rafty
Well-Known Member
Well all was going well with new stressy pony, she had got much better at being handled and hacking out was going really well. In the past month we have hacked out past big agricultural machines, chain saws, cars, cows with no problems, been for lovely canters down lanes and really enjoyed hacking out. Today when I went to get her in she was a lot more stressed than usual when tacking up. Then she was quite nappy, and when she realised we were doing the long route she decided to do the alligator move! This is when she zig zags down the lane trying to find somewhere to back up and turn around. I kept her going forward in a trot, I am not sure if this battle of wills somehow wound her up, but when we got to a fork in the lane I went to turn right, well in the field next to us where some workers sowing seeds. Apparently this is the most terrifying thing ever! The following is partly my fault I think as instead of pushing forward when I felt her go to nap, I for some odd reason thought I would let her look at what was going on to see it was nothing, however, she did not agree with it being nothing. She almost dunked me in the river, went backwards sideways, threatened to rear, was sweating like crazy and I swear I could hear her heart beating! So I decided to take her left instead, it still meant we had to come back this way but thought maybe a good idea to chill out and try again. On the way back she was panicking already knowing where we were going to pass, and to top it off there were now three canoers on the river!!!
I am at a lose as to why she reacted to intensly, when she is usually ok! Any ideas? and good tips on what I should ahve done differently please as I feel I let myself and her down slightly!
I also know now why she has very bad ground manners, after talking with old owner it turns out she was rewarded with treats for barging with her head and all the other naughtythings she does as the old owner thought it was cute! I think she hates me as I don't reward her for these things!
I am at a lose as to why she reacted to intensly, when she is usually ok! Any ideas? and good tips on what I should ahve done differently please as I feel I let myself and her down slightly!
I also know now why she has very bad ground manners, after talking with old owner it turns out she was rewarded with treats for barging with her head and all the other naughtythings she does as the old owner thought it was cute! I think she hates me as I don't reward her for these things!
