Feeling very down - need hugs

[little_critter]

I'm getting so frustrated with my mare, she just won't put any effort in. Went to dressage yesterday and made sure I focussed on transitions and trying to get her off my leg in the warmup - in the test she totally switched off; it's her ploddy pace of stuff it.
I'm worried that I've turned a nice keen pony into a switched off, bored, numb pony.
Tried to do some fun stuff tonight to perk her up but she just wasn't having it.
She's having a liver biopsy on thursday, I'm almost hoping that the vet will say her liver issues can cause this lack of spark (never shown any clinical symptoms but she has been sluggish for a while now, but I can't tell if it's her liver of if she's bored).
Feeling really down, hopefully the few weeks off after the biopsy will be the holiday she needs.
I'm also making a new years resolution to do more fun stuff with her - but I struggle to find people to do fun stuff with, and my mare doesn't find doing stuff on her own fun.

*wails* I just want my pony to like what we do together...sob.

 

[mightymammoth]

)))hugs(((

I feel for you, owning a horse is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster isnt it x

 

[little_critter]

Too right, and you see these post from people saying their horse comforted them when they were crying - pah! mine just said "hurry up woman, where's my hay?"
Once the winter league dressage has finished (March I think) I'l stop with the dressage and try to do more jumping/ xc/ fun rides etc. See if we can have a fun packed summer.
I was thinking of taking her hunting but I think I'm running out of season now.

 

[SarahRicoh]

When my pony had liver problems she was very laz/lethargic.. She lost her usual spark.. Could not be helping.

*hugs*

 

[LaurenM]

You've got until March for hunting - plenty of time. Mine loves it so much that she'll work correctly the whole day! Just need to capture her energy for the outdoor school!

 

[juliette]

I'd try some pleasure rides and long hacks with friends and see if the more relaxed environment perks her up!

 

[little_critter]

When my pony had liver problems she was very laz/lethargic.. She lost her usual spark.. Could not be helping.

*hugs*

Thanks - I've had her for a year now, we moved away from her long time yard in March, then she had a high liver enzyme result in August (but looking back had been lacking buzz since May).
I think that between moving yards and me taking a long time to allow myself to really *ride* her (as in mean business, not just faff around) I've never really worked out what is 'normal' for her, so I've never been sure if the lack of spark is liver related or whether I've made her bored.
I know she was a keen pony for her last owner but I have the opposite of an electric bum so I thought it might be me influencing her mood.

 

[Chestnut mare]

Sounds like my pony- she's dead to the leg totally switched off and uninterested I get frustrated and angry with her which doesn't help! I hope things will improve once her liver is sorted.
Ditto the pleasure rides and doing something different .

 

[oscarwild]

My horse fell ill in July and had high liver enzymes. They made her feel lethargic and really not herself to ride. So that cant be helping yours.
My mare had a biopsy which showed her liver was ok but enzymes still high in Nov (due another test now) So it seems to be her allergies playing havoc with her system. Just back into work so have no idea if she any better. But the raised enzymes will make her feel off colour.

 

[little_critter]

Oscarwild - I keep bumping into your posts, I hope your horse recovers well. I will be quizzing the vet on Thursday. It's strange how common this seems to be.
Strangely it's good to hear that other horses with high liver enzymes have gone 'off the boil'
I've been beating myself up thinking that I've made her bored and uninterested in work, maybe it's not all my fault. I just hope we can get her back to her old self, she looks so bored and depressed at the moment.

 

[oscarwild]

Yeah there seems to be alot of it going around this year. I hope you get some answers from the biopsy when you get it done. And your horse gets back to normal soon for you as it seems to have been going on for a little while now.

Yeah hope my mare makes a recovery soon. The hardest thing we have had to deal with has been the allergies as she tested positive to all grasses, outdoor allergens of wheat, corn, barley, rye etc and some foods etc. She allergic to haylage but ok on hay but only from some suppliers. She been suffering mucus for months and is away to have a xray to see if they can find where its lying. Vet says its all connected. Joys of horse ownership. I do wonder why I have them sometimes. lol.