Ramblings of an unsure owner...

Piaffey

Piaffey

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 March 2010
Messages
169
Visit site
Firstly, I hope this makes sense, Not really sure where this is going.

OK, Im just not at all sure what to do with my mare anymore. I have a gorgeous mare who is proving to be very sharpe and spooky. She doesn't seem to settle and is a complete nutter when you put jumps up (she has hardly done any jumping). She is tense and has one helleva buck on her. :(

I've lost my nerve a little and, due to my pregnancy have put her out on loan to a friend. The bucking seems to have stopped but am struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. She is 6 this year so is it just being a baby or will she always be a hot head?

I cannot decide if I should sell her, or have her back after the baby is born and give it another go. I did wonder if I could try her on a calmer for a while and see how she is then?

I just dont seem to know what to do for the best. Thing is, she is a stunning horse, is perfect in every other way and is terribly talented.

See? What utter drivel all that is. Has anyone else been in this position, feel like this? I do wonder if I just need to give myself a kick up the arse and get on with it?

Sorry...
 
you say she is talented, are you going to fufill that potential?

what i am trying to say is that by sounds of your post you don't feel like you are going to do her justice and that maybe she might benifit from being with a dif pos more competitive person (please correct me if i am wrong)

if this is the case sell her to a decent home ask to be kept in loop as to what she is upto and invest in something safe and sane foryou if you wish to ride after baby.

i would like to say the above is just my honest opinion feel free to completely ignore :P

p.s could shee not stay on loan 2 your friend??
 
Im sorry, that was a pathetic reply...

I wonder if part of it is being fed up with doing all the hard work and not getting anywherre? I always buy unbroken babies and do all the work myself so Im always going out at prelim/novice level. Because I then sell on and buy something better with the profit.I haven't competed above Medium, now for years so do I just get on with it and work up the scale or sell up and invest in something more established that is already out at med/adv med?
 
Do you enjoy her, on the ground and to ride? If the answer is yes then keep her.

It doesn't make the blindest bit of difference if she could be a grand prix show jumper or do dressage at prix st. george with someone else, but you choose to hack in walk once a week. She doesn't know these things exist so her potential doesn't matter - unless you v much want to reach a certain level then obv it helps if she can!

If you would like her then when she comes back from loan I would do a full health check inc the usual back/teeth/saddle/feet so you can be sure you are starting with everything right, and then get some lessons with an instructor whos opinion you trust and who you have confidence in, then take it from there.

At the end of the day, if you enjoy her and can look after her then nothing else matters and you should just have a nice time with your mare - doing what ever pleases you. Perhaps you relish the challenge if you have support from a good instructor, perhaps you just can't face the slog of getting her to be what you want her to be - no shame either way. If it is no longer fun or enjoyable then perhaps it is time to consider her going to someone else, either sold or on loan.

Hope all goes well with your pregnancy! What ever you decide I wouldn't rush into it as you might change your mind either way with a baby here.
 
When in doubt don't, and in this instance I'd wait until baby is born and see how you feel about things then.

If the loaner is keeping her ticking over then you can reasses once you've got into a proper routine with the baby.

To be honest I think you may well find that you want something a bit easier when you've had the baby, you may be tired and struggling for time and a ride that is sharp and spooky isn't ideal in that situation and can soon pull all of the pleasure out of owning. I'd leave her with the loaner for now and see how things stand later, I'm sure it will be easier to make the right decision then :)
 
If you dont need to make a decision at the moment then why not wait a while, your friend may cure the problem, and also you may feel differently after the baby is born, hormones can play tricks.It may be that you will not 'click' with your mare, but if you can, take some time out and dont make a hastey choise she seems like a horse you think a lot off.
 
The Pony, Thank you. I adore her, I really do. On the ground she is my dope on a rope and, to ride, when she is going well, I feel as though I am on cloud 9. Her laterals are fantastic and her extensions are out of this world. BUT, she can be a complete tit! Like, she will spook at the same jump wing that has been in the same place, in the school, longer than I've had her...

I think, part of it aswell, may be something to do with the fact that, ,after years of sticking to just dressage, and being terrified of jumping, I've decided I would quite like to give it a go. But I think, if I do that, I need something a LOT calmer as I have no confidence. BUT (sorry), perhaps I just like the idea of jumping and not actually doing it!!!
Like you said, its probably the worst time to think about it too much as I can;t ride for a good few months anyway...!
 
Its the whole potential thing that people have mentioned - if she doesn't know what is out there, and she enjoys what she does then what does it matter! :)

If this was me (and this is only my opinion, feel free to ignore!) I'd wait until the baby had come (good luck btw) and I'd gotten myself into a routine before I thought about it again. Your friend will keep her ticking over nicely - it might work out for the best, maybe your friend could either loan her OR part loan her with you ??? then you have someone helping you with her fizzyness, and you get more time with baby.

I'd deff give it a go, she sounds like she could work out to be a lovely mare. I'd probably get myself some lessons and see how I worked through with that for a few months and if at the end of that she really did just prove to be too much horse, get myself something saner and sell her on, heartbreaking though it may be.

K x

ETA after reading it again, my mare can spook at the same thing that has been there in the school that we've passed 50 million times already! She will also have a fit at new fence panels when we're out hacking, a lawnmower ONCE we've passed it (!), I know the feeling. Sounds like you absolutely love her to pieces though, same as I do with mine!
I'd try a calmer there's lots of good reports about on them :)
If you have no nerve jumping can you not borrow a horse for lessons? I ride my YO's for lessons who are guaranteed to jump whats in front of them so no worrying for me and I do actually manage to pass some of the new found confidence onto our horses and they tend to have more confidence themselves then.
 
Last edited:
Piaffey said:
Im sorry, that was a pathetic reply...

I wonder if part of it is being fed up with doing all the hard work and not getting anywherre? I always buy unbroken babies and do all the work myself so Im always going out at prelim/novice level. Because I then sell on and buy something better with the profit.I haven't competed above Medium, now for years so do I just get on with it and work up the scale or sell up and invest in something more established that is already out at med/adv med?
Click to expand...

ahhh i see

i have to agree with ThePony.

horses are supposed to be enjoyed and although it is lovely to compete and win is it all worth it if your not happy?

on the otherhand if you need to think twice than i'd day keep her or post her to me :)
 
rossiroo said:
If you dont need to make a decision at the moment then why not wait a while, your friend may cure the problem, and also you may feel differently after the baby is born, hormones can play tricks.It may be that you will not 'click' with your mare, but if you can, take some time out and dont make a hastey choise she seems like a horse you think a lot off.
Click to expand...

Yeh, I think you may be right, thanks. I don't need to make a decision right now. She is happy where she is and my friend is happy with her and she might chill a bit.

I adore her, I never thought I would own such a horse BUT like its been said, it has to be enjoyable as well hasn't it?
 
bunnereeny said:
ahhh i see

i have to agree with ThePony.

horses are supposed to be enjoyed and although it is lovely to compete and win is it all worth it if your not happy?

on the otherhand if you need to think twice than i'd day keep her or post her to me :)
Click to expand...

LOL, I'll have to see if I have enough bubble wrap!

I'd love to give her to a comp rider (friend is a lesiure rider) so that she gets out and about more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top