Picking your battles vs wimping out?

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ghostie

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Can't decide whether to be cross with myself or not. My boy moved yards on Friday and despite being very unsettled yesterday morning was much better in the afternoon. Today he was a real pain - everything was a battle from grooming to tacking up. Freaking out when tied up, walking round in circles when not, pulling faces etc :( So being a wimp instead of riding him in the nice dry indoor school with the other liveries I lunged him outside in the rain so he could get his bucking over and done with without annoying anyone else. If I could have I wouldn't have even done that but he is in isolation so needed to get him out to stretch his legs.

Am I completely pathetic for not just getting on with it? Think I need a good kick :( just feeling very down about it - I knew he woukd find moving hard as he is a stress head but it is disheartening to feel we are back at square one :(
 
ghostie said:
Picking your battles
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Who decided it was a war? ;)

Sounds sensible to me, horse was unsettled and needed to let off steam, and you allowed him to do it safely :)

Staying calm, keeping up the groundwork and judging the horse you see in front of you really is the way to go!
 
Imagine you've just moved house. Theres a strange bloke next door who you'd rather not speak to, you dont know how to switch on the hallway lights without doing the lounge then the front door way first, and you keep opening the dishwasher door instead of the fridge. Non of your stuff is where it should be and you've walked into the spare bedroom twice instead if the toilet. This is what the horsey is going through only he dosent actually realise it. Give it a few more days or weeks depending on horsey then it will soon be business as usual:D
 
ghostie said:
So being a wimp instead of riding him in the nice dry indoor school with the other liveries I lunged him outside in the rain so he could get his bucking over and done with without annoying anyone else. If I could have I wouldn't have even done that but he is in isolation so needed to get him out to stretch his legs.
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I'm struggling to see the wimpyness here...

Alternate view... He's a touchy soul who's still settling in after a big upheaval and upon evaluation of his behaviour, you decided that throwing him in the deep end with the stable buddies he is still getting used to bouncing around him while you expect him to concentrate was less preferable than making sure he got some sort of positive exercise... Plus you got yourself wet for his benefit...

:D
 
Orionstar I just love your analogy :)
Op not a wimp, pretty sensitive and understanding of your horse I'd say, some don't bat an eyelid at change, others do. I think it's lovely that your putting the needs of your horse first, many people can't be bothered to and expect their horse to just 'suck it up and get on with it' ned'll be back to usual soon :D
 
You put your safety, and that of your horse and other liveries first. Good for you. working in racing I ususally find the first once to go to war with something are those who have lost their bottle. Horses are fun, ending up in A & E isn't.
Give it a few days and you will be fine.
 
You sound sensible to lunge instead of putting you both in a position where you would have a 'battle'.
It shouldnt ever be a battle anyway, only a discussion!

Don't really see why you feel like a wimp, sound like an intelligent horse person to me! (apart from your battle comment that is! ;)
 
Not wimpy at all!
Plus, not really a 'battle', because the horse wasn't picking a fight ;) He's just moved and is stressed, that's all. What you did was sensible!
 
When I first bought my horse and he came to the yard I lunged him first - he went round like a complete loon at 90 miles an hour. I was very glad I was not on him! I think you are being sensible. It can take quite a while for horses to settle into new yards so you need to do what's best for you & your horse and I don't think that can be called wimpy, just common sense.
 
orionstar said:
Imagine you've just moved house. Theres a strange bloke next door who you'd rather not speak to, you dont know how to switch on the hallway lights without doing the lounge then the front door way first, and you keep opening the dishwasher door instead of the fridge. Non of your stuff is where it should be and you've walked into the spare bedroom twice instead if the toilet. This is what the horsey is going through only he dosent actually realise it. Give it a few more days or weeks depending on horsey then it will soon be business as usual:D
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A good analogy but if the owner is there then the animal should feel secure and behave in a well mannered way or be corrected fairly for not doing so.

As for not riding that was sensible if you were unsure. Besides what is the point of having a horse in isolation and then riding it with the others in an indoor arena. Makes no sense!
 
Mine moved a week ago and I still haven't done anything with them as they are still on their toes and jumpy. BH especially. To the point I'm having to lead him in his bridle to stop him running off like an idiot.

I don't want an argument so am giving them time. You didn't want an argument and so you went outside and let him let off steam. Sensible I think :)

Discretion is the better part of valour and all that ;) :)
 
thanks guys, you made me feel much better when I was pretty down. The logical side of me knew he just needed time, but the irrational side of me was just fed up of a giant horse flinging himself about and upset by him being so worked up again.

I've been trying to set him up to succeed for the last few days - on Monday I just took him out for a walk around the yard and the tracks down to the fields so he good have a good 'no pressure' look at everything. Yesterday I distracted him with a bucket of hand picked grass (very welcome on his 5th day in isolation!) whilst I tied him up to groom and tack up, then lunged him and popped on him once he was settled. We literally just walked around for ten minutes, but he was feeling very unsettled so I thought it best to just give him something he could cope with to do well at, praise him lots and leave him be.

Hoping to have him settled enough for a hack by the weekend - one of the lovely liveries has offered to come out with us which will be good as I'm sure he'll feel better for another horse's company :) This afternoon we might even brave trot in the school if he is more settled ;)
 
Just as Orionstar says! Isolation won't help...how long will this be for? Don't EVER think you are whimping out...your/his/others safety is more important and he won't judge you-if others do..they can suck it up & like it! Carry on with the groundwork and if you can, put some lavender oil on a piece of cloth in his stable-he will select it to sniff to help himself a & when he needs it. If you have any lemon balm herb, give him some of that-offered alone or sprinkled on feed rather than mixed in. Yeast will help him settle & de stress inside & mentally...or www.feedmark.com do steady up a yeast & lemon balm calmer (lemon balm is mint family- you could make a horse size herbal tea to put on his feed-10 leaves steeped in boiling water leave leaves in & allow to cool all day-have a mini version yourself if still stressed!they do a magnesium calmer too but these are short acting-tho effective as a rule if adrenalin has already kicked in it will have very little effect -magna calm is great if you can give in advance while still calm...all my 4 tb's have had moments like this...my 26yr old on a daily basis if she cannot see all her herd at any given second or if i am slow getting one in sight or where they should be-the operatics are spectacular, voice included!I've found micronized linseed also helps and they look fab on it too...Keep calm & carry on!! Good luck xx
 
I think you're doing the right thing in reading your boy and helping him settle. Not a wimp at all!

I kinda have the same going on with the new mare I've bought. She's been at new yard for just over a week. I've been taking it ver slowly with groundwork, lunging and general TLC on the ground. Haven't ridden yet as don't have a saddle. Today's the saddler visit day. Woohoo!

But part of me has been thinking i should just get on with it on a borrowed saddle maybe and am i being a wimp for not ceacking on and riding? But I also want to give her the best chance to do well so I know I'm doing the sensible thing and ignoring what I think other people might be thinking, if you know what to mean?

you know your horse, there's no hurry so you can do whatever you need to to give him the best chance to settle. Happy hacking !
 
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