare was very lame, before we found out what her problem was, I decided to buy a youngster as thought retirement was impending. I now have a young QH/TB mare, she's now aged 4. I've had her for almost 2 years now, as she was growing up we did lots of groundwork, some longlining and loads of walking in hand all over the place. Then we moved yards, working in the school became very difficult as she was understandably not too keen on being taken away from my other mare who she bonded very well with once moved. I finally conquered that and I backed her end May/June and rode her for a little while - on the lunge - but got walk and trot out of her. We were going quite well and were about to try off the lunge when I fell off her (my fault, she stopped, I growled at her to go on, which she did and I bounced off her neck as she leapt forward). I injured my cocyx and couldn't ride for 6 weeks.
I then moved yards to my RI's yard. Thought the more ready access to help for me and her would be a boon, and it has been as since this move she's become very difficult to tack up, especially bridle, and picking her feet up has become a bit hit and mis again as well. She has had locking stifles and so I don't push too much for the back feet as I know she's not doing it because it hurts. A few weeks ago she started rearing when tied up, rearing and kicking out when being bridled and the RI was the only person who could manage to do anything, until she was working when she became great again. She likes to work, once you get her there that is. She loves our in hand hacks and when I can catch her i'm concentrating more on them.
I firmly believe this is toys out of the pram behaviour as i'm working her more regularly and am insisting that boundaries are kept and behaviour is good now, keeping her out of my space etc.
RI asked me last week if I'd thought about selling her, IF it had been anyone else I'd brush it off but she helped me get my confidence back on my elder mare and knows how nervous I got. She is concerned about the effect on my confidence and the fact that I work full time and juggling job and 2 horses is proving very difficult.
In character she's sharp, very intelligent but doesn't tend to react massively to things - she's always going to look but her initial reaction is an ok, how can I explore that rather than a "OMG run away".
She's definitely the boss of the field, always has been unless there's a mare to tell her what to do, my other mare's far too soft and she's beaten up all the other geldings who we've tried to put in with them.
I'm thinking that she's unsettled, we've moved twice this year now, she's no longer in a herd situation which is what she's used to, i've been too soft with her and she's thinking she's the boss.
RI asked me if I'd thought about selling her, I was thinking I'd keep her forever, I wouldn't be in a quandary if it hadn't been RI asking me but she does know me, although has only seen the misbehaving side of my youngster and isn't her biggest fan
I was going to start longlinging again early next year and then I'd send her away to be professionally backed, giving her the rest of the winter off (maybe some in hand hacks for a bit of variety and for the stifles). Working with the person doing the backing/rebacking as much as I can and then making a decision about whether she's too sharp for me or not once she's being ridden regularly.
Do I sound like a total loon to be even considering keeping a youngster when 3 years ago I couldn't even trot outside without feeling sick ?
