Chunky Monkey gang

chunky monkey said:
No i think this mare is temperamental. After last week i thought we were heading in the right direction, but mentally shes had a lot to cope with this week with the changes in fields and being in with other horses. I dont think she understands how to be social. But shes also clingy and not wanting to leave the yard. But fine if someone walks in front.
I told the owner last night that i feel shes an accident waiting to happen currently. I do think shes not settled in her surroundings. Im wondering if its worth trying something different maybe long reining her.
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Yes you could give it a go, definitely worth trying isn't it. I might be getting mixed up, sorry if I am, but has she not been in her home that long? Wondering if she's just taking extra time to settle. I had Storm a year before she settled - just a thought.
 
It's nothing, but at the same time I think it's when they show you who they truly are and what they will always revert back to to some degree when they're stressed or things go wrong.
 
Just reading some previous posts the owner hasn't had long and was going to send back to the sales. That tells me they are not committed to deal with anything that comes up that needs sorting.
The horse is green, unsure of surroundings, had different riders, different routines and different route, so its probably got overwhelmed.
Being totally honest I would have walked away with going over. Nearly going over would have me questioning what I did to cause it or why the horse felt it needed to do that.
I don't want to be schooling or bringing on someone else's problem horse.
 
Busy morning with the sheep. Lambs are now weaned from mums. Ewe lambs and ram lambs also split.
Everything wormed and fly protection applied.

Little break before i possibly go do a little ride. I say possibly because yesterday's hack got cancelled as front shoes have become loose. Farrier coming tuesday anyway and i think backs are being put on too. Owner was thinking of pulling the shoes today. As mare is entered into an inhand show tomorrow. Im being persuaded to do the showing. A i dont have the dress code but B after our discussions in the week. Its clear i dont know how to show a horse. Its completely different to when i showed cattle and sheep. The horse has to stand completely different. The horse has to turn on itself not you. Horse doesnt turn on itself currently so i would really not be able to disguise that part very well.
 
All went well today. Was up at 5pm. Ewe lambs were kicking off at 9pm last night but it was too late to go check on them. Noisy still this morning, so i whipped over at 5.30am. 7 had gone under the gate so in the other hay field. I forgot i needed to put some wood under as the gap was too large for lambs. Quin was great he rounded them up drove them across the field, opened the gate all back in. Whipped over tonight and all were still present and correct.
Id planned to be at horse yard at 6am but got there just after 6.30. Washed horse and the owner plaited and sewed the mane. We were away just after 8am. Mare was great. Really well behaved, but her ears gave lots of mixed signals so she was unsure at times. She trotted up nicely too. 7 in the class, she got 5th. It was more about giving her experience and seeing how she behaved around other horses. Quite frankly i dont understand her antics considering how well she behaved.
When we got back to the yard i even gave the owners lorry a spring clean. Honestly it was like a tip when i saw inside it for the first time last night. I just couldnt leave it like it. It was strewn with litter and hay and a trip hazard. I couldnt see the floor and wasnt sure what i was stood on. Think they were very happy when they saw it.
Took a few bits out of my tack room this morning to use. So when i got home i went to the tack room to offload. Well i must have started something because i had a huge purge in my tack room. I have folded all Chunkys and Billys rugs up and they have been put in the respective bags and put in the wardrobe. They are dirty and i was going to was and reproof but i think washing them will take off too much waterproof. Fencing/energiser i had out months ago all put away in cupboards. I now have loads of floor space. All the leaves swept out the tack up area. It feels like a great achievement to tidy up.
 
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chunky monkey said:
No i think this mare is temperamental. After last week i thought we were heading in the right direction, but mentally shes had a lot to cope with this week with the changes in fields and being in with other horses. I dont think she understands how to be social. But shes also clingy and not wanting to leave the yard. But fine if someone walks in front.
I told the owner last night that i feel shes an accident waiting to happen currently. I do think shes not settled in her surroundings. Im wondering if its worth trying something different maybe long reining her.
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Harmony was an experienced older mare when I bought her in November, she took 5 weeks to settle enough that I felt it was ok to take her out as she was not made welcome by Buddy and she just was a bit on edge. She is now very chilled, they all take time and maybe this poor little girl just needs that.
 
Oh dear. Mares owner came off yesterday and is in hospital with broken pelvis. Dont know anymore details other then a pheasant was involved. Not sure whats going to happen now. Think mare may be heading for a new home. I feel sorry for her as shes got a nice temperament. But riding out shes clearly has holes in her education and lacks confidence.
 
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I hope her owner makes a good recovery, that's a nasty injury.

I agree with you that it sounds like there are big holes in her basic education and that she lacks confidence. Yes these are things that cann be remedied, but it'll be harder now than if they'd been done at the start because first of all the work done needs unpicking. It's a shame because it's not her fault, but I would completely understand if her owner decided to sell her on, I just hope f she does shegoes to the right home.
 
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Mares owner is still in hospital. They havent operated but its not been ruled out.

Havent ridden.
Friday did a long in hand walk on a long line. Horse wanted to put its head down to eat. She got told a few times. That just because she was on a long line she was not eating, it was work time. She got it after i slapped the long line against me and her trying to spook at it and run circles round me numerous times. In the end we had quite a nice walk.
Saturday i lunged in the area. Im told the owner had lunged when the first got her, but got dizzy, age related. But she did lunge. Well my idea of lunging was not what i got. Horse didnt understand spent most of the time trying to trot. Legs came out flailing at one point. Towards the end she started to listen. Stopping and slowing is an issue.
Sunday i lunged and long reined. Not asking for much just want her to listen and do the transitions.
Planning on riding out in company later in the week once ive repaired the broken bridle.
 
Got to go and pick up the beast today. Spent Tuesday and Wednesday moving lamb out of freezers that people booked but never had. Trying to fit it into my house freeze. So i could defrost freezers ready to fit 8 large boxes in. Hoping some will go out straight away. But trying to freeze a full chest freezer of meat down is no easy feat.

Lunged and long reined in the arena yesterday, then long reined down to the farm yard at the end of the road and made her stand and watch what was going on. She wasnt to keen. But got made to.
I tried lungeing her in Chunkys lunge caveson at the weekend but she didnt like it. Think its the weight across the bridge if the nose. Billy hated the lunge caveson too, so i made him up a bridle out of some bridle parts. Tried that on her but it didnt fit so ive cobbled something together in her size and she went ok in it and it gives me control to long rein her.
Shes got funny about putting a bit in her mouth. Has been funny since ive been going. But this week really doesnt want to take the bit. Im wondering if last weeks accident has knocked her mouth. The bridle did get broken and she was in a martigale so i think shes had some pain inflicted when she went up. The restrictions and snapping the bridle must have hurt her.
Going to ride her out today in company. Owner still in hospital.
 
@chunky monkey could you try her bitless for a little while? I think I still have a bitless bridle I could lend you, depending on how big her head is. Poor thing, I'd not want a bit in my mouth after that. Though reading everything you've said about her it sounds as if a full restart might be in order...
 
I dont want to try bitless. Thanks for the offer though @Jane&Ziggy .
As her bridle got broke i took Billies bridle with me to ride in today. That actually had a rubber bit in it. She did try evading again today. Once in it she generally accepts the bridle. She actually rode fine in it too. Im going to try bribery with some honey or molasses on the bit to change her mind.
Todays ride was fine. She was very looky and sticky to begin. Then i realised above the wind she could hear the tractor discing the field up ahead. So we turnwd off and went towards the shooting school. Got to woods and the guns started. She held her nerve going through the wood. Then we turned back towards the tractor on the circuit. She starter to worry so we cut short and headed back away from it towards home.
 
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Keep getting caught out with the nights drawing in. As its been hot ive not been going up to see the mare till after 6pm as flies are a nightmare. This week ive been cat and guinea pig sitting too. Its taking too long and im not getting back to see the ewes and ram lambs in the daylight. Cant believe its over a month since the longest day. But weve lost almost an hours daylight in that month.
I did 3 good long rein sessions fri-sun. Owner is now home from hospital. Someone was going to ride mare yesterday, but dont know if it happened. I might ride tomorrow, but im happy long reining. I think the owner wants her ridden and on the bit etc though. Based on getting someone else to ride.
I think mare needs the ground work putting in. Im hoping to get her walking over a tarp etc and do more noise desensitisation.
I will continue for now whilst owner is out of action, 8-12 weeks minimum. The dark nights will stop me doing anything in the week come October. The horse might be getting sold so it could end before then. Still up in the air but has been voiced to me. The person who was going to ride yesterday might even sell her.
 
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Well if arrangements do actually happen, my riding will finish this weekend. Mare is going off to a yard for schooling with a view to selling.
I've been keeping her ticking over for the owner with a mixture of riding and long reining out. Plus a couple of lunges. The last month. Going up 6 days a week.
Whilst I will miss the riding and horse contact. (I think shes actually really genuinely started to accept me and see me as a leader). I won't actually miss riding her. I still get on her very apprehensive. She's great being lead out, great long reining from behind, but she looses confidence when ridden. I'm disappointed that I haven't been able to get her over this. With more time she will be fine but the owner wants to sell her.
I will keep an eye out for something else to ride but with the night drawing in, my options will be limited I expect.
So next week instead of going up to see the horse, I am going to go back to walking up to the top of the hill everyday. Its a 2.5 mile loop that takes me an hour. So it will keep me fit.
 
I feel so sad for this mare, she just needs time consistent handling and kindness. And she was making progress and trying and moving her again is only going to start the cycle again. I hope she finds a soft permanent landing. It's interesting one of the very difficult horses Mill HIll Training had they have now x rayed him, he has osteo arthritis in virtually every joint and is only a baby. He had bolted with his owner, and the trainer got him riding nicely and did an experiment on pain relief to see if it improved him but then x rayed him to double check. It is worth reading his story on here. Finn. So sad for both of them. https://www.facebook.com/NewMillStables
 
I think that will be best for everyone @chunky monkey , and I hope you find another horse to ride and spend time with. I never feel it's a good start if the rider feels apprehensive, I think we feel that way for a reason, and it's also not giving the horse the right feel either. I see you post and immediately hope you haven't had an accident on her!

It isn't the mare's fault she ended up in the wrong home, but sending her for professional schooling, assumig it's a good professional, gives her a much better chance of finding the right person next time and also having a proper foundation for her work. Not all combinations are right and sometimes it's better for everyone to take an honest look and move on.
 
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