Dangerous mare

I've just read this thread from start to finish and I have tears in my eyes. OP I'm so glad you persevered - wonderful outcome. You're an inspiration. :)
 
I started reading your post (before noticing the date!) and would have recommended you try Michael Peace for your troubled mare. The man is a genius, no fixed system, magic headcollars, etc just plain common sense, experience and the ability to understand what is troubling the horse.

The best bit of advice I got from him was that it takes 8-9 minutes for a horse to assess a new/strange situation, but most people don't give them more than a few minutes before trying to force them.
 
What a wonderful story!

I hope some people are kicking themselves in the teeth now. Especially one person's quite frankly disgusting comment that this horse didn't deserve a second chance. I hope they never end up with a problem horse.

Well done OP! :D
 
Thank you all. I can't tell you how many people told me not to keep going and told me I was stupid for putting up with a dangerous horse. At times I was so torn as I knew if anyone got hurt I'd never forgive myself. That said I don't believe there is such a thing as a bad horse and I really wanted to make up for all of the awful things that had happened to this mare at the hands of those who were supposed to look after her.

Tammytoo - it was Michael Peace I called - we owe him everything :-) x
 
Tammytoo said:
I started reading your post (before noticing the date!) and would have recommended you try Michael Peace for your troubled mare. The man is a genius, no fixed system, magic headcollars, etc just plain common sense, experience and the ability to understand what is troubling the horse.

The best bit of advice I got from him was that it takes 8-9 minutes for a horse to assess a new/strange situation, but most people don't give them more than a few minutes before trying to force them.
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I used Mike Peace a few years back and agree with you, he is genius and a genuine horseman.
 
I was going to suggest it could of maybe Hormonal before I got to the end. :)

Im so glad things are going really well for you both.

Its a wonderful feeling to know all the blood,sweat and tears are worth it in the end. :):):)
 
Elsbells said:
You'll never have a bond quite as strong or deep with any other horse OP, as you will have with her, because it is forged through fire which makes it special.

My mare and I have been exactly where you are now. It was worth every step of the way though despite all the tears and sleepless nights. We have both learnt so much and belong to each other and we are both stuck like glue.

I really believe that horses can and are often pushed over the edge and that they do suffer from nervous breakdowns just like us. You've fallen in love with her because you can feel her pain and your now taking the first steps on a hard and long journey which is always a gamble. Learn from it. Stay safe and enjoy the ride of your life!;)
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Whoops! I missed the date too!:rolleyes: but was I right eh?;):)

Well done you!!!
 
Thanks again all :-)
I got held up today getting away from work and when I got to the yard my girl had been brought in, had her feet washed and her rugs changed! Such a little thing but when you consider the horse I had at the start of this thread I could have burst with pride!
Little things hey :-)
 
So delighted with the happy ending you and your mare have!! I've not been a horse owner that long but went through a few probs with my pony when we moved her to a new yard and some people were so quick to write her off as a danger but we persevered as i knew it wasn't like her to behave like she was and it turned out her back was bothering her. She is much better now thank god and people who disregarded her before have commented on what a great pony she is!! Wouldn't be without her. I wish i had saw your post back when i was losing hope and doubting my pony!! Sounds like your mare has found someone who finally gives her the the love she needed!!!
 
Some pics as requested :-)
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When I first got her (I blame the hangover for making me say yes!) ;-)

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Tacked up! and happy

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Exhausting being so good now!
 
What a great story. Well done for working it through and what a lucky horse to have you. That said, I wouldn't have judged you if you had decided enough is enough and PTS. Less lucky horses may have been passed on from pillar to post causing themselves and others misery and injury. Hooray for you both!
 
an old thread but just wondered wether there was any info on mare an rider now?? as so many people were pts pts... it was refreshing to see an owner actually try patience and other methods... would be lovely to get an update ??
 
horseandshoes77 said:
an old thread but just wondered wether there was any info on mare an rider now?? as so many people were pts pts... it was refreshing to see an owner actually try patience and other methods... would be lovely to get an update ??
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Hello there! My girl is an absolute bloody star! :-)
Took her for her first dressage outing today. So much could have gone wrong as local show with hundreds of horses with "interesting" steering,first go on grass,first time seeing white boards etc!

She was superb! Wound up but reasonably so and actually produced some amazing work. Scored a very respectable 58.7%!

I have to read this thread back and barely remember the horse she was. She will always be tricky and you can never never be complacent around her but it is worth it and I'm so glad I persevered and sought help!

Hope this helps x
 
tobiano said:
Wow! First time I have seen all this - what an inspiring story. Well done Baileybones :-)
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Thank you! Believe me there are still days that people tell me I'm wasting my time but they're few and far between now and besides now I just smile and nod ;-)

I am so lucky to have her in my life! (Even if the miserable old baggage doesn't always appreciate the lengths I've gone to to keep her alive) x
 
Hi i have some idea what you are going through, Harvey has been sold so many times and thats the ones i know of, hes been through 2 horse sales etc.
I did all the checks, x-rays and nothing came back so i was told no pain
It has taken me from buying Harvey in 2007 till this year to have his problem diagnosed
I was told that Harvey was a lucky boy as most horses with his condition dont normally live past 3 years old. His problem, he has mild hip dysplasia, he can carry his own weight fine and moves beautifully and i have been told that he can be ridden, with conditions.
Only one rider [he will learn to carry one riding style]
He will not be able to work in an outline as this will put to much strain on the joint
LOTS of physio and he will let me know when [by reverting to bucking and rearing]
Harvey is staying with me for the rest of his life and im not putting him back to work, he is 15 now so we will stick to in-hand showing
Thats Harveys job
I think your decision is really how far you want to go and how long you can wait
your horse is trying to tell you something
When your horse was being pulled over with the chifney to teach her a lesson [resulting in broken jaw,pelvis]what was she being naughty about
There is something else, something missing. She will be like the layers of an onion giving you little bits as the layers come away, some mental baggage will mask other problems until she is ready to show you or you give up
KEEP SAFE IN THE MEANTIME
 
harveysmom said:
Hi i have some idea what you are going through, Harvey has been sold so many times and thats the ones i know of, hes been through 2 horse sales etc.
I did all the checks, x-rays and nothing came back so i was told no pain
It has taken me from buying Harvey in 2007 till this year to have his problem diagnosed
I was told that Harvey was a lucky boy as most horses with his condition dont normally live past 3 years old. His problem, he has mild hip dysplasia, he can carry his own weight fine and moves beautifully and i have been told that he can be ridden, with conditions.
Only one rider [he will learn to carry one riding style]
He will not be able to work in an outline as this will put to much strain on the joint
LOTS of physio and he will let me know when [by reverting to bucking and rearing]
Harvey is staying with me for the rest of his life and im not putting him back to work, he is 15 now so we will stick to in-hand showing
Thats Harveys job
I think your decision is really how far you want to go and how long you can wait
your horse is trying to tell you something
When your horse was being pulled over with the chifney to teach her a lesson [resulting in broken jaw,pelvis]what was she being naughty about
There is something else, something missing. She will be like the layers of an onion giving you little bits as the layers come away, some mental baggage will mask other problems until she is ready to show you or you give up
KEEP SAFE IN THE MEANTIME
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Thank you :-)

This is a really old post though and I'd just been asked to give an update. My girl is doing so so well now. Good luck with your boy - I hope you also get a happy ending x
 
What a fantastic story! Like the others I had tears in my eyes when you came back with the report after two years!

My own mare had a very troubled abusive past, but like a lot of horses, she suffered in silence with the occasional panic attack, and was never dangerous, but calmly and slowly won through, and like yours, my mare is an absolute dream to own.

I always say, a perfect horse is nice to find, but a troubled horse will teach you so much more, and your bond will be so much tighter, as a wise poster said earlier, it was forged with fire.
 
Morning All

Not sure if anyone would remember the original thread but thought I'd give an update on the "old" girl as she is now.
She is still a grumpy opinionated witch most days but wouldn't change that for the world.

She's 19 now and I've just retired her sound. She had a tough old start in life so I wanted to make sure her retirement was not because of an injury so when she started to not love the work so much I called it a day.
She now has a new field buddy (another TB of course but I treated myself to a gelding this time) and she is very happy just walking about eating and pooing and costing me money.

She taught me more about myself and horses then I realised I needed to learn. I'll always be debt to her but I think the score is fairly equal if you consider how many times I was told to write her off and didn't.

Hope this gives someone out there having a tough time a bit of hope.
 
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