MizElz
Well-Known Member
i have actually been a little afraid to post on here since the heated discussion on Saturday (ie. 'my horse looks like an rspca case' thread). i suppose i could have posted this at the end of that thread, or indeed, the 'Reprimanding' thread, but I didnt think it would be seen as much.
i just want to say thank you to all those people who DIDNT jump down my throat, and who, whether they agreed or disagreed with my actions, at least understood and sympathised. i would like to stress that it was not my intention to get sympathy from anyone - it was more of a general letting-off-steam session, as i was so upset i had had such a fall out with my girlie. i hadnt, in fact, expected many replies, if any, so the barrage of negativity surprised me.
i thought i had made it quite clear in the OP that i had tried everything that has, in past similar occasions, done the trick, but this time to no avail. This included, as suggested, turning her in small circles (although i would not want to try to get her to reverse anywhere, because a) running backwards is a habit we managed to stop when she was a 5 yr old, and b) reversing up a road is not ideal, in my opinion!) There also seemed to be some confusion regarding the actual situation - some of you seemed to think it was a stream i was trying to get her to cross; in fact, it was just a normal road where, in the past, the river has risen to road level. (she has gone through just fine when there has been water there in the past, as well as when it is dry.) Someone also mentioned that my horse sounds like a 'genuine, honest mare' - and i would agree with that, but even an honest horse can sometimes take the P, and she has been known to do this many times! its what makes riding her such fun, in my opinion - i had better make it clear that i DO NOT hit her everytime she plays up - the fact that i do not carry a whip/wear spurs should make this clear. i think, by now, i know her well enough to know when she is truly upset or frightened, and i would, of course, always empathise with this, and use the softly-softly approach as suggested. but i must say, i am in favour of discipline where deserved, and if an animal - any animal (or child!) - is trying to play you up, it must be put in its place, or else you run the risk of losing its respect forever.
For those of you who still have me down as a cruel horse beater, so be it. i wish you well with the 'natural' approach, but i would be interested to know how you would deal with a similar situation - and i mean for real, not just an 'if it were to happen to me' scenario. maybe you would get off and lead, or sit there until the sun goes down, squeezing and coaxing, but i'll bet that, even though your horse may not go home with a mark on its bum, it may well go with a certain degree less respect for its rider.
Anyway, i'm not gonna ramble on any more. thanks again to all you guys who read my OP in the manner i had intended. i just think i will have second thoughts about sharing any 'real life' experiences on here in the future!
i just want to say thank you to all those people who DIDNT jump down my throat, and who, whether they agreed or disagreed with my actions, at least understood and sympathised. i would like to stress that it was not my intention to get sympathy from anyone - it was more of a general letting-off-steam session, as i was so upset i had had such a fall out with my girlie. i hadnt, in fact, expected many replies, if any, so the barrage of negativity surprised me.
i thought i had made it quite clear in the OP that i had tried everything that has, in past similar occasions, done the trick, but this time to no avail. This included, as suggested, turning her in small circles (although i would not want to try to get her to reverse anywhere, because a) running backwards is a habit we managed to stop when she was a 5 yr old, and b) reversing up a road is not ideal, in my opinion!) There also seemed to be some confusion regarding the actual situation - some of you seemed to think it was a stream i was trying to get her to cross; in fact, it was just a normal road where, in the past, the river has risen to road level. (she has gone through just fine when there has been water there in the past, as well as when it is dry.) Someone also mentioned that my horse sounds like a 'genuine, honest mare' - and i would agree with that, but even an honest horse can sometimes take the P, and she has been known to do this many times! its what makes riding her such fun, in my opinion - i had better make it clear that i DO NOT hit her everytime she plays up - the fact that i do not carry a whip/wear spurs should make this clear. i think, by now, i know her well enough to know when she is truly upset or frightened, and i would, of course, always empathise with this, and use the softly-softly approach as suggested. but i must say, i am in favour of discipline where deserved, and if an animal - any animal (or child!) - is trying to play you up, it must be put in its place, or else you run the risk of losing its respect forever.
For those of you who still have me down as a cruel horse beater, so be it. i wish you well with the 'natural' approach, but i would be interested to know how you would deal with a similar situation - and i mean for real, not just an 'if it were to happen to me' scenario. maybe you would get off and lead, or sit there until the sun goes down, squeezing and coaxing, but i'll bet that, even though your horse may not go home with a mark on its bum, it may well go with a certain degree less respect for its rider.
Anyway, i'm not gonna ramble on any more. thanks again to all you guys who read my OP in the manner i had intended. i just think i will have second thoughts about sharing any 'real life' experiences on here in the future!
