HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
Today my instructor came to the house so take us right back to basics, seeing as Belle has turned into a wild looney.
She said that Belle appears to be taking the mickey out of me a bit, and using her size to her advantage, but that she is obviously head shy and does panic at some things. She also moved where I tack Belle up to what I realise now is a much more sensible place.
We put Belle's bridle on and off about 10 times because she is cheeky and raises her head, and I have struggled to manage because I'm always paranoid that she'll shoot backwards so lost my confidence with it. Then we put the saddle on and I got on (she actually stood perfectly still!!) and just had a walk around the field. Then I got off and we untacked and tacked her up again. My instructor suggested that I go and tack her up everyday, no matter how long it takes me, and to never turn her back out until I have succeeded in getting that bridle on.
I feel so much better now that I have had some help and like I know what I have to do. Instructor said that I was doing it right by not shouting at her, just by being patient and carrying on with it, so I now feel ready to go out tomorrow and just get on with it. There is a girl working here for my mum at the mo and she keeps horses so I will ask her to come out with me at lunchtimes to help me out.
Phew, I am so relieved! We still don't know what turned Belle from calm into being so crazy but at least I know how to deal with it now. Instructor is coming again on Friday and we're going to tack her up and hopefully ride down the street to the menage where we do a bit of schooling.
Whee! To finish, here is a pic of me and Belle from Sunday (butter wouldn't melt!!). Thanks.
She said that Belle appears to be taking the mickey out of me a bit, and using her size to her advantage, but that she is obviously head shy and does panic at some things. She also moved where I tack Belle up to what I realise now is a much more sensible place.
We put Belle's bridle on and off about 10 times because she is cheeky and raises her head, and I have struggled to manage because I'm always paranoid that she'll shoot backwards so lost my confidence with it. Then we put the saddle on and I got on (she actually stood perfectly still!!) and just had a walk around the field. Then I got off and we untacked and tacked her up again. My instructor suggested that I go and tack her up everyday, no matter how long it takes me, and to never turn her back out until I have succeeded in getting that bridle on.
I feel so much better now that I have had some help and like I know what I have to do. Instructor said that I was doing it right by not shouting at her, just by being patient and carrying on with it, so I now feel ready to go out tomorrow and just get on with it. There is a girl working here for my mum at the mo and she keeps horses so I will ask her to come out with me at lunchtimes to help me out.
Phew, I am so relieved! We still don't know what turned Belle from calm into being so crazy but at least I know how to deal with it now. Instructor is coming again on Friday and we're going to tack her up and hopefully ride down the street to the menage where we do a bit of schooling.
Whee! To finish, here is a pic of me and Belle from Sunday (butter wouldn't melt!!). Thanks.