An interesting turn of event. For those who have read post join up with John and how work was cut short abruptly? I'm now working with another horse from the same owner. this time in my own territory out in the fields :D

Sammy a stunning mare, 17 hands ish, was a brood mare for about 7 years on
Holland. unfortunately, how she was handled and how her foals were handled, has left her one very anxious mare.

apparently she rides very well in an enclosed school, but on hacks it's another matter.

when she was a brood mare they took her and foals to shows and to get her to prance along with her foal they would use a whip at her feet hitting her to make her do a short prance trot. what ever else they did to her has left her frightened going out to the field she does the same prance trot, when in the field she calls out lots and it takes around 2 weeks for her to settle. she spooks at every thing.

Day one, now although I see Sammy daily as I walk past her field, I don't interact with others horses unless I'm working with them. I'll say hello, but that's it. Back to day one...

She let me catch her and walk her out to the field with ease, when I walked her through the gate into our field she jus panicked, but there seemed to be anger there, she became aggressive towards me and the mares in the field next to us. she snorted aggressively and whipped her teeth across my forehead, didn't hurt, but she was showing anger at the new change. I orientated her to the field about an acre and waited till her adrenaline started to drop, then let her loose and sent her away. she went off bucking, but immediately her ear locked onto me and communication started, it's one of the most perfect join ups I could possible wish for, ear locked and licking and chewing before I changed direction. one of the geldings in another field decided he wanted to join in so he was running up and down the fence line, although slightly distracted, a sharp 'hey' word brought her attention back to me. when I invited her in, she immediately joined up no hesitation.

I did some scary bag work with her followed by quality time. when I let her go in her eon field, she lingered then went off to graze.

Day 2 I needed to see what she was like out on a hack, so we started across the field without join up. Lots of fast cars pass this bit, which is very hand for road training in a safe environment. We didn't get 100 yards away from her field and her tension levels went up. At 200 yards as we approached the far side of the field 3 other horses, fenced in, came running up to meet us, this terrified her and she nearly lost all sense. she wouldn't go forwards or backwards, but with the aid of the dually I managed to make her go sideways until she felt safe, she went into this fast prance trot as she was going sideways. the rest of the lesson was just to relax her.

Day 3 a good groom then Join up, not as perfect as the first one, but achieved quite quickly. then scary bag work and lung whip, she was scared of whip so I only did a small bit of work with it, couldn't get past her withers. Then walk out into the field the same route as day 2, we passed the 100 yard mark and she remained relaxed, 175 yards she started to change. we stopped to relax and make feel safe, then move about 10 feet more and the stress levels started going up, the other horses didn't come up this time so I tried to figure out what it was that was making the stress levels start? we were heading to a part of the field that is fenced off like a lane for the tractor to go around, it seemed her concern was this lane and not so much the horses from day 2. I kept her just on the area she was worried about, but encouraged her to graze, in doing this we were actually able to slide back over the danger zone area, whist still settled with that bit we left and went off for quality time.

I do something that I call bonding, which is a combination of touch and thought, as I touch the horse all over I clear my mind of everything and feel every part of the horse in my mind, every lump and bump! it completely relaxes the horse and for a few moments it's as if the horse and I are one. when I went back to Sammy's head in this bonding mode she hung her head deep into my chest and I felt this big sigh come out of her, we stayed like that for several minutes. at that point I became the leader she trusted. :D Quite emotional lol.

Day 4 no join up, did some scary bags and introduced plastic containers that I want her to kick as she walks by, it went well, then lunged for a while until she threw a shoe.

Day 5 just a hello in the field with no expectations of doing anything, just together.

Day 6 - today! I get a call from the owner, they need Sammy to be a companion with one of their other gelding, whilst one goes to be broken in. But she didn't want to do the method she'd been brought up with, stick them in a field and they'll sort themselves out.
they,ve had these horses together in the past and there was lots of kicking and no real order sorted before they were separated again. the gelding I've already interacted with when I was working out in the field with John so when I step in the field I become lead mare. with Sammy in hand I established leadership with the gelding! something the owner pointed out that whilst I was using the lead rope to send the gelding away, Sammy didn't flinch at all! before hand she would have done, Sammy came with me every step of the way whist I did a join up with the gelding, then I introduced the gelding and Sammy whist I Stood between them, then I stood next to the gelding showing my acceptance into my herd. The gelding and Sammy interacted and when I was happy they were settled I let Sammy off the lead rope. Still staying within their space I let them start to interact? The gelding has a good sniff then hooked his head over the mares back to which she spun round and gave an almighty kick and he went straight into passive mode. I acknowledged Sammy's action with a nod and a blink as acceptance of what she did? then walked off. they've been happily grazing the rest of the day:D

herd integration, someone must take the lead to establish order. Using Equus we can do this :D

lots more work to do with Sammy! for half her life she's been a brood mare and not treated nicely for the sake of people wanting to win competitions.

Mel x
It's all about the horse!