major breakthrough

[Karenr]

Just thought I'd share this......I finally sat on my 8yo for the first time in 18 months the other day. I swore in February last year I would never ride her again as she was too mad.

In 3 years of owning her I have been thrown off on the road and suffered severe bruising to my back and pelvis: I was thrown off on a track and cut my elbows open: On another track I smacked my head and then the final fall was about 2 years ago she threw me off in the school and I broke my ankle.

She was away being re-schooled at that time! I was asked shortly after that to take her home!!! Anyway, I then moved to a farm where I could keep her at home (I wouldn't sell her) and as my ankle was finally better decided to ride her - just got on and she started running back and threatening to do her broncho act - I got off and said that was it.

Anyway - last year she then suffered colic and peritinitos so was on box rest for months, this year I employed the help of an equine therapist to help make my girl more manageable. Then the other evening I just knew the time had come - tacked her up - got on very gingerly and had a lovely ride around the farm for 15 minutes - when I got off she just looked at me as if to say "that was fun wasn't it?" - I'm so proud of her!:p

[Crazy horse2601]

hi!
WELL DONE! but a word of warning, take it easy. She's obviously getting used to you riding her without any mix ups, but just do a few small rides to get her more used to it! Soon she'll be as soft as a kitten but don't push her too hard! Good Luck! please keep me posted, I'd love to know how it goes. X

[Glenda]

Thats Great!! Good job on sticking with her and not giving up;)
Most people(including me) would have probably gave up somewhere between getting my elbows cut open and getting smacked on the head! Good luck. Keep me posted on how goes!

Glenda.

[FreedomStar]

wow congratulations. I'd have given up long ago, but shows that patience shows off!!! Send us some pictures, and more news on your horses' progress.

[Karenr]

Hi All

Well she is still going OK, we are taking things very very slowly and putting no pressure on her!

I did think about giving up with her after about the third fall but I have a strange relationship with Zig Zag, as soon as I met her I knew I had to have her so I knew I couldn't sell her. She has a lovely personality and is a really pretty mare it was just her behaviour when ridden! Thankfully it wasn't only me she would throw off so I did know it wasn't something I was doing it was Zig Zag.

Anyway, I think a lot of the success now is down to her finally trusting me and knowing I am not going to hurt her (well I hope that's how she feels). I don't push her into anything, I only ever ask her, if she says "NO", I ask again and so on and so on, if it is a real "NO", I look at why and then we work things out together from the ground - I 've watched Michael Peace and the lady that helps me works on the same basis.

I don't know if we will ever make it to a show, I would love to do dressage but I doubt she will ever be able to really cope with the environment of a show - she hates any kind of change - even if you move something on the yard it is major to her! And her biggest fear of all is cars or any vehicle moving or parked - I still can't persuade her to walk down our driveway! Perhaps one day she will. Anyway any little achievement is OK with me and a positive move forward for her, and I like her to be proud of herself!!:D

[chapsi]

Congratulations! Your story is an achievement, a real inspiration to any of us who might experience horse problems. I would love to know a little bit more on the work that the therapist did with your horse. I understand fully the feeling of "that's the one, that's the horse of my life"... I just regret that my horse doesn't see me as I see him. But, your example is a strong testimony of commitment.

[Showjumper]

Wow Karen - excellent, you must be so proud of your gorgeous mares!!! 2 accomplishments - next stop the Lottery shop? ;)

[Karenr]

Hi chapsi

It's rather a long story, but will try to cut it short!

Initially the therapist came because Zig Zag had been sooooo ill with peritonitis, and I decided to look at alternative therapies, also I felt that she was trying to sort of communicate with me but I didn't understand.

Anyway we spent a few months giving her shiatsu treatments which really helped her, she also had aromatherapy - so many different oils I can't remember which was which!

Once Zig Zags state of mind was more settled (months of being in a stable on total rest) we took her into the school for "join up". As she was much more relaxed and not ready to explode we felt we could work with her, she was actually very keen and having done the shiatsu had helped with the bond between us. Join up was achieved very quickly, in minutes in fact, then it was teaching to her that it is good to follow people, we worked on a long line so there was no real pressure on her, and she was really following because she wanted too. On the really good days now, she will follow with just a headcollar and no rope! It was great fun, we would play games which consisted of changing directions and stopping and going backwards - all sounds simple and probably silly - but it is a wonderful feeling when the horse is so switched on too you.

We then moved on to "obstacles", as I said she hates change, but by this time she wanted to follow me so would stop and think about whatever was on the ground but then look to me and decided she wanted to be with me so would pass the object - it actually took hours and hours but does work.

The biggest challenge next was my bedding was delivered, a pallet with 48 bales of Aubioise, trouble was she was in the field - I was at work and the delivery man put the pallet about 12 foot from her stable!

This was the biggest test of trust and join up - I got her from the field and led her to the yard - her first reaction was to rear and try to turn and run. I had been taught by this time to ignore this behaviour, in fact ignore all negative behaviour but praise the positive. I asked her to walk forward and praised every step or half step forwards or sideways with a rub on the neck. Within 3 or 4 minutes I had her standing next to the pallet licking the plastic!!!!

From that point I kinda knew if we worked together and I remain totally calm and positive we could probably achieve anything - I hope. She still has the Shiatsu and aromatherpy and we still play the games, but I have learnt to ask her to do things rather than tell her, we really do work as a team which is positive, and (touch wood) she hasn't reared as a no for about 6 months, she now knows its good to follow me and I will not let anything hurt her - the place this still fails is vehicles! Although we can get within 10 feet but then she gets so stressed its not worth pushing the issue.

As for riding her again - well that started with just me, her and a surcingle in the school - she went mentle bucking, rearing and galloping round. It tooks days for her to accept it - I should probably mention at this point we were treating her as though she had never been ridden so starting from scratch. Eventually I got a roller on her, but she was really worried about this, so weeks were spent putting it on taking it off and lots of praise. Some days she could not cope at all so we did nothing and I would turn her back out in the field and try another day, always emphasis on no pressure.

When I brought the saddle out to her she just looked at it then me, and I knew straight away it would not be a problem - and it wasn't. So I brought out the bridle with a loose ring french link bit (softer on the mouth) she brought her head straight down to take the bit. Then I just knew I could if I was polite about it get on - so I did!!!!

I guess the lessons learnt were She is a very sensitive little mare (not very little 15.3 and a half) and we had to take everything at her pace - yes when I got her she could jump 5ft and was good at it, but I am not sure she was really ready or wanting too. She had obviously had the pole raising trick done on her because if she knocked a pole off at the next jump she would jump and good 2ft higher!!

Nowadays she is so much more relaxed and I can't remember the last time she had a tantrum, but we have a long way to go and it has to be a slow journey for her sake. I have been taught never to smack her because this is so negative and she can't cope with negative, the only way a whip is used on my yard is as a wand - too make the horse aware of it's body with a very light touch - she is now not frightened of the whip - my spurs were thrown away and I now only have a schooling whip for the above use.

If there are tantrums or barging or anything from either of my girls I step away from them and wave my arms all over the place making silly noises - they are so surprised they stand still and look at me as though I am stupid - but the point is I have stopped the barging or whatever and then can move forward and praise them for standing still - all sounds very silly but honestly it works and I never have to shout or scream or smack my horses and my yard is now a very relaxed and almost peaceful place to be!

Hope I didn't bore you too much and you get the idea - honestly holisitic horsemanship is brilliant.

[Karenr]

Just got this emailed to me - it was taken a few days after my original posting.

:D

[kedwards]

What a wonderful story and a beautiful horse. You are one patient and determined woman!

I wish you two the best of success in your future progress together and look forward to hearing updates as you go along.

[Crazy horse2601]

wow!
your story is so inspiring! Good luck in the future. From the look of the picture above you 2 look like the perfect couple!!!!

[happyhorse]

where in east anglia are you?

[chapsi]

Your story is wonderful. I wish there were horse therapists around in my corner of the world.

[CityGirl]

What an inspiring story! I wish you & Zig Zag continued sucess. Please keep us posted on how things are going.

[Karenr]

Hi Happyhorse

We are in Bedfordshire too. Wasn't that a serious weekend for weather! Gave the girls the weekend off as they were pretty spooked with all that wind!

[quarterhorse11]

i know you feel on top of the world. that is truely wonderful. i am very happy for you - good job- stick with it

she is gorgeous! you look great together

[Karenr]

Thanks everyone for the kind words - all gone a bit pear shaped at the moment due to me having a car accident! But on the whole she is brilliant she listens to everything I ask and only occassionally questions (a relief as Cassie is a 100% struggle at the moment).

She is a beautiful mare not only on the outside but on the inside when you really get to know her - she is actually so sweet she just needs a lot of help to get over whatever happened in her past. Even after three and a half years I still feel I am getting to know her!

Good news is she has lost some weight and is looking good, and in herself seems so happy! Just need to get over the whiplash and get back on her again - I think she'll be OK:(

[Crazy horse2601]

sorry about u crash, hope u get better soon. God news about the horse though!:D :)

[chapsi]

Karen,

wish you get well soon. Shame about your car accident.