telerimist
Well-Known Member
I've had my wonderful mare for the past 7 years, my first horse that I've brought on from scratch since a 6yo and who is my best friend. We've been and done a bit of everything to which she was always very keen and enjoying herself with good results (well for an amateur that we got above 60% or had the unlucky 4 fault but had a safe round!) just ticking along happily. Then the last year or two (she's now 13), her performance dropped, stopping at fences/silly spooking/naughty dropping a shoulder and spinning resulting in elimination rounds and poor results and an upset horse which is genuinely acting like she's had enough, no longer wants to compete. Yet she is more than happy to participate in group lessons in all disciplines (pony club etc), hacking etc but steps in an arena to compete and whole behaviour changes and for my confident, laid back, 'bring it on' attitude horse this is not the her.
We've tried all sorts over the last year. Given her a holiday in a field, a holiday with bonding and no ridden work, a break from competition, just hacking and no schooling, more schooling, training shows to build up confidence, going back to basics, lessons galore and all the usual teeth (x2), back (x4), physio (myself and her!), vet (even had her re-vetted), saddles refitted, new soft bit (which she loves at home!), new yard with a calm atmosphere with more turnout (so she can be more of a 'horse') which is also loves.
So I am at a loss as to what to do/try, is she trying to tell us she's had enough, wants a quieter life maybe? Or am I completely oblivious to something else? It's just such a shame for a talented horse to give up on something it once enjoyed so much, which I want to compete and learn more but horse won't allow that so thinking of moving her on to a hacking/hunting non-competitive home?
If you've got nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. I'm here asking the kind-hearted for advice/thoughts! What to do with my best friend?! I've simply ran out of ideas.
We've tried all sorts over the last year. Given her a holiday in a field, a holiday with bonding and no ridden work, a break from competition, just hacking and no schooling, more schooling, training shows to build up confidence, going back to basics, lessons galore and all the usual teeth (x2), back (x4), physio (myself and her!), vet (even had her re-vetted), saddles refitted, new soft bit (which she loves at home!), new yard with a calm atmosphere with more turnout (so she can be more of a 'horse') which is also loves.
So I am at a loss as to what to do/try, is she trying to tell us she's had enough, wants a quieter life maybe? Or am I completely oblivious to something else? It's just such a shame for a talented horse to give up on something it once enjoyed so much, which I want to compete and learn more but horse won't allow that so thinking of moving her on to a hacking/hunting non-competitive home?
If you've got nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. I'm here asking the kind-hearted for advice/thoughts! What to do with my best friend?! I've simply ran out of ideas.