scary mud - how to deal with...........?

[millyspaniel]

I took my 4yr TB out this morning with 2 other older horses. All going well untill there was a small ditch with mud down a very tiny bank to cross. The other horses crossed no probs, my mare got scared and wouldnt move, i got off her and calmed her down and managed to talk/reassure her across which after a bit of time seemed to work, i kept to one side next to a tree where i wouldnt get in her way expecting her to leap along side me, well instead she rushed behind me and litrally was in my footsteps and leapt up into me, knocked me flying, trood on my foot and ankle and mansged to catch her hoof on my riding hat knocking it straight off my head causing a huge burn mark under my chin from the hat strap, 2 broken toes, a swollen ankle and a grazed knee.

She was fine, just a snapped cheekpiece causing the bit to be out of her mouth, as soon as she crossed the mud she just stopped and stood with the other horses.
Obviously we will not be riding over the ditch again untill she gets used to mud, does anyone have a safe method of how i can introduce her to obstacles such as this without frightening her or causing me to get crushed?

 

[devilwoman]

ouch ! - give it another couple of months and the fields will be full of the mud stuff (well if your fields are like mine they will be) good luck

 

[millyspaniel]

It could have been a lot worse...........i dread to think what could have happened if i had taken off my hat!!
Good thinking. It will be muddy soon so she will hopefully get used to ploughing through it alot!!

 

[0ldmare]

Poor you, ouch, double ouch!

On a slightly positive note, she obviously trusts you a lot. She obviously tried to follow your 'safe' route out of the dangerous horse eating swamp!

Some horses always hate mud I think. My old mare, now 18, loathes it with a passion. She gasps out loud

if you lead her out to the paddock in winter and its *a little* squidgy under foot.

Our gateways have hard standing around them and after turning out in winter I go back to the house to get ready for work. About 45 mins later I leave the house and its not at all uncommon for her to still be dithering on the hardstanding not wanting to get her feet dirty moving off into the field.

So whilst your horse probably will get better, mine never has (sorry!)

 

[millyspaniel]

[ QUOTE ]

Our gateways have hard standing around them and after turning out in winter I go back to the house to get ready for work. About 45 mins later I leave the house and its not at all uncommon for her to still be dithering on the hardstanding not wanting to get her feet dirty moving off into the field.

[/ QUOTE ]

hehe sounds like my horse - she just hates getting her feet wet!
I think she does trust me alot and i like to think we have a good bond

the bit i walked along was up a little bump next to a tree, about 5 inchs across

it was like she decided she wanted to hitch a piggy back over it!!

Shes really lovely and quiet in every other way, even traffic and when other horses are all exciteable or spooky she just never changes, shes very sensible for her age, but when it comes to mud or water she falls to pieces!!

 

[3Beasties]

Sounds like she is a bit unsure about anything that isn't firm. I would maybe do some ground work with her, wear a hat, gloves and lead her with a lunge line as it will give you more control.

If you have a tarpaulin put it out on the floor folded up quite small at first (so she can step over it), once she is happy/relaxed about it make it a bit bigger so she has to actually stand on it (even if it's only with one hoof) to get to the other side. Gradually as she gets more confident make it bigger and bigger. If you can fold up the sides you could add a bit of water to it just to give it a different feel. When she is totally happy to follow you over it confidently then you could try riding her over it.

Hope you heal quickly, it sounds painful

 

[SpruceRI]

You're probably safer staying onboard!!

Is there space to lunge her over it? i.e, get her to follow the older horses but you be on the end of the lunge line out of harms' way?

Or, can you lead her off another horse? My youngster hadn't experienced mud when I bought her, but she has got used to it as I have dragged her everywhere alongside my older mare.