Willows mom
1 post
13-Jun-2008
8:09 AM
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Hi Everyone,
I am glad I found this discussion forum. I am 46 years old and just got back into riding last fall. I bought a Standardbred mare who was said to be well broke and a good ladies horse. Well as it turned out, she was very dominant and pushy and scared the heck out of me. I struggled through and bought lots of DVD's (more than I could afford), read tons of articles on the internet, books, talked to people and the list goes on and on. I finally decided to sell my mare and look for one more suitable for myself as a beginner. With the help of a good friend we found a 9 year old QH mare. When I looked at her she was wonderful We rode her and decided she was the horse for me. When i moved her to the stable where she would be staying she was understandably upset by the new surroundings, losing her old home and owner. This lasted a week or two. Now I have had her for about a month and a half. She is now very herd bound (she was pastured with a donkey at her old home). She is spooky and jumpy when i take her away from her 'buddy" and I have just become plain scared of her. She tries to turn back when I lead her to the barn for grooming/tacking. In the barn she paws and swings from side to side. In the arena, she is nervous and high headed and is "calling" out to her buddy while I am trying to work with her. I have emplyed all of the skills that I learned through my research, but I find that I am just plain scared.
Should I just admit I am not a horse person? Should I just sell her? I am so upset, not sure what to do about my fears.
Thanks for listening.
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ladyinblack792
209 post s
13-Jun-2008
8:46 AM
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For starters, welcome to the board :) You can work through this :) I had the same problem with Chance a while ago. He was extremely herd bound and the minute he coundn't see any of the other horses he would panic. What I did was I would take him away from his horsey friends in the next paddock. He would be all right for a few minutes then would start to panic. I would bring Chance back outside for a few minutes then walk away, with him, from his friends again. This does take time. Here I am a few months later and I can walk him down the driveway, completely out of sight of the barn and his friends, with his "horsey girlfriend" screaming for him to come back, and he isn't upset. It takes time to expand your horse's comfort zone. Just be patient. You'll definetly find a lot of good advice here. Don't give up on your dreams :)
Last Edited on 13-Jun-2008 8:48 AM
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Willows mom
2 post s
13-Jun-2008
1:32 PM
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Thank you for the kind words. I so don't want to give up!!! After I posted that message, I went out and rode my horse!! It was a pretty good time. When she got excited by her buddy calling to her, I got off and worked her hard from the ground until I had her attention back and then i got back on and finished the ride on a good note.
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JoyRider
2 post s
14-Jun-2008
7:18 AM
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Good for you!!!
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Williesgal
17 post s
14-Jun-2008
2:26 PM
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Just always feel safe :) My mistake was letting my emotions get to my horse too........ ----------
Jenn n Willie
patience, practice and persistance!
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AceLoved
44 post s
16-Jun-2008
5:44 PM
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Hang on to your dreams. It sounds like you are on the right track with your new horse. You made it past the really tough part...you admitted that you had a horse that you did not feel comfortable with and you took the time to look for a horse more suited to you. Now take more time and relax with your new horse....It often takes months for some of them to get used to a new home and during that time they can get pretty scary acting. It sounds like you are starting to connect with your horse and you will make it.
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working through it
2 post s
17-Jun-2008
9:44 PM
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I understand your feelings. Such powerful creatures they are!!! Is there a way you can slow down your horse contact so that you can be more comfortable?? Is she getting enough turn-out time?? She needs to completely respect you on the ground before the riding takes off. What have you tried with her? Working Through it
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Holly's Hero
8 post s
27-Jun-2008
2:00 PM
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It sounds to me just like a more complex version of weaning. Have tried using some of the tactics?
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