Is she TOO quiet now?

[JAK]

The Baggage is now so quiet & placid, you could put a toddler on her! OK, maybe not but she does look like something anybody that can ride could ride!

She does not look remotely uncomfortable in any way (never fusses with her head or mouth or anything), jumps happily & will thunder along at at a very enthusiastic gallop down the tracks but is like a different pony generally!

She always comes when called (often with an excited whinny & usually at a trot), falls asleep when groomed, has plenty of energy but MD can ride her round on a buckle end & she acts like a total plod when led (slouching along like a well-trained dog) & has shown no signs of towing MD anywhere!

Does this sound 'happy', as she doesn't seem to be 'bored', she's just........quiet! Could we really be this lucky?

p.s. I'm being serious here! lol

 

[Irishcobs]

Has anything changed in her routine, friends left etc? The reason I ask is my Gypsy has gone very quiet, buckle ride which is most certainly isn't normally because Hattie has gone off to stud. In hindsight I would of got him a friend for the few weeks she has been gone as he clearly not himself. Hopefully when she gets back he will be his old self again.

 

[JAK]

She's got progressively quieter (& calmer) since MD first started riding at the beginning of May! She's always been a bit of a so & so, though never nasty with it but has stopped all the broncing, tanking etc. & seldom does anything naughty now at all!

She just seems mega chilled but I've seldom seen such a dramatic change in any pony in such a short space of time! She gives every indication of being 'happy', I'm just genuinely surprised by her change of attitude!

I was hoping somebody else would say their 'newish' horse was just the same, so it is perfectly normal! We know she's 'bright', so I was wondering if this could be a 'mare thing', as she does seem to react to & pick up on things more quickly than our geldings?

 

[Thistle]

I would say she is happy and chilled. Mine are all like that at home, yet still perform well and work.

 

[PapaFrita]

I've had horses out of racing arrive with a reputation for spinning, bolting, bucking, lying down (under saddle) and refusing to get up etc etc. Not one of them did it whilst in my care. I flatter myself they were happy and relaxed and I'm sure the Baggage is too

 

[JAK]

Thanks Thistle & PF, I feel reassured now!
It's all gone so smoothly, I just had this stupid irrational fear that she was almost too placid, or that she would suddenly get bored with us or something & revert to her old ways but I guess that's just stupid, isn't it?

Irishcobs - hopefully Gypsy will perk up a bit when his friend returns, or maybe he is just relishing all the individual attention?

 

[mstep]

Hiya,

Contented is a word that springs to mind

sounds like she's a happy Baggage - if she's still whizzing about and having the odd cheeky moment then I wouldn't worry

My lad is like that - tho he was almost horizontally laid back when I got him! (Shire x Clyde) He's got such a cheeky personality now - forever chucking things at you or chewing leadropes if you've not got all your attention focused on him... lol
Em

 

[AngB]

Sounds like the perfect pony to me! I'd rename her from 'Baggage' to 'Brilliant'!

 

[bex1984]

I reckon she's feeling happy, relaxed and probably secure because she knows where her boundaries are, and she gets on so well with MD.

 

[sleepingdragon10]

[ QUOTE ]
She's got progressively quieter (& calmer) since MD first started riding at the beginning of May! She's always been a bit of a so & so, though never nasty with it but has stopped all the broncing, tanking etc. & seldom does anything naughty now at all!

She just seems mega chilled but I've seldom seen such a dramatic change in any pony in such a short space of time! She gives every indication of being 'happy', I'm just genuinely surprised by her change of attitude!

I was hoping somebody else would say their 'newish' horse was just the same, so it is perfectly normal! We know she's 'bright', so I was wondering if this could be a 'mare thing', as she does seem to react to & pick up on things more quickly than our geldings?

[/ QUOTE ]

Could well be a mare thing JAK. As you and I have discussed, SWUO gets rather grumpy when bored, and almost becomes a different pony when kept happy. Whereas Lux doesn't really give a damn either way as long as his tummy is full!!
Maybe Baggage has never displayed this 'other' side before now as she's always been unhappy in some way? It would seem that despite MD and BB both having a little attitude, they've gelled very quickly, and the benefits of that partnership are now becoming evident.

 

[JAK]

Thanks all, I really AM reassured now!

bex- I think your description is perfect, especially the 'boundaries' bit!
MD is very kind & gentle but also very 'boot camp' with ponies on the ground & won't tolerate any taking the michael at all! (Rather of the 'I say jump, you say "how high", OK?' variety!)

I have never been that keen on mares (though my first pony was a mare & was quite brilliant really!) but she certainly seems a lot more 'clued-up' than the geldings & is definitely more sensitive when it comes to being kept 'amused' & is more demanding emotionally I think, as she does seem to see people as something more than just a walking feed bucket! lol

 

[suestowford]

[ QUOTE ]

I was hoping somebody else would say their 'newish' horse was just the same, so it is perfectly normal!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not an expert at all, but I did take on a very unhappy horse years back. He was lonely, hungry and fed up. It took about two days of regular feeding, company and interesting things to do and his whole attitude seemed to change, he lost his hangdog look and became incredibly co-operative. Maybe she just likes you?

 

[JAK]

Aww, poor sad horsey! The Baggage has always been well-cared for though, so doesn't have that excuse! lol

I think you're right though, she just 'likes us', simple as that!
MD has this wonderful child-like quality of treating the most ordinary, run-of-the-mill pony like it was the best thing on four legs, ever!

She has a different set of expectations to many people, judging something mainly on how it interacts with her (or how she thinks it might interact with her, given time!), rather than what it can do! You could give her the most talented, expensive pony out there but if she didn't see anything in it to fall in love with, she wouldn't keep it long!