Battle of the wills this evening!!!

AmiRobertson

AmiRobertson

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Oh my what a day!

I have spent 2 nights on the night bus's going from london to plymouth on thursday night to watch my best friend pass out from the navy yesterday (SO PROUD) and then back to london last night as had to do the horse today and my ex's family wanted to come and meet her (long story)

Just before going to the stables I went to see this flat in the village by my yard I loved it and have taken the room (move in on 10th november! Can not wait) I happily walk to the stables through the woods from new house thinking how lovely this will be to be so close to her. I decided that because I was exhausted I would just give her a lovely long groom tied up outside and then lunge for half an hour because riding her in my exhausted state probably would not of been wise.

Brought her in and tied her up 5 mins into grooming she pulls back and snaps the bailing twine. So calmly bring her back and tie her back up and she does it again and again FINALLY she patiently stood for me (we had such a good week with this all last week!!!).

Take her in the school and start to lunge in walk. 3 times round and she rears and spins towards the gate as she goes past it, mmm ok we are going to play this game then! Put her back in the direction I want her to walk in 2 times round and she does it again. Bear in mind my ex's family is watching this :eek: So we do it again and again. She has done this before but usually its a couple of times and then she works but not tonight! Ex's family awkwardly and kindly say they will leave me to it but its lovely to see me! And so its just me and her.
I decide to be harder I really can not tolerate napping and she is constantly eyeing the gate. As she goes past the gate again I can see her getting ready to do it so shout 'forward' and crack the lunge whip it seems to work and for a while we have her working. Then as soon as I give her a wider circle she is up and round again with lunge tangled round her head. We try again and again and again!!! ERGH! So I decide to do some ground work games to relax us both and then go back to the lunge. Bad move as soon as the line comes off she is galloping around the school like a looney! Charging the gate stopping then barging it! B***h!!! So I run down to the gate and every time she comes near it I push her away (shouting and waving my arms and the whip) she calms down and I turn my back 10seconds later and she is nuzzling the back of my neck affectionately, I ignore her.
At this moment one of the lovely girls on my yard comes and asks if everything is ok and would I like some help. I say yes this girl is about 2 years ahead of me with her youngster and I know she has had her fair bit of trouble from her little monkey but they have a great relationship so eager to learn!
She gets dizzy on the lunge and straight away the madam turns and spins for the gate. This girl is on her so quick dizzy barely has time to make it round before she is pushed back in the right direction. Obviously not happy with the new authority she breaks into a rather erratic canter. Quickly though she is brought into trot and she goes for the gate again! Again this girl is on her so fast and dizzy and is going back the right way! She kept her on a smaller circle slowly giving her more of the line as she behaved. She gave me a bucket load of advice and told me not to leave the school until dizzy was walking calmly on both reins with out spinning!
So we start again. Dizzy tries it and I am quicker this time :) she doesn't spin but still rears and pulls away from me I shout and push her forward she listens! I can see her thinking about at the E marker so push her forward again and we then had after 2 hours of fighting a calm walk on the lunge. After 10mins or so she has stopped eyeing the gate and brought her head right down with her nose trailing the ground I allow her in to me and we had 10 mins or so of cuddles and nuzzling before leaving the school (both incredibly sweaty!)

So my quiet evening with her back fired but feel like we got to know each other a bit better tonight!
We shall see what tomorrows lunging brings!!!
 
Just to make you feel better . . . at some point we will have all been in that situation. I think sometimes they pick up on the fact we're tired so think they'll win the argument easier. Mine always seems to know when to pick an argument though. It's great you had help though - it can make such a difference and really, months down the line you'll probably look back on this situation and think how grateful you were for it to happen as it will probably be a pivotal moment.
 
rodeo12 said:
Just to make you feel better . . . at some point we will have all been in that situation. I think sometimes they pick up on the fact we're tired so think they'll win the argument easier. Mine always seems to know when to pick an argument though. It's great you had help though - it can make such a difference and really, months down the line you'll probably look back on this situation and think how grateful you were for it to happen as it will probably be a pivotal moment.
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Ahh thank you! I did have a moment where I almost chucked her back in her stable but I could not let her win! This was our first 'row' and I am quite happy that I found her annoying and not frightening because she was being a proper cow!
I am on such a lovely yard, everyone always helps each other and cares about each others horses! So I am very lucky!
I definitely feel like I have gained a little more respect from my mare and if I wanted an easy life I wouldn't of brought a 4yr old green TB!
 
rodeo12 said:
Just to make you feel better . . . at some point we will have all been in that situation. I think sometimes they pick up on the fact we're tired so think they'll win the argument easier. Mine always seems to know when to pick an argument though. It's great you had help though - it can make such a difference and really, months down the line you'll probably look back on this situation and think how grateful you were for it to happen as it will probably be a pivotal moment.
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^^this^^

My friend had a dog called henry, just recently put down, and in all his years we swear he knew he could get away with murder when his mum was on the phone... I lost count of the times 'PACK IT IN HENRRRRRRRYYYYY!!!' was hollered down the phone to no avail, straight into my ear :D

Sounds like you had a day of it, I hope you enjoyed plymouth :D its lovely there, and it sounds like you got to know each other a wee bit more, as Rodeo says, we have all been there, very much so, and it gets better although often times we wonder why we try, then we have that little break through.

The only advice I can offer is this, if you get one good walk circuit, do not ask for another. The law of the sod dictates that all hell will break loose again and you could have ended it there and on a good note, but instead you have to persevere until you get another good circuit. Always persevere for the good behaviour and end there, with a whole heap of praise, no matter how small the good bit was. :D
 
Very well done on hanging in there and for taking what sounds like some very good advice :D

Most of the little darlings will test us at some time, which is usually the most blinking awkward time :rolleyes::eek::cool:

On a side note, my horse is called Dizzy too :D Excellent name :D
 
It's much easier to win with a horse like that on two lines in my experience. Long lining on a circle. My new mare had been taking the mick on the lunge for a long time, napping, bucking and cantering round out of control. I have got her working nicely in 5 sessions on two lines and I am working in an open field mostly (or enclosed with elec tape but no school). You need someone to show you properly but I find it much better with this sort of horse. Only owned mine 10 days but the difference is dramatic.
 
Ahh cheers guys it's such a fine line with being horrible and being firm. I want things to be taken slow between us so hate seeing her so worked up!
Just left now after a another session with her. Brought her in and she was really relaxed tied up outside while I groomed so was very pleased with her and she got a carrot :)
I got her in the school and decided to warm her up on her stronger rein so we are off to a good start! She wanted to trot A LOT but we did eventually get a nice forward going walk and she was moving long and round with her attention on me. Brought her in praised her turned her around to work on her weaker side and straight away when she went parallel with gate she tried it, I saw it coming and had cracked the whip and shouted forward before she even had time to think. She responded and didn't spin! :) and she didn't try it again and she was responsive and working well! We finished up and she was well praised!
I then thought we could do some ground work games as usually both really enjoy them so I took the lunge off to set up some cones and straight away she cantered to the gate and barged it ! What a cow! So ran down there and repelled her away from it and she went and sulked in the corner I kept my back to her and talked to my friend while she slowly with her head down started to come back to me she stood directly behind me and I took one step towards the gate she followed but didn't try to get infront of me :) when we reached the gate I popped the lead rope on and opened it! She shoved me out of the way to get past I shouted smacked her on the shoulder and pushed her back she reared and came down on my foot arggghh!!!! So lead rope came off and I pushed her away she went right up to the top corner and sulked while shouted in agony by the gate. And so we started again we eventually left the school calmly with me hobbling!

We will get there today was better than yesterday and hopefully tomorrow we will see an improvement as well! But she will learn some manners and that she is not incharge!
(I am loving the challenge though)
 
AmiRobertson said:
I saw it coming and had cracked the whip and shouted forward before she even had time to think. She responded and didn't spin! :) and she didn't try it again and she was responsive and working well! We finished up and she was well praised!
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There you go, that is what makes the difference, being a mind reader and getting ahead of the game, well done.

Hope there is no real damage to the foot, that sucks.
 
Haha I am starting to read her now. This our first test and I am sure she has plenty of tricks up sleeve the smart little madam!
Foot is ok! Very black and sore but not too swollen and I can move all my toes which is positive haha!
 
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