Charla
Well-Known Member
Think I am just feeling a little disheartened. However I am also worried I am in the same boat as I was with my previous horse.
Basically, bought a 2 rising 3 year old many years ago as for the quality I wanted, that was what I could afford. Bought him to be an all rounder, and after 6 years, he could do a bit of everything, but his heart and talent truly lay with dressage. He was not a natural jumper. And in the end, I sold him to my dressage instructor and he continued to grow and grow and do fabulous in the dressage world and still is now. Dressage way above my ability and interest.
After a break due to an accident and bad injury...I stupidly fell in love with another 2 rising 3 year old. Said mare is now rising 5. She has been tricky, but I’ve had all the professional help around me and she’s really going nicely now and has turned a corner, seemingly....
My problem is she has said no a few times in the past, and when she says no, she means no. If you argue with her or try to send her forwards with your leg or crop, she has learnt that she can unseat and dump the rider within seconds. Not just me, this is professionals also. Humps the rider on to her neck, then bucks over her shoulder, all very quickly!
I really do enjoy schooling her and hacking and we have started going out to training elsewhere and she’s coped really well and I’ve been really impressed with her. Jumping is improving. We had an issue with fillers where she said no, but we are through that now with loads of repetition.
Yesterday, I decided to try tiny bounces with her for the first time, which would also help improve her canter. She isn’t the most forward of horses, but she was going nicely, finding it easy it seemed.
A cat then Sat by the school fence at the end of the bounces line, and she had a melt down. After that, she refused to go down the line of the bounces. Yes I worked her away from them and where she was spooking on a circle for a good 10 mins. But then she started planting, napping and threatening to rear as soon as I asked her to move up the school to start the bounces again. I was so disappointed as she hasn’t behaved like this for months. I really thought she had stopped it completely. Now is this spooking at the cat an excuse to get out of the exercise? She sees the cats daily when being turned in and out of her field. Was she finding the exercise hard and decided to say no and the cat was just a coincidence? I think my biggest fear is that my problems with her seem to come with jumping related things and is she another one suited more to pure dressage I know she’s young, but at what point do you accept it? Do I do another 6 years with her persevering to find out her hearts not in it, like the last? I’m not getting any younger myself! Just so gutted we have taken 10 steps forward and then last night reverted back to old behaviours.
Please note, horses has recently had a full set of X-rays, and clean bill of health from vet.
I guess the only answer is, save a big budget and buy a ready made horse that I know enjoys it’s job!
Basically, bought a 2 rising 3 year old many years ago as for the quality I wanted, that was what I could afford. Bought him to be an all rounder, and after 6 years, he could do a bit of everything, but his heart and talent truly lay with dressage. He was not a natural jumper. And in the end, I sold him to my dressage instructor and he continued to grow and grow and do fabulous in the dressage world and still is now. Dressage way above my ability and interest.
After a break due to an accident and bad injury...I stupidly fell in love with another 2 rising 3 year old. Said mare is now rising 5. She has been tricky, but I’ve had all the professional help around me and she’s really going nicely now and has turned a corner, seemingly....
My problem is she has said no a few times in the past, and when she says no, she means no. If you argue with her or try to send her forwards with your leg or crop, she has learnt that she can unseat and dump the rider within seconds. Not just me, this is professionals also. Humps the rider on to her neck, then bucks over her shoulder, all very quickly!
I really do enjoy schooling her and hacking and we have started going out to training elsewhere and she’s coped really well and I’ve been really impressed with her. Jumping is improving. We had an issue with fillers where she said no, but we are through that now with loads of repetition.
Yesterday, I decided to try tiny bounces with her for the first time, which would also help improve her canter. She isn’t the most forward of horses, but she was going nicely, finding it easy it seemed.
A cat then Sat by the school fence at the end of the bounces line, and she had a melt down. After that, she refused to go down the line of the bounces. Yes I worked her away from them and where she was spooking on a circle for a good 10 mins. But then she started planting, napping and threatening to rear as soon as I asked her to move up the school to start the bounces again. I was so disappointed as she hasn’t behaved like this for months. I really thought she had stopped it completely. Now is this spooking at the cat an excuse to get out of the exercise? She sees the cats daily when being turned in and out of her field. Was she finding the exercise hard and decided to say no and the cat was just a coincidence? I think my biggest fear is that my problems with her seem to come with jumping related things and is she another one suited more to pure dressage I know she’s young, but at what point do you accept it? Do I do another 6 years with her persevering to find out her hearts not in it, like the last? I’m not getting any younger myself! Just so gutted we have taken 10 steps forward and then last night reverted back to old behaviours.
Please note, horses has recently had a full set of X-rays, and clean bill of health from vet.
I guess the only answer is, save a big budget and buy a ready made horse that I know enjoys it’s job!