The first time I have ever felt worried...

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I got on Grace this evening, and I knew she was going to be a little more hyperactive than normal as she has not been walked out under saddle this weekend due to me having things on
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I felt really guilty about it, so even though there was no one around tonight I knew we had to get on with it...

Well, tacked her up and she was a bit arsey having the girth done up. She has been like this in the past, so tomorrow morning I will do some work on that, but as it was chucking it down with rain, I just wanted to get on and ride her for our 40 minutes period, and get home as I was already wet through!!!

We walked out of the stable and she was pretty quiet, so I thought we would be ok! I turned the lights on in the arena, walked her in, put my foot in the stirrup and she EXPLODED
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So, I walked her back to where I wanted her in hand, and jumped on very quickly this time. But the first explosion was nothing in comparison to how she was once I was on board! Every time my legs touched her sides she would leap right up in the air, come down and just start bucking and squeeling
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I just about managed to sit to the first couple of bucks when she did this, but then my foot slipped through the stirrup when she did a massive fly buck, and I then ended up on her neck
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I had just righted myself and she dropped her left shoulder and spooked at absolutely nothing, and once again started bucking and squeeling!

My back is absolutely killing me because she kept doing this for the entire 40 minutes. Only at the end did I get some 'walk' out of her... god knows what the ligament went through today!

Tonight is the first time I have felt worried being on her... usually, she has a few explosions, but they are 'sittable'. I honestly do not know how I stayed on her
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We have another three weeks of this... please does anyone have any advice? I cannot ACP her because she is also recovering from colic surgery and I do not want anything slowing down the gut. Tonight I did lots of halt transitions with her to try and get her listening a bit more...
 
I would just keep riding her forward and let her go around on a loose rein. I wouldn't try to ride her 'properly' as this might encourage her to be fresh. Dolly was fine until I picked the reins up or made her stand.
 
Oh dear ,daughter is going to ride a horse tomorrow for the first time that has to be walked for 30mins each day and the girl is at Uni. Like yours on vets advice ,hope that one is ok.

Tomorrow is another day and maybe see will be back to normal, maybe the rain tonight?
 
Thanks for that... I have been trying this, but she is even worse
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I ride her in a 'lower' outline anyway, but tonight I had no choice other than to ride her in a 'normal' ouline. She puts herself into it on her own as soon as you get any contact, but by the end I could have her in a lower one. However, I think I would have been eating sand and rubber if I had persisted trying to keep her on a long contact
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I'd stick some draw reins on her.
Of course they won't help her dressage but you're not using them for that, you're enforcing discipline! At least with control she shouldn't be able to pitch you onto her neck. try adding a neckstrap for your self too, it can give you an added advantage staying on..
 
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Oh dear ,daughter is going to ride a horse tomorrow for the first time that has to be walked for 30mins each day and the girl is at Uni. Like yours on vets advice ,hope that one is ok.

Tomorrow is another day and maybe see will be back to normal, maybe the rain tonight?

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Could have been the weather... it was pretty grim!

You know when you get the feeling you are going to get hurt... that is how I felt tonight and I am so very surprised that I did not hit the deck! But my back from her bucking and plunging is really killing me
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The only good thing is that she didn't go up... she can do this when she is in a really hyperactive mood
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Thanks for that... I have been trying this, but she is even worse
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I ride her in a 'lower' outline anyway, but tonight I had no choice other than to ride her in a 'normal' ouline. She puts herself into it on her own as soon as you get any contact, but by the end I could have her in a lower one. However, I think I would have been eating sand and rubber if I had persisted trying to keep her on a long contact
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What I meant to say was that I would let her do what she wants to do. The only reason why you are walking her is to build up the legs. For Dolly this meant marching around on a loose rein at high speed on a mission
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I'd stick some draw reins on her.
Of course they won't help her dressage but you're not using them for that, you're enforcing discipline! At least with control she shouldn't be able to pitch you onto her neck. try adding a neckstrap for your self too, it can give you an added advantage staying on..

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She has never had draw reins on... would this be ok to try her in them when she is recovering from both colic surgery and a suspensory ligament injury (unluckiest horse in the world!)

Where would I get a neck strap from? I do think this would be beneficial as after 19th I am hoping and praying I can start trotting her... but this is going to be even more exciting to her than what we are doing at the moment!!! I can't be angry at her though, she has been on box rest now since November!
 
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Thanks for that... I have been trying this, but she is even worse
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I ride her in a 'lower' outline anyway, but tonight I had no choice other than to ride her in a 'normal' ouline. She puts herself into it on her own as soon as you get any contact, but by the end I could have her in a lower one. However, I think I would have been eating sand and rubber if I had persisted trying to keep her on a long contact
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What I meant to say was that I would let her do what she wants to do. The only reason why you are walking her is to build up the legs. For Dolly this meant marching around on a loose rein at high speed on a mission
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But she won't walk... I am struggling just to keep her walking as she is really keen to get going
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I have kept my legs completely still as much as I can, just resting on her side, but as soon as there is the slightest sound (and I mean the slightest) we have a huge explosion. After about 30 minutes I can do what you have suggested, but even then she can go from being completely quiet to just exploding
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Ah right... don't have one but can go and buy a cheap set from ebay without any problems.

I know this sounds silly, but any size suggestions? She is a 17.1hh WBXTB
 
Jus stirrup leather you would get to use to ride in that will be long enough fro her neck.

I know EXACTLY what you mena having gone through this myself and it was awful, she was so noise sensitive, even someone putting a wheel barrow down or a slight trip in trot and she was off broncing down the school!! I can assure you though it does stop when they go out!! Spider is completely back to normal now.

I lunged her in walk whilst she was on walk and box rest as long as the line would go and she is as good as gold on the lunge and I fell off 4 days in a row so decided it was safer for both of us!!
 
Thanks Holly_Jane... I don't know how long my stirrups leathers are
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How bad is that, they just came with my saddle
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I'll look into it though, I used to have an old pair somewhere but very recently skipping them
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I hate it when that happens!!!

Tonight the only thing I could hear was the wind on some of the long grasses... other than going at them with a mower, it is something she is going to have to learn to deal with!

Grace is very forwards on the lunge, but it is definitely an option for when I start the trot work... will speak to Peter about that one!

I can't wait to finally be able to turn her out... it should make a huge difference, but it will be quite a while yet I think as we are a bit behind with the colic surgery. We are not even up to trotting yet
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Aren't you allowed to lunge first? That's what I would do, then probably ride in a balancing rein, it's not too restrictive. I don't envy you though, it's not nice when they behave like that but I guess you could say she is feeling well, which is a good thing
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No... absolutely no lunging! She is still on box rest with just 40 mins of walk a day (next week we will be doing 50 mins, then 60 mins etc etc).

What is a balancing strap?
 
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No... absolutely no lunging! She is still on box rest with just 40 mins of walk a day (next week we will be doing 50 mins, then 60 mins etc etc).

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That's a bummer then
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What is a balancing strap?

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Balancing reins, they're very good for helping horses with the consistent contact without it being too restrictive but also helps them to balance themselves and not rely so much on the hand.
 
I have never used one, and to be honest I didn't really know what they were for. I just presumed they were for people who found it difficult sitting to big moving horses as this is what I have seen them applied
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Today I am going to have my husband with me... I just can't risk being on my own and something happening. I know that sounds very wimpish, but hey ho!
 
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I have never used one, and to be honest I didn't really know what they were for. I just presumed they were for people who found it difficult sitting to big moving horses as this is what I have seen them applied
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I think thats the last place theyre supposed to be used!!
Tie a leadrope round her neck, it'll do until you get a proper one. When you feel her tense up just slip a finger under it. You'll be amazed at how much extra security it gives you.
Many pros always ride with a neck strap- William Fox-Pitt wont be seen dead without one.
 
Thanks... in the dressage world this is what I have seen them used for
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So I have always thought they were just an anchor for those who struggled sitting to the movement (I have seen many comedy moments
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I have a side rein which I was thinking of using for the time being... I know it is not perfect, but figured it would be the right kind of length!
 
The neck strap can also be used as an aid to half halt, give it a tug and it encourages the horse to 'sit' slightly without involving the mouth.

We always use them on babies and anything that is a bit fresh or doesn't already wear a martingale.

On my baby it's great, he has a tendency to 'bunch' sometimes when excited ans if you use the reins he just tucks his head further in, the strap can be used to slow and balance him without using the reins.

Sometimes we knot the reins and ride practice dressage tests at home, just using the strap (don't think I would try this on Grace though)
 
Thistle... you have made me laugh with that final comment
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No, perhaps that would not be an option just now!

I will definitely give this a whirl though, can't believe I have never really thought about it before. You could all have saved me from a nasty fall which is pretty inevitable at the moment.
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Hmm can see why you are a bit worried with another 3 weeks to look forward to
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Does she long rein at all ? So she could do the walking but without the worry of you coming off ?
Other than that I would suggest neck strap, balance strap and back support ! I have the prolite one and its very good, particularly if you think you may wrench your back. Are you at Croft this weekend ? I can bring mine if you want to try before you buy
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