mares in season...

BroadfordQueen

BroadfordQueen

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when a mares in season, can it affect their performance? i know it effects mares in different ways, but my mare was in season since about thursday last week, and at the weekend we went to an ODE and had a disaster, she was refusing at fences which she could usually fly over with her eyes closed?! however she doesnt usually react like this- she just gets abit sharp and flirty, but is she just in abit more pain than usual?

just something that occured to me when pondering about what to do with her next really. just going to take a step back from the bigger stuff now but wondering if that could have anything to do with her behaviour as there really wasnt an excuse for why she stopped at some of the smallest fences on the course but flew some of the tricky up to height ones.
 
I agree that it can effect there performance, but from reading your post about what happened to your horse before the event (banging her legs) I think this is more likely the cause, or maybe a combination of the two?? Really don't worry about it too much, whatever the reason I'm sure it is only temporary. I had a similar incident with my mums horse, he broke a big log thing with his back legs in a TC and although he never stopped he was more cautious XC for a while. You have said that she is a sensitive lady, and it sounds like she is very careful (you seem to have lots of clears SJ) and so it might just have worried her a bit. She is only a dainty thing after all!

I think you are doing the best thing taking her back a stage, I'm sure if you did a big course next time out you would be more nervous so best to do something in your comfort zone until your both happy to move up again.

I get desperately disappointed as well, I wish I was one of those people who just shrug it off as a bad day!

Good luck on your next outing!
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thanks,
yeah i have been really stressed out about it, trying to think of causes as to what happened, although i do think we have just both had our confidence knocked. just hacked her out for the last few days to give us both some chill out time and taking her to a 3ft ode next weekend to build up our confidence.
my main concern is that i have totally ruined her for good, i hate to think that she is going to start stopping now! she is such an honest little mare! but yeah, she is very dainty and thin skinned, so hoping that after a few good runs she will forget about it!

thank you for the advice both of you
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Don't be daft - of course you haven't ruined her for good!!! You've done really well together very soon, very few people could say they haven't had a few blips on the way. It sounds like she still went well apart from the fences that looked like the one she hurt herself on, so try and remember the day by the bits she did well and move on.
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One thing I would say, is you seem to do a lot of comps and a lot of XC schooling, SJ etc. They are not machines and so she might enjoy the little chill out sesh you are giving her and come out nice and fresh!
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My mare was exactly the same - behaving not herself at stonar yesterday. Just was going really slowly and not jumping very forwardly. Its weird but at least you know there is a reason for their behaviour!
 
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