Update on nervous mare and creaky nervous rider.

[FionaM12]

Following my post a couple of months ago:

Hi, I’m new here and could do with some advice please. I was a keen rider when I was young and had my own horse. But, I was also very ill and was forced to give up totally as it turned out my life-threatening illness included a devastating allergy to horses.

I’m in my 50s now and bizarrely am not only finally reasonably healthy but also no longer allergic. So I’ve returned to horses after a gap of 35 years. I had a few lessons last year, then rode out regularly on hired horses locally before deciding to take the plunge and get my own again.

I wanted a safe, quiet hack for myself and my daughter (a beginner) to ride. An old friend who lives far away found me what she believed to be a suitable mare, Mollie, and delivered her back in June. She is 17, 14.2hh, beautiful and gentle.

When Mollie arrived after her long journey, she was very nervous and jumpy which I assumed was the effects of travelling. She’d lived somewhere remote and rural (she was trekking pony) and where I live is busy by comparison and the farm is next to a motorway. Previous to her move she’d been out at grass 24/7 and unridden for 8 months.

However, 2 months on, she’s really no better. She spooks at everything. She’s very hard to get in from the field. When I ride her, she spooks and shies and when I take her out onto the road I’m scared she’ll shy into traffic. She’s not scared by traffic, it’s just every bit of litter, road sign etc! She's nervous in her field and nervous in the stable.

I took her out the other day with two other calm horses (who she knows) and riders and while they plodded along she jumped about, spooked, trotted on the spot, and sweated copiously. I was actually very scared as I felt I had little control. I don’t know which of us was more relieved when we got back to the farm!

Returning to riding at my age is a bit like being a beginner again. I’m not confident, strong or very fit. However, I wasn’t overly nervous riding other horses, but Mollie’s behaviour frightens me. I realise my anxiety will pass onto Mollie and make things worse, but don’t know how to overcome it.

Returning her to her previous owner is NOT an option. I don’t want to sell her either. But, do you think she should have settled by now? People who knew her previously say she wasn’t nervous in the past.

Yesterday, on the way in from the field, she shied at something the wind had caught. She ran back so unexpectly and violently she heaved me off my feet. I didn’t let go and managed to calm her and carry on past the object, but I have nasty rope burns on my hands, and my arms and shoulders hurt today.

She’s out at grass most of the time, with other horses. She comes in for a few hours most days and I groom her, fuss her, walk her about the farm in hand and I ride every few days. She eats only grass, hay and a few carrots.
Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you.

An update:

 

[FionaM12]

Firstly, thank you everyone who advised me on above. Very helpful, and very appreciated.

Mollie is much more settled now, but still rather nervous. she also has a bit of a head shaking issue, so today, the vet came to check her teeth, among other things.

The good news is her teeth are great for her age, as are her heart, lungs and general condition. The bad news (possibly) is her sight might not be good. This was based on the vet waving her arms, dropping bunches of straw about etc, not very scientific. She's going to call back with her opthalmascope. Meanwhile I'm to observe and see whether I see evidence of poor vision.

So, more advice please! If her sight IS poor and it's untreatable, what are peoples' experience of living with a horse with poor vision?

The vet thinks it might explain her nervousness and spookiness, and make her dangerous to ride on the roads. What does everyone here think?

 

[LaurenBay]

Glad to hear shes more settled now, If it is her eyesight then that could be a reason for the spooking. Especially as she's in a new place.

Some Horses with eyesight problems can still lead a normal life. Sometimes the problems don't get any worse, but sometimes they can decrease rapidly.

If she were mine, I would first find out the diagnonis from the vet and get their advice. Until then I would do lots and lots of groundwork. This will improve your bond and she will learn to trust you more. Lots of grooming and talking to her. perhaps try a calmer in her feed if you haven't already tired that?

 

[BigRed]

I think your horse needs to be seen by a specialist, not a general vet. Plenty of horses get by with only one eye, but that is because the remaining eye is 100%.

I think you need to be guided by the specialist because if the horse has a vision problem, it might be the reason for her being nervous and spooky. If you have insurance the cost of this examination ought to be covered.

 

[FionaM12]

Glad to hear shes more settled now, If it is her eyesight then that could be a reason for the spooking. Especially as she's in a new place.

Some Horses with eyesight problems can still lead a normal life. Sometimes the problems don't get any worse, but sometimes they can decrease rapidly.

If she were mine, I would first find out the diagnonis from the vet and get their advice. Until then I would do lots and lots of groundwork. This will improve your bond and she will learn to trust you more. Lots of grooming and talking to her. perhaps try a calmer in her feed if you haven't already tired that?

Is there a calmer you would recommend please LaurenBay?

 

[Vetwrap]

You could do worse than get some brewers yeast and magnesium in her feed. Both of these supplements can be found at this website:
http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/
There are some others calmers that you could use as well. I would also drop the carrots and feed her something like Mollichaff Calmer - which is high in fibre and low in energy. There is actually quite a high amount of sugar in carrots, hence suggestion to drop them from her diet.
I agree with others though, that the main thing will be to find out if she does have a sight problem. once you know what you are dealing with, it is easier to make a plan of action. Until then, plenty of handling and grooming and pleasant experiences for her.

 

[LaurenBay]

I've never had to use a clamer before, So can't help you on what one would be best.

I'm sure the others members could recomend you one though.

 

[FionaM12]

Until then, plenty of handling and grooming and pleasant experiences for her.

That's pretty much what I'm doing. I love it. It's such indescribable bliss to be able to handle, groom and just be with my own horse again after 3 decades.

I can't believe my luck.

 

[Booboos]

As the others have said wait until you get a firm diagnosis. Horses can cope very well with one eye and riders learn to adjust to any little peculiarities they may have as a result. If the vision is deteriorating on both eyes though the prognosis for her ridden career is far more dim. Was she vetted when you bought her? The vet at the vetting should have checked her eyes which may give you an idea of the speed of deterioration if there is a problem.