Nic74
Well-Known Member
I love our Bob (13 year old ex racer, we've had him for 4 years but he is often out of work due to one thing or another he is very clumsy and accident prone)possibly the most out of all my horses, but he is such a total pain.
Today we rode round the edge of the field, me on Mowgli (5 years old, broken in April, very laid back), OH on Bob. Bob was flinging his head around or tucking it right into his chest, jogging, pinging around, snorting, huffing, screaching for the others, dancing sideways, sitting on his hocks looking ready to explode, tiny rears (literally just an inch or two off the ground) and was drenched in sweat within the first 100 yards. You get the picture. I don't know how OH isn't terrified, but it doesn't bother him so that's fine. But it bothers me.
Mowgli was pretty good, he just plodded along in front and at one stage I put him behind to see if Bob would be happier in front. Mowgli spooked a couple of times and made Bob more pingy. I was terrified for OH but not for myself as I felt quite comfortable but I was a bit worried that Mowgli would launch into trot like he does and that Bob would just explode.
Anyway, we aren't going to ride them together anymore, not unless Bob settles (unlikely as he was always like this) which is so annoying and upsetting as we wanted to be able to ride together. But it was an ordeal for me having Bob there messing around like that and I don't want to send nervous signals to Mowgli.
Also, this is why I lost my nerve in the first place. I hate seeing OH on 'loonies'. Bob has never actually done anything but he certainly looks like he is about to all the time. I am sick with nerves for him and in case he gets seriously injured. Before I met him when it was just me riding and I only had myself to worry about. He wouldn't be happy riding plods but seeing him on Bob makes me actually shake. It's my problem, I just don't know how to deal with it.
I did notice that Bob's saddle was pretty tight down his shoulder, it won't be the only resason for his behaviour as Bob is always like this, but it may be making him worse. I have a foam pad which did seem to reduce the pressure on his shoulder slightly but I only tried it after OH was finished riding. The problem is we don't have any decent saddle fitters around here. Whoever you ask uses 'X' and to be honest, 'X' isn't that great, (I have used this person about 3 times now and found that they don't really seem to have extensive knowledge) and isn't even qualified as a saddle fitter nor is the shop listed as a recommended retailer.
Does anybody have any tips for controlling nerves? Rescue Remedy doesn't work for me.
Today we rode round the edge of the field, me on Mowgli (5 years old, broken in April, very laid back), OH on Bob. Bob was flinging his head around or tucking it right into his chest, jogging, pinging around, snorting, huffing, screaching for the others, dancing sideways, sitting on his hocks looking ready to explode, tiny rears (literally just an inch or two off the ground) and was drenched in sweat within the first 100 yards. You get the picture. I don't know how OH isn't terrified, but it doesn't bother him so that's fine. But it bothers me.
Mowgli was pretty good, he just plodded along in front and at one stage I put him behind to see if Bob would be happier in front. Mowgli spooked a couple of times and made Bob more pingy. I was terrified for OH but not for myself as I felt quite comfortable but I was a bit worried that Mowgli would launch into trot like he does and that Bob would just explode.
Anyway, we aren't going to ride them together anymore, not unless Bob settles (unlikely as he was always like this) which is so annoying and upsetting as we wanted to be able to ride together. But it was an ordeal for me having Bob there messing around like that and I don't want to send nervous signals to Mowgli.
Also, this is why I lost my nerve in the first place. I hate seeing OH on 'loonies'. Bob has never actually done anything but he certainly looks like he is about to all the time. I am sick with nerves for him and in case he gets seriously injured. Before I met him when it was just me riding and I only had myself to worry about. He wouldn't be happy riding plods but seeing him on Bob makes me actually shake. It's my problem, I just don't know how to deal with it.
I did notice that Bob's saddle was pretty tight down his shoulder, it won't be the only resason for his behaviour as Bob is always like this, but it may be making him worse. I have a foam pad which did seem to reduce the pressure on his shoulder slightly but I only tried it after OH was finished riding. The problem is we don't have any decent saddle fitters around here. Whoever you ask uses 'X' and to be honest, 'X' isn't that great, (I have used this person about 3 times now and found that they don't really seem to have extensive knowledge) and isn't even qualified as a saddle fitter nor is the shop listed as a recommended retailer.
Does anybody have any tips for controlling nerves? Rescue Remedy doesn't work for me.
