Disheartened

[HollyWoozle]

Sorry for whinging.

I am feeling a bit disheartened about Belle right now. We knew when we bought her that she wasn't really what we'd set out to get and that she'd be hard work but I am just feeling a bit "meh" about it all.

I've been having lessons twice a week (then trying to hack once a week) for the past couple of months but things seem to go up and down. We (me plus instructor) were getting her to soften a little bit in her work and were managing some inside bend when trotting. She also improved in her canter. Now it all seems have to gone wrong and today she just acted like we had never done anything, stuck her nose out to the fence and cut all the corners. She has started just rushing down the sides of the school and when we canter, although she strikes off really well now, she just suddenly bursts with energy and charges around. We put some blocks in the corners for me to having something to aim around and Belle kicked one then flew about, stuck her head between her knees and did a couple of big bucks. I sat to them (proud of myself!) and they don't frighten me but it is frustrating.

We have overcome many things - when she first came (October) she would constantly panic and break free when tied. She didn't like her feet being picked out and she would try to avoid being tacked up. Now we have overcome the first two and the tacking up is far better, though bridle can be a struggle. Sometimes she won't stand still for me to get on and a few times she refused to leave but today she was better with all this. It just feels like if it's not one thing then it's another?!

She is fitter now and I guess just trying it on but it's just really disheartening when we were starting to get somewhere. Instructor is excellent and very positive about it and I'm looking for a pep talk here more than on advice of how to solve her issues (please).

My mum keeps saying that we should sell her if she's not safe and too much trouble but I don't want to give up after having had her 7 months with only a few months of proper work. Can someone just tell me to soldier on with it and get a grip?! I do love her and I want to get on with it. Thanks!

(For the record she is a green 7yr old and I have no definite intentions of competing her at all)

 

[LauraWheeler]

((((((((((hugs))))))))))
Well done you for not wanting to give up on her You've done such a good job with her so far. Maybe she was full of the joys of spring today and it's only a miner setback. well done for sitting the bucks .
It'll all be worth it in the end sounds like you have a lovely instructor to help you. It's just one step forward two steps back sometimes i'm afraid.

 

[xbuzzx]

Just keep going with her, and always try to find a positive in everything you do with her! I felt like how you are and my mum was saying the same things as your mum is now aswell when i first got my boy, but the best advice i got at the time was to keep perserveering(spelling) because some day you'll love what you have done to get that far and will have so much fun with her, and i'm so glad i was told that! I didn't believe it at the time, but it has came true! Good luck!

 

[buckaroo2010]

I was so glad to see your post. I'm having very similar problems with my new horse that I bought a few months ago. I have worked so hard on getting him settled and making him feel at home but things just keep going wrong. His latest problems are bucking whenever asked to canter and freaking out on hacks for no good reason. He's a really big horse and being on top of him when he's scared and is leaping around if scary. My mum is worried that if he isn't better by the end of the summer we'll have to sell him. Neither of us want this as he has such a lovely nature on the ground.
My best advice is to keep going. Your horse is only young at seven and has a lot to learn but you'll get there. It may seem hard and at times you'll want to give up but when something goes right it gives you such a lift and you feel so proud. Good luck!

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks for all your replies, they really are making me feel a lot better about it. She has a kind nature and I know that none of what she does is out of nastiness. She is just nervous or excited and times (mostly nervous!) and I think she has the potential to be such a fun horse for me.

It just seems like a lot of work when I just want to hack around and have some fun, but I hope that working through these things will make her all the more special to me. We aimed to get a real sensible hacking horse and sometimes I think I'd love to trade Belle in for something totally safe and sane... but at least with Belle I actually feel like I am working on something and that I have to up my riding as a result.

buckaroo - I hope that you persevere too and can overcome the issues with your boy. Sometimes you get one thing sorted and then something else goes wrong and it's just so frustrating. I really hope your boy comes good and that you don't have to sell him.

 

[Echo Bravo]

If you just want to hack sell her, but if you are like the rest of us on the forum, nobody wants to give up and we all have good days or very bad weeks but most of us have a good ridable friend at the end of it and I think end up being more senstive and sensible riders and owners because of it.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

go back to basics! teeth saddle and back. then look at feed and turnout. then look at quantity of work. in between your lessons how much brain work are you asking for? do you ask horse to work in a shape engaging hindquarters and brain whilst hacking? do you do any lateral exercises whilst hacking or do you and the horse slop along enjoying the countryside? (nothing wrong with this as long as you have base control) but do remember you cant BUY a partnership!