Hit an all time low with my horse :(

[Elf On A Shelf]

Of course and it would be lovely to do the latter even to be a field ornament.

This one... hugely suggests she is not field sound. And many others. Along with describing how she behaves every time you sit on her suggests you do keep riding her regardless.

 

[Ellietotz]

This one... hugely suggests she is not field sound. And many others. Along with describing how she behaves every time you sit on her suggests you do keep riding her regardless.

I'm not explaining myself again or trying to convince someone on the internet what I am or am not doing.
I've put it clearly in my posts what I've done, when I last got on and how she is.

This is the last time I will say it too, I have lost confidence on her, my original post was written because I didn't want to ride her anymore regardless!

 

[Lois Lame]

Yes, other mare gets standard pony nuts and grass chaff, nothing else.

I wonder what your mare would think of being fed standard nuts and grass chaff and nothing else. Maybe that's what she needs.

BTW, I've not seen any of the videos because they won't work for me, but I do think she sounds unsuitable for riding. Maybe there are two things afoot: the repercussions of her misadventures as a youngster and her innards craving no frills roughage of great variety. I don't know.

 

[MrsMurs]

I am just feeling so low.

I have completely lost my confidence and trust in her due to the spooking. After 5 years of owning her, this has always been a problem and it's never really been a comfortable ride though when we had a little gallop or canter, I could trust she wouldn't do anything stupid, not at least until we slowed up a bit that she'd start looking at things and come to a bouncing uncomfortable stop.

She used to go through phases of just shying from things to slamming on the brakes and spinning which were the worst and apparently this time, she prefers spooking this way at pretty much everything nowadays.

Since the beginning of the year when this type of spooking started again, a few occasions nearly had me off and since then, I just don't enjoy riding her as it has knocked my confidence. We only hack, she goes out fine on her own with no napping but she is scared of everything. Some days will be absolutely fine though, no spooking and other days, we are slamming on brakes and spinning at sticks and different coloured patches of grass.

This spinning doesn't just happen at walk and trot either, it can happen from canter to top speed which she has done.

I came off today as we were cantering up a hill, I saw the dog on the right so I was pulling up, she obviously didn't see it so she braked and span ending up facing back down the hill. I was basically off so managed to land on my feet and keep hold of her. She'd scared herself I think as she wanted to walk the rest of the way which was very unusual for her.

I just don't know what I am supposed to do now. She has too many issues to be sold and I love her so much. Realistically, I can't afford to buy another either. I can afford to keep another but the buying is the issue and I don't want a loan particularly.

I don't think a calmer would make any difference at this point, I have tried tonnes, she was doing it even when I was confident too and I used to just roll my eyes and carry on. I'm focused on riding her forwards, urging her on when I feel her hesitating at god knows what. I went out today feeling confident but ended up coming back feeling miserable again.

I just want to be able to get on and have a nice ride without worrying that she will spin. I don't trust her anymore.

The last few rides prior to today were actually okay, we were only doing short routes with limited option to what we could do and there was no spooking but I'm not sure I'd enjoy just sticking to this, I don't know. It could have also just been a one off but if not, that is probably the only option if I want to ride is to only pick easy limited routes. If we do this for a while spook free, would it give her confidence or am I just kidding myself?

Riding out in company makes no difference to the spooking really. She is a tiny bit better but it's still there.

I've tried desensitising in the school, she has no issues with this. Walking out in hand is also fine because she likes to follow people so she doesn't feel "on her own" as such.

She is 16 years old and Arab x TB x Warmblood.

Sorry for the whinge, I just need to get it off my chest.

Thank you if you got this far.

Not sure what they’re called, but my friend rides out with an attachment that is clipped to the saddle. It’s like a stabilising rope. Her horse is quite spooky and spinney, this helps her feel anchored. I know it’s not addressing the problem, but might help your confidence. Really hope you can work it out and enjoy your horse again soon x

 

[Tiddlypom]

That's called a RS stor. They are very useful in some cases, but do not address the primary problem in this case that it is pain that is causing the unreliable behaviour.

 

[Dave's Mam]

That's called a RS stor. They are very useful in some cases, but do not address the primary problem in this case that it is pain that is causing the unreliable behaviour.

I was just typing this.