ApolloStorm
Well-Known Member
To give a bit of a background, I have two horsey “best friends”( I loathe the term but best description). We all have our horses on the same block on livery, share a tack room, generally help each other out.
Recently I’ve been finding myself playing “piggy in the middle” between them. They have been having petty fights over stupid things. I essentially feel like a parent at times, with them both complaining about each other to me, cleaning up the yard and tack room after them, mediating between them.
Friend A is an equine professional, and has done her best to help Friend Bs pony. But B has a tendency to not listen to advice unless it suits them. B lacks a lot of confidence, and focuses on the smallest things when they go wrong. I’ve tried helping them with some confidence building but it’s falling on deaf ears.
Friend A is currently not really riding her horses, through winter blues, but will occasionally join in for a short hack. And B has been complaining about this, saying that it’s not fair on the horses.
I’m working really hard on my horse getting him fit and going, B has already said that she gets jealous of the progress we have made. Which makes me feel awful! But I’m a fairly confident rider and am on an athletic clever horse who picks things up very quickly.
Recently B and I said we would go to some local unaff competition together, which as my boys first outing is a big milestone. However B is already flip flopping with their confidence.
I feel like if this is how it is over a small show then I am going to struggle to have any company to anything else! Since nothing I say seems to help. I also have found recently that B is hanging on my every move with the horses, it’s like having a doppelgänger in horse form! I am feeling quite frustrated and smothered with all this. I just want to be able to enjoy my horse and my friends! I’ve been struggling personally with mental health, and I know A has been too as we have discussed it. And I suspect all of this isn’t helping
Recently I’ve been finding myself playing “piggy in the middle” between them. They have been having petty fights over stupid things. I essentially feel like a parent at times, with them both complaining about each other to me, cleaning up the yard and tack room after them, mediating between them.
Friend A is an equine professional, and has done her best to help Friend Bs pony. But B has a tendency to not listen to advice unless it suits them. B lacks a lot of confidence, and focuses on the smallest things when they go wrong. I’ve tried helping them with some confidence building but it’s falling on deaf ears.
Friend A is currently not really riding her horses, through winter blues, but will occasionally join in for a short hack. And B has been complaining about this, saying that it’s not fair on the horses.
I’m working really hard on my horse getting him fit and going, B has already said that she gets jealous of the progress we have made. Which makes me feel awful! But I’m a fairly confident rider and am on an athletic clever horse who picks things up very quickly.
Recently B and I said we would go to some local unaff competition together, which as my boys first outing is a big milestone. However B is already flip flopping with their confidence.
I feel like if this is how it is over a small show then I am going to struggle to have any company to anything else! Since nothing I say seems to help. I also have found recently that B is hanging on my every move with the horses, it’s like having a doppelgänger in horse form! I am feeling quite frustrated and smothered with all this. I just want to be able to enjoy my horse and my friends! I’ve been struggling personally with mental health, and I know A has been too as we have discussed it. And I suspect all of this isn’t helping
