Solo1
Well-Known Member
Our livery yard have just turned all the horses out onto the summer paddocks, which are about half a mile away down a grass track, screened by trees.
Now, they've gone out onto lush grass and none of them come in at any point until September, bar farrier work, and those who are ridden. My mare used to come in and be stabled on her own - however she could see the horses in the field opposite, or one lami pony was always in (this is on the old yard).
Only 3 out of 28 horses get ridden regularly (as in once a week) and most owners don't work so go down in the middle of the day and get in and ride then.
So I was worried about lami with my mare so brought her in the first night. The stables are in a nice cool barn, but also means horse is totally isolated - can't hear or see any other horses. She threw herself around the stable madly, then seemed to run out of energy and just stand still whinnying and eating her hay. However I was worried she'd kick off without me there, and when her hay had gone, plus she was in a sweated state, so I hosed her off, walked her around to dry her off and turned her back out (which she was an absolute devil with, in eagerness to get back to her friends!)
Yesterday I brought her in to ride, she was an absulote cow once again. She was spinning and kicking out and being a pain in the backside. Managed to get on (with mothers help!) and walk and slowly trot her round for half an hour in the school. She tried to buck once but got a telling off and got sent forwards, however she wouldn't listen to me at all and was calling a lot and just jogging sideways everywhere.
Basically, I suppose my question is, what do I do with her? My plan was to bring her in every day until she realises that being by herself won't kill her and she will go back out eventually. There's no way I can bring another horse in as I'm by myself and each of them have various qualms and quirks - plus I don't think YO would allow it. I can coordinate at weekends with the 3 that do ride, but I'm eager to ride her everyday now she's staying out and not coming in to soaked hay at night. Also the night before competitions she's always had a rest. How long should it be before I see an improvement, or is she unlikely to improve because, well, it's instinct?
ETS - DOH! spelt advice wrong! Sorry people.
Now, they've gone out onto lush grass and none of them come in at any point until September, bar farrier work, and those who are ridden. My mare used to come in and be stabled on her own - however she could see the horses in the field opposite, or one lami pony was always in (this is on the old yard).
Only 3 out of 28 horses get ridden regularly (as in once a week) and most owners don't work so go down in the middle of the day and get in and ride then.
So I was worried about lami with my mare so brought her in the first night. The stables are in a nice cool barn, but also means horse is totally isolated - can't hear or see any other horses. She threw herself around the stable madly, then seemed to run out of energy and just stand still whinnying and eating her hay. However I was worried she'd kick off without me there, and when her hay had gone, plus she was in a sweated state, so I hosed her off, walked her around to dry her off and turned her back out (which she was an absolute devil with, in eagerness to get back to her friends!)
Yesterday I brought her in to ride, she was an absulote cow once again. She was spinning and kicking out and being a pain in the backside. Managed to get on (with mothers help!) and walk and slowly trot her round for half an hour in the school. She tried to buck once but got a telling off and got sent forwards, however she wouldn't listen to me at all and was calling a lot and just jogging sideways everywhere.
Basically, I suppose my question is, what do I do with her? My plan was to bring her in every day until she realises that being by herself won't kill her and she will go back out eventually. There's no way I can bring another horse in as I'm by myself and each of them have various qualms and quirks - plus I don't think YO would allow it. I can coordinate at weekends with the 3 that do ride, but I'm eager to ride her everyday now she's staying out and not coming in to soaked hay at night. Also the night before competitions she's always had a rest. How long should it be before I see an improvement, or is she unlikely to improve because, well, it's instinct?
ETS - DOH! spelt advice wrong! Sorry people.
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