Kick up bum please

Gleeful Imp

Gleeful Imp

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Sorry this may get a bit long, so I can offer bagels with Philly extra light and fat free flumps to all!

I am having problems with my mare, and it's getting to the point that I've had enough and thinking I'm just not the rider for her. I know i need a good shake but let's just say I'm having to deal with very difficult non horse issues at the mo so am feeling I've just got nothing left.

Bought Annie last sept, successful at novice cob affiliated, loves her jumping and a very safe hack. Fab mover. Ticked all the boxes. Paid A lot for her but worth it. Had to borrow a saddle for her while found one as she's exceptionally wide. Things going well. Bit of a madam on the ground but loving riding her. That trot! So much power from behind and lift through her shoulders.

Saddle got sold, so couldn't do much for a while, just pottering bareback!

Get saddle Xmas FINALLY and get cracking again. She s not impressed and we have to have a squaring up session then all good. Before to long she starts refusing to go forward, even on a hack. Cut a long story short, hock problem. Not arthritis, medicated, follow rehab plan, vet very confident all will be well.

So box rest, field rest, hacking then back in school. As soon as back in school turns into a proper madam, which we sorted through lunging ( sanctioned by vet) and were making progress under saddle. All well. No pain (have had very regular physio to make sure) and she is moving beautifully on the lunge. Even took her to her first dressage party and got frillies!

She then starts saying no again, but this time threatening to go up. Vet very happy no hock issues, no muscle pain anywhere, am waiting for dentist and saddler but am following saddlers recommendation to see if she improves.

Tried to take her for a hack this week as we havent had any issues out hacking, just in the school. Started off well, was dropping into the bridle naturally then decided she wasn't going any further then did bounce bounce bounce. Yes I should've sent her forward but there were cars and motorbikes and I just didn't have the heart.

I know I have to get dentist etc, but I bought this mare after having to semi retire my beloved George, who I bought 3 years ago after losing my Tom, who I bought when I lost both Henry and whisper .....and after having her For 10 months I am no further being able to ride her. I keep thinking all that money down the drain, and it must be my fault as she was out competing before. I won't tell you how much full livery for 2 is!

We are at my trainers place for help, and I know I need to get a grip, but I am struggling to deal with this emotionally. Reading this I sound incredibly pathetic, need to man up, dig deep into my savings, and give her to my trainer for a month. But knowing that doesn't stop me feeling worse than useless! And I'm 45, I should be able to deal with this FFS!

So big, fat, thumpy kicks up bottom please!!!!!!
 
I'm not going to kick up up the bum, I don't think you deserve it.

Are you scared of her or is it the case that you have a niggling doubt that it is pain related and therefore don't want to get after her? It sounds from reading your post that it could be either or even a bit of both?

Sounds like you have done everything to ensure she is pain free within reason. Have you bute trialled her (obvs with vet's input)? Any difference at all?

How old is she? If she's only competed novice I presume reasonably young still?

Sorry, lots of questions and no answers thus far but you can have my Cadbury's caramel if you like? :)
 
No thumpy kicks, but have you tried keeping a diary? I know it sounds mad, but I've used it to pin point problems and patterns, and also to cheer myself up if things haven't gone well - it's easy to dwell on the bad bits and forget the good parts!

I would also second jesstickle's suggestion of a vet-led bute trial once you've got the teeth etc sorted. Then, if she is being a minx, you can make plans to overcome it.

I know what suits one doesn't suit another, but for me I like to have a set of outline plans for the potential situations - seems to help me worry less!
 
Thanks JT!

Yes it's both, I'm a little bit scared and also worried its pain. We've not bute trialled her because it's either madam-ness, teeth or saddle, as no pain anywhere else.

She's 8 now, was novice last year as new to the show ring.

I will go down the yard now for a conflab on next steps but I am contemplating sorting dentist and saddle then perhaps sending her to Michael cooper or Andrew leaver to sort, get going then make a decision as to keep or sell, and keep me out of it. She is hoys quality. Which makes it worse! Bah!
 
As I know you are no fool GI, if you don't think it is pain related I am inclined to believe you!

At 8 (and a green 8 too as she has been off games a bit due to various issues) she is definitely still in that bracket where they will try it on I think. If you are feeling a bit wary of her I think you're right. Let someone else square her up, doubt it'll take long and then carry on where you left off. They're meant to be fun so if you don't want to do it don't!
 
Am another not going to kicky-kick you.

From reading the above posts, sounds like horse is still a bit green - 8 going on 4?
Can you get 1-2-1 help with hacking her out - is there someone at yard who can come with you who is competant enough to talk you through any issues your mare comes up with when out?

I'd try to hold back the savings if you can - use a bit for someone who can be with you while riding through problems in the school or out. Maybe getting someone on her in the school before you ride each time for the next couple of weeks or so too?

I know you say you feel u.s and at your age should be able to deal with it - well, you ain't the 1st & won't be the last - everyone ha not so good times.

Hope you do get her through what sounds like the 'terrible tantrums' she is having on occasions (just like 2 yrs olds and also older ones who should know better but do try it on.)
xx

edited to add: ps: if it makes you feel better, am helping out someone a similar age to yourself who is having similar probs with her 18hh Selle-Francais, who has decided he is not going to be co-operative on random occasions - and all pain issues have been ruled out, he is just being a tit :rolleyes: we are getting there... slowly... but the horse IS improving!
 
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I know that you have said that you've had saddler and physio working with you and your horse but I have to say, that this sounds like a pain related problem to me. Your horse certainly wouldn't be the first to call the saddler wrong.
I agree that a diary is a good idea, it might well help you to pinpoint the problem. Could it be season-related pain? Is it after a certain amount of work?
I would also spend some time watching someone else riding her, sometimes you can see something that you can't feel.
Good luck! It's a nightmare when you know there is a problem and can't identify it.
 
I feel your pain, I've had very similar problems with my mate at 10, as we have no facilities she was referred to rossdales for a bone scan which showed very mild changes in her hocks and pain in her sacroiliac, it's very hard as the specialist vet said to me with horses there is always some element of behaviour so separating that is very hard, mine is now on field rest for another 6 weeks with my fingers and toes crossed she comes right
 
Hi, no kicks from me either, just a suggestion. I had problems with my cob suddenly deciding he didn't want to work and trying to throw people on the floor. Both vet and physio checked him out several times and found nothing wrong. He was supposedly just being a b****r. However I've had this horse more than ten years and so I wasn't convinced. I got another specialist in, a qualified equine osteopath, and she found serious lower back pain, soreness through the shoulders and eventually he was diagnosed with navicular and collateral ligament damage. He'd been trying to work as comfortably as possible and had given himself lots of other problems. The loaners who had him at the time didn't know him well enough to give him the benefit of the doubt which was fair enough as they'd tried everything they could think of, however knowing this could have turned really bad for my boy, I think it's now worth looking into other specialists before you give up on what sounds like a nice mare with a lot of potential.

Hope it comes right for you. :) x
 
Sorry, no kicky-kicky from me, more a huggy-huggy :D

Hang on in there hun. Your age is nothing to do with it, other than as we get older we do tend to become more risk adverse, which means that we no longer get on and go for it as we once did.

Get the help you think she needs and give it ago.
 
Thanks everyone, it really is appreciated. Your words have really helped me feel stronger, thank you. :)

Have decided no ridden work until dentist has been, as her reactions make this the strongest candidate for pain, and in the meantime lots of loose schooling and loose jumping, together with ground work of the pressure/release variety as she has been a madam to handle this week.

Loose jumped her and noticed a reluctance to stretch through her midriff, so will also be following that up, but worth noting she is not mareish at all with her girth. However, the fantastic hock action and lift through her shoulders, does make us think she doesn't have serious body pain, as her movement is improving as she gets stronger with ground work (issues only come in ridden work, not lunging).

So, dentist, saddler and osteopath it is, and homeopath too! Hopefully we will get to the bottom of it and put it behind us.

I'll keep you updated on our antics, but will try not to get too down about it.

Brothers pear cider all round For everyone .....hic!
 
I'm not going to give you a kick either cos you don't sound like you need one - you've probably already thought about this and covered with it with your vet but could it be related to her seasons? Just a thought... and sorry if you've already thought of this
 
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