it sounds silly when I write it down,but im so proud of my baby

[kerrieberry2]

Today I took my boy out in hand and we had a couple of little trots along the track!

I know this doesn't sound much and he is 3 so he should have been doing this for ages now! but based on what he was like at the beginning of the year, I never thought id see this day!

I bought him in Feb 12 and he was totally unhandled but a real easy boy, he'd do anything I asked, this time last year me and a friend were leading him around he village, passing loads of scary things and he didn't bat an eyelid! then one day he realised he could rear! and rear he did, every time I got him out of the field or tried to take him back!

One day last winter he was watching me clip my mare, who I then took back to the field, he was waiting outside another field, closer to the yard! my mare started running around and calling him because she couldn't see him, which in turn set off the mare in the field next to where he was waiting! so I went back to get him and he bite me, so my instant reaction was to smack him, which he didn't like! As soon as I got him out the gate, he started rearing, I kept hold of him then he reared, turned in at me and struck out with his front foot, hitting me in the jaw. Again, I refused to let go (in tears at this point) we got all the way back to the field, when he picked up my mares head collar and took off with it, running back down to the other mare. at this point I was ready to call the hunt! a friend came over with a bucket of feed, which I used to entice him back to the field, needless to say, scared to death that he might do this again! and off I went to the hospital! luckily there was no damage, thank god he was only 2 and unshod at the time!

following this I can safely say I was too scared to do anything with him, immediately I called a natural horsemanship lady out, who'd done stuff with him in the past and she said that he was "an interesting horse" she'd like to write about him and then confirmed when she said interesting, she did mean difficult! and that he would require a lot of work! I purchased a dually and a long rope and this has been a massive god send!

so I found a safe place on the yard to lead him up and down, and every day when we turned around to go back he'd rear! so I just kept at it! eventually we started getting there! and up until today my main aim when leading him out is to get there and back again without rear, trotting has never been a consideration.

Then I moved yards 2.5 months ago and it has done him the world of good, he's with my mare and my mini sheltand, we have a foot path that runs through so he gets to meet other horses and I can now so that I am definitely not scared of him anymore

sorry its long, I just never thought I'd get to the stage where we could move on another step

 

[Queenbee]

Absolutely not silly, milestones, no matter how small are huge to us owners! It makes it even more huge a milestone when the history surrounding getting to that milestone is significant. Difficult horses are so flipping hard, with my girl I fell, cried and felt demoralised and out of my depth far more than with any other horse, but I know that huge sense of pride and achievement that you attribute to you and your horse... It comes with the smallest event and it makes you burst... Well done you for sticking through the difficult times and working with your boy, it certainly sounds like its worked x

 

[kerrieberry2]

thank you! I will never give up on him, the harder you work the more you appreciate what you have!

I've read your post about moving to Ireland, sounds amazing, I wish you all the luck in the world, will be an amazing place to have a horse and you'll be closer to Connemara, so you can find me my next nightmare horse hehe!

 

[Queenbee]

Ha ha, thank you... It's true, the harder you work the more you appreciate... With my girlie there were times though that I truly felt overhorsed/didn't get her/ like we were speaking two different languages... I often considered whether it would be best for her if I sold her, but then wondered if she ended up in the wrong hands, still with the same issues... Well I simply couldn't have lived with myself. The perseverance paid off and I've never had or known a horse like her, she was everything to me and more.

Bens mum was from Ireland, he is 1/4 connie so he will in a way be going home as I said I wish I could do it tomorrow but if I'm to move, achieve all I want to and live comfortably, I really have to plan it and take my time, but now I've made the decision I feel great

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Well done - I completely understand how much these little successes mean.

Just think how each little improvement takes you one step closer to having a wonderful, obedient, well trained horse (I tell myself this all the time LOL ).

 

[kerrieberry2]

Glad I'm not the only one! its amazing, I've just noticed another thing, he hates it when I take my mare out, often gets in the way of the gate and I've just noticed how easy it was today to get him to back up out of her space! normally its a full on push using my body weight, but tonight was 2 fingers on his chest and back straight away! he's becoming a clever boy again

I'm glad im not the only one to be pleased with these small things!

queenbee, its good to have a plan, I wish I did! I still don't know where I want to be in the next 2 yrs, so good on you for making such a massive decision! im still waiting to see whether I can get a perm job where I am, and if I can't im clueless as to what I want to do? spent 3 yrs training to be a hairdresser and these last few months have been so hard, I kind of feel like I don't want to do it anymore! might be different once I've finished college in Oct!