Weekend plans

[nikkimariet]

I've just had the weekend from hell. Lost my beloved old event mare on Friday to colic after owning her for 15 years, totally devastating as she was so fit and well. Then went eventing yesterday, had an improved dressage and decent SJ round but the horse totally abandoned her brain cell in the start box, lost her mind and it culminated in a horse fall on the flat when she just threw herself on the floor in front of fence 8 when napping about the concept of going in the opposite way to where she wanted to.
Pretty battered and bruised this morning and wondering what to do next with her as on Tuesday she was so professional and jumped an easy double clear feeling like she'd go up a level no problem and yesterday she reverted back to her very worst, and it's dangerous when she's like that, not to mention frustrating and embarrassing.

I’m so sorry to read this

 

[shortstuff99]

I'm sorry TM that your weekend has got even worse .

I'm another that says it is worth a regumate trial, you know quite soon whether it works or not.

 

[racebuddy]

i treadmilled mine at the weekend worked really , gave us a little scare as spooked and ended up on his knees , very unlike him as treadmilled for 4 years now but they are horses , he was fine none the worse for it we then went off to whitegate way in cheshre for a lovely hack in the sunshine , loved the weekends ,having few fun weekends with him before shoes as feel he deserves better than just ten min working in and the off into the ring for 2 min , as much as he knows his job he needs time to adjust to a busier scheduale and travelling again happy monday

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Really sorry TM. Utterly heart breaking.

 

[TheMule]

With the fall, did she fall because she was having a "tantrum" when napping and throw herself or did she lose her feet because her brain was elsewhere?

I had one that threw himself on the ground twice because he was a pig when I got him. First time was inhand when he decided not to load and when his resting carry on wasnt working he just threw himself down and lay there calm as you like. Second time was ridden and he didnt want to trot on so went backwards at 100mph. When that wasnt working he just threw himself on the ground and stayed there smug as you like.

Needless to say every possible physical check was done pre and post tantrums and returned a clean bill of health.

Just wondering if your mare maybe has that mentality?

Otherwise it's the old "pain" card but you're so thorough I cant imagine anything slipping through. Good shout by IHW about hormones.

Like you say its strange that it only really manifests jumping in competition. Is she ok doing non BE things? Had she done BS/unaffiliated and/or unaff xc? I know its ot the same as a BE atmosphere for horse or rider.

You're obviously a very talented and skilled rider but would it be worth having someone you trust ride her? An expensive experiment with BE right enough. If she knows you have the self preservation of a normal person she might be pushing boundaries? Not meaning to force or beat her round but if someone would take her in like the trainer advised would that help? If shes sensitive that doesnt come without a risk of upsetting her too.

She is saying something so in feel your frustration at not knowing what that is.

Chestnut mares...when they're good they're blinking awesome but sensitive doesnt even come close!

'Threw herself on the floor' was a bit tongue in cheek- she reared high, spun and lost her footing so fell over onto her side. She has done that once before when loading, she can rear under saddle but generally very half-hearted, nothing that bothers me. She didn’t flip over backwards, just a combination of trying to pivot on one back foot and the upwards trajectory, and probably a bit my weight off balance too put her on the floor.
She has done lots of unaff etc, she hasn't done much BE, I generally know her triggers and work to avoid them. But I can’t plan for unforeseen triggers and that is what has got her this time. Also, we're starting to run out events to take her to ?
I don’t actually own her and her owner doesn’t want her bullied or pushed by a pro which I can totally understand as she just isn’t the type of mare to take that well. Ultimately I do this for fun and it has to be fun- I don’t want to spend 100s of pounds on entries, fuel, training, hours of time on fitness work and having to go do lots of preparation if we have days like yesterday.

 

[j1ffy]

TM - it also strikes me that you had an awful emotional upset just before the event (as did your mare) and this will undoubtedly have impacted both of you. She may have coped ok through two phases but didn't have the mental capacity to make it through the third given everything else that has happened - perhaps I am anthropomorphising too much, but at the very least she is a sensitive mare and will have picked up on emotions that you may not have been aware of yourself.

Regumate is probably an easy thing to try, but also give yourself a break and look at how well the first two phases went during a very tough weekend x

 

[TheMule]

TM - it also strikes me that you had an awful emotional upset just before the event (as did your mare) and this will undoubtedly have impacted both of you. She may have coped ok through two phases but didn't have the mental capacity to make it through the third given everything else that has happened - perhaps I am anthropomorphising too much, but at the very least she is a sensitive mare and will have picked up on emotions that you may not have been aware of yourself.

Regumate is probably an easy thing to try, but also give yourself a break and look at how well the first two phases went during a very tough weekend x

That is definitely true and she is affected but the loss of Moon, she was so sad yesterday when I turned up with the trailer and Moon wasn’t on it. I wonder if she hasn’t been resting properly and just reached capacity at the end of the day yesterday. It was horizontal hail straight into her face on the xc which probably didn’t help.
She is a sweet horse and not deliberately naughty or even particularly tricky, but sometimes she just clearly can’t quite cope with the situation.
Anyway, I think we'll take a break, re-group, go training, have a lower pressure outing and see what we have.

 

[ycbm]

I've just had the weekend from hell. Lost my beloved old event mare on Friday to colic after owning her for 15 years, totally devastating as she was so fit and well. Then went eventing yesterday, had an improved dressage and decent SJ round but the horse totally abandoned her brain cell in the start box, lost her mind and it culminated in a horse fall on the flat when she just threw herself on the floor in front of fence 8 when napping about the concept of going in the opposite way to where she wanted to.
Pretty battered and bruised this morning and wondering what to do next with her as on Tuesday she was so professional and jumped an easy double clear feeling like she'd go up a level no problem and yesterday she reverted back to her very worst, and it's dangerous when she's like that, not to mention frustrating and embarrassing.

Sorry you've had such a rubbish time

 

[nikicb]

So sorry for your loss TheMule, and your fall - I hope you aren't feeling too physically sore. I also think that she is likely to have picked up on your emotions, even if you didn't think you were showing them. I am sure it probably affected both of your resilience levels, and perhaps she just ran out of being able to 'give' by that point - not physically, but mentally. It sounds like a break and regroup is a good idea for you both. Take care of yourself and give yourself time. xx

 

[daffy44]

So sorry for your loss TheMule, and your fall - I hope you aren't feeling too physically sore. I also think that she is likely to have picked up on your emotions, even if you didn't think you were showing them. I am sure it probably affected both of your resilience levels, and perhaps she just ran out of being able to 'give' by that point - not physically, but mentally. It sounds like a break and regroup is a good idea for you both. Take care of yourself and give yourself time. xx

I'm so sorry TM, I also think your very sad loss will have affected both you and your mare, even if you were not aware of it at the time, be a little gentle with yourself and your mare.

 

[TheMule]

Thank you everyone for your kind words, having horses is so heartbreaking at times, but it's just a reflection of how much they mean to us