Hi guys,
Continuing from Please Do as I Ask, as it was about a girl who wouldn't not hit this lovely mare!
Yesterday as Winter hates being in with nothing to do, I shoved on some tendon, over reach & hind boots took her down to the school & loose jumped her, oh wow has she got a pop in her!! Only did cross poles mostly but high up the wings, then asked her to jump a straight pole about 2' high, called it a day at that she was tired but happy.
Been out today with Winnie, wouldn't go out of the yard first so backed out of the gate, she'll get the idea, ( she was patient whilst Winnie gave a baby a ride round the yard) trotted all the way up the hill out of the yard. Wanted her to go in front of Winnie up the next hill, which she did until she thought the bins were still out, so backwards we went again most of the way up the hill, kept turning her to see if she would go forwards. She has twigged that it's easier to go forwards now & that keeping up is much better than catching up again led Winnie past a scary vehicle (lorry), she's really not bothered by traffic.
Haha, success took Winter to the school on our own. Nice schooling session calm walk & trot with circles no hanging at the gate at all, asked for a small amount of collection, got it for a few strides on both reins, in both gaits so I'm happy with that. All in all a little progress but worth it!
Well done Tiggy. X
Walk, trot & canter today! Tired pony still sleeping it off 3 hrs later!! Brought mine down for some schooling he's 12 & nearly went associated over appetite! Bloody arse in canter & can't pick his front feet up, buck oh yes but just canter nicely no I'll fall over mum!
Sounds like you had an interesting ride ;) x
You think!! He was a complete arse on the way home as well as usual, stamping the front legs, jogging etc etc, was better with the bicycles than he usually is though!
Busy weekend with Winter, she's been schooling nicely until yesterday, very defiant on the left rein, not softening at all, neck is tight on that side so day off today! Posted photos of her on my fb page (Joy Nicholls similar profile pic as on here) as to why a day off! Will try our 1st solo hack tomorrow then.
We all have good and bad days Tiggy, animals too :-) Tomorrow is another day, it's going really well for you both!
Yeah, our back woman will check her on Thursday when she's down. Nice hack planned for tomorrow hopefully!
Well maybe that wasn't such a good idea as I thought!! Took Winter out on her own!! Got her out onto the road fine, she looked at the stones outside the cattery, went following a car that passed us, then stopped to look at the signs in the hedge & on the road, again followed a car, used the Bluebells as an excuse to stop! Got past that with a bit of backing up, stopped the bus at the top of the hill until we were over the junction & off the main road, a lady stopped very kindly & walked with us over the railway bridge (this piece of road is very smooth), turned down the hill time until we got to the bottom then wouldn't go past the garden, so backwards we went, then she backed up the bank & we nearly went over!! I got teasy with her then and really sent her forwards, legs,seat, hands & a sharp tap with the dressage whip, which if she started to back off she would have another lighter tap! All was going well then there was the dreaded cardboard in the hedge, instant stop & back away, so turn around to back past it all the way to the lane I wanted to go up, turned around went 50 yards stop again not going forwards, backwards we went until stuff she saw in a field was slightly more scary than she thought, forwards again up the lane in trot, more deadly Bluebells & the post van!! So we got past that trotting merrily along then OMG someone has filled in potholes with road plainings shock horror can't possibly go past them, backwards again then a van came up so we tucked into a driveway & trotted off after it, WONDERFUL after that no problems! Had to drop into the Cattery drive as Big Tractor & trailer went to go past, just upset her a little!! Why can't drivers read I wear a "Caution Young Horse" high viz tabbard so he could've just waited so I could get her off road before trying to pass us! All in all an experience, but once started there was no quitting! Pleased with her really she wasn't silly at all with the traffic!
Tiggy, I'm going to be very blunt here. A "sharp tap with a dressage whip" is "horse speak" for "I hit her enough that it caused her pain". That is not the pain free, violence free philosophy that Monty teaches. She was scared and she got punished for it simple as that. If the fear/wariness is mild then encouraging them forward (nicely!) is often perfectly viable but I find the best way if they are really anxious is to get off and walk them through it - even go up to the scary bluebells and touch them yourself :-) You will often hear people say "Oh but then the horse has won" Won what? On the contrary, he has learnt to trust your judgement and to keep him/her safe which will make him/her braver next time; oh and he still had to deal with the scary lamppost/bag in atree/whatever it is ;-) .Trotting after things...great stuff... and I totally agree about drivers needing to be a lot more sensitive!
sorry Tiggy, but i quite agree with vicci, if they are scared of something - & that will be everything when a baby first starts going out - you need to take the time to let them look without pressure from you to force them past it; if they are allowed to look & assess it, they will eventually build up the courage to go past it, THEN you need to turn back & pass it again & again until they are no longer worried about that thing, this is needed at everything they are worried about. If you are on a busy road, then you do need to get off & lead them up to it or past it as the leader.
Like vicci says, they haven't "WON" anything - they haven't read the book that tells riders "THEY MUST MAKE THE HORSE DO IT"!
She was allowed to look & assess everything! What I mean by a sharp tap is that I flicked my hand about an inch or so and as it bent over my thigh it gave her a slightly stronger tap than normal,what I mean by a light tap is a touch on her flank area with a little tickle! The dressage whip is usually carried with my hand well below the handle (it's a long dressage whip) & high so the end is just touching the top of her bum, as it hangs! The Bluebells are on the main road and she sees them everytime she goes out and she's been in front going past them the last couple of times! Very clever mare, much like my man but not quite there, he's expert at going from going forwards in any pace to backwards in the same pace, could do with a seatbelt on him. She stops has a good look made a fuss of & reassured then when you ask her to go forwards she backs up, yes I do talk to her & encourage forward momentum, before I back her up! It wasn't a case of who won what when she was going forwards she was brilliant thoroughly enjoying herself! The cardboard, stones & signs I understood, scary wet in the hedge! Not sure about the vehicle thing, she's a little unsure leaving the yard either ridden or being led if there's a vehicle parked outside the gate, there was s trailer there for a couple of weeks with hanging meat in it so that maybe part of the of leaving the yard, yet she used passing cars as a lead when they were going past her?? Not going out today her neck is being checked later.
Thanks for clarifying - language is a tricky thing with many meanings. I'm sure the trailer with hanging meat smelt awful to her! I looked at a yard for sale once and discovered it was next door to the abattoir...not a good move lol Using the cars as they go past and then following helps them think they are sending the scary car away :-)
Just goes to show that the spoken word is not always the easiest language to understand - i get had like that all the time!!!
Hope her necks ok
Yeah, if I say a tap I do mean just a tap. I got teasy with myself for not having more confidence in her, other than her couple of rears to begin with she's not actually put a foot wrong riding. I was the same jumping the old dragon over a Foxhunter course she had no problem with it it was my problem! She had her back done yesterday, pelvis was slightly out on the left & her lower neck muscles were tight, she loved having that done & was licking my shin at the end! Day off advised then ride again tomorrow. She can go out with Winston & Ill get Jen to be back so Winter's in front more!
Well Jen & I have had a bit of a sort out, going to an Equine Car Boot on Monday, so Winter has now got a wardrobe of her own apart from her turnout rugs which are Winstons & a tad large at 6'9" or 7'!She was thoroughly enjoying trying her new "clothes" & her cuddles!!! Ride out tomorrow me thinks, after I've sorted through my odds & ends!!
Think all of us lack a bit of confidence on a baby as they are an unknown quantity!!! It's not what they do, it's what you don't know what they MIGHT do. Believe me, i had ma hard time starting Lib as I'd not been able to ride for about 4 years before i backed her when my beloved rocky pops went blind at 29 years old. I'd only ridden him for a good few years since i got run over & fractured my spine, burst a disc, tore all the muscles & ligaments down my right side.......
I was begging people to let me have a few rides on their horses to try to find my riding muscles, only 2 people let me. I asked the yard owner opposite if she could give me some lessons to work on my position, but the answer was no.
My little girl was very happy to let me sit on her, she was great, it was only when we started to move, i found we had lots of problems - not all mine - she was a left hand banana from an accident she had at 6 weeks old - i wont go into it all as i've posted it before but it's just to encourage you as we had so many probs to get through, your doing fine.
I'd just say, try just sitting very quietly when she sees something she's worried about & let her work it out without putting any pressure on her at all when you are in a safe place, see what happens.
I got back on Libby yesterday after cracking my rib, I'm so glad i did get straight back on her when we fell as i wasn't scared to get on, i would have been if i hadn't. We saw a terrifying Pterodactyl pheasant & branches knocked off trees by huge lorries getting down our lane to the building site - they needed checking out! Pleased to say we got home both in one piece!!!
Yeh, it's the MIGHT do that's the problem, very difficult not to foresee potential problems as you get wiser with age, never mattered as a kid, just get on & see what happens!!! Used to bounce better then too!
Luckily I not had any bad falls & sounds like you would've been in agony for ages with your back etc, jeez that must've hurt!! The yard owner that you asked for lessons doesn't sound very helpful, unless they didn't have a suitable horse, most people, I find, are more than happy to give a hand if you ask, or at least know someone who can help if they can't...
I strongly believe that walking horses in hand along a route first and having a spare person with you is time incredibly well spent. It is much safer with a young/inexperienced horse to walk them first and improves the confidence of the horse and people, allows better control should the scary pheasant (tons of the damn things where my horse is!)leap out of nowhere (and they do!) and prepares the way for ridden work. It is something that is grossly underestimated in my opinion. Of course, the best laid plans..... I once took a horse for a walk, lost concentration for a split second, horse tied to hide behind me (I'm wide but hell I'm not that wide!!!) and landed on the back of my boot and slid down it - it hurt! hahahaha. But, it was my fault for day dreaming :-)
I know im new here but just wanted to say that I agree with Vicki, if you lead her out to build up confidence instead of riding for a while maybe that will help- my boy has a lot more confidence with me on the ground that when I'm on top so it does depend in how she responds to you.
I don't mean to be offensive here, but I really think horses can be autistic- something that's different, even flowers being out is scary! Will she go past the bluebell patch when they are over? It must be frustrating when she asses something, seems ok with it, then spooks and trying to keep your cool the whole time! That's why I sing, to keep my cool as best I can, and if it's a song I love it comes through me to my horse and he seems a bit happier too. ( a horse liking Metallica, who'd a thought!) Also I wait with him and wait for him to decide to move on and if he tries to go back the other way then be a bit more firm in my reassurance and put myself in between the scary thing and him. Guess the theory for him is that if it's gonna jump out it'll get me first! Lol
Another thing is when she spooks, it's it at stationary objects or moving or both? Just so you have a better idea of what to look out for. Can you go out with another experienced horse or even someone walking I front with you? I know you said she likes to be I front when you do so maybe when there is something potentially scary drop back and swap places? You sound like your doing really good with her and you must have very good patients! I don't mean to teach anyone to suck eggs, just this is what is have learnt with my spooky boy.
Yeah, I agree Vicci. I used to walk my old mare out when I got her we went miles (I was 15 at the time) until she was broken in! Didn't do so much with her son, been out a few times with Winter in hand as well she was good, beaky but good.
We went out again today with Winston to regain a bit of confidence, had a bit of a silly moment on the railway bridge, she wouldn't go forwards, looking into the field opposite, which all of a sudden has sprouted a car & caravan!!! OMG the road is like a sheet of glass there, Winston in a silly moment fell over on his side ages ago, Jen jumped clear then I went after him on another young mare we had, so not to pushy there, Jen came up & lead her by the bit to lead her forwards! Was fine after that, had a lovely canter up the lane met Rocky on Petroc, so made a new friend! Trotted off in front of Winnie merrily bit of a wiggly trot, looking in every ones drives but in front, then she ran out of steam & Winnie took over again!
We have someone to ride one of the ponies here so in a few days I'll have someone I can take her out with during the week! Really build her confidence for the next few weeks then try her on her own again.
Oh well done today! Apart form the wobbly moment sounds like you both had a really good fun ride! Let us know how the leading out goes!
yep, i lead Libby out all over the place for months waiting for my friend to have time to help me get on her, it really helps them. When they are ridden, they are out there on their own & have to make the decisions, they got no one to hide behind & let get eaten first!!!
I remember when she'd got a bit cocky about this going out lark, we were with EEE & clipper & Lib wanted to push in & go first up this track, being a big girl - then we saw some sheep in the field, it was so funny, she stopped waited for clipper to get close then reversed back past him so he could get eaten - it was very polite for her, he he he!
Tiggy, you've got a nosy one too :) Lib wanted to go explore everyone's drive she went past.
Think it'd going to be a school day today, they've just had some sheep killed so the bloody trailers back up by the yard with hanging carcasses in, and all the guts are in the shed waiting to be collected!! Great she'll be growing about 5 hands then!! I did suggest leaving the trailer on the flat by the shed but thats way to easy!!!
they're very inconsiderate aren't they!! no wonder she's worried about going out of the gate.
Very wise to avoid it if you can.
Yeah very inconsiderate, I decided to just groom & play with her feet in the stable yesterday as the guts weren't collected til today, didn't see any point in upsetting her with that! Rode her in the school just now, oh dear Uncle Andy's uncovered stuff that she'd not seen before!! Didn't do owt other than look, lent forwards & made s huge fuss of her then walked her on! All 3 paces on both reins so happy again today.
Took Jo out on Polly with Winston earlier, so in a week or so will have another Nanny for Winter to go out with couple times during the week instead of always in the school! Jo hasn't ridden for ages so needs day or two to get back into it!
Ok, so my dearly beloved has just been in with Winter! She got quite stressed about him picking up her foot, started barging, stamping with her hinds & swishing her tail, so I asked him to just run his hand down her legs nothing else! She had no intention of trying to hurt him but not a happy bunny! Left it at that for tonight although he did put her rug on whilst she was feeding, happy for him to touch her legs then! Much more work than I thought initially, somethings obviously happened in a previous place. Possibly before she was sold as a 2yo. Will ring the vet & get a sedalin, for her next shoeing! Not having her fighting with us for all our sakes, not good for anybody's health just because of some prat with no patience!
:-) Remember a lot of this leg touchy thing could be man related as you say from previous owner. I'm working with a warm blood at the moment and she's very funny with her feet, but she's not balanced which doesn't help. Has your farrier seen the join up with farrier video?
X
Her balance is quite good, considering the yard & stable has a slope!!! The only level area is the drive in but if she gets away there's no gate at the road!! Could try her in the school, more space but level! Will try that tonight, she seems happy in the school associates it with work so might help, thanks for that train of thought Mel.
We've had a howling wind today, it was supposed to be chucking with rain but we didn't have much here in Cornwall, took Winter out with Winston & Polly! We were going up the hill but turned around because of chainsaws working close to the road! Everything was fine til Winston saw the mini-digger and spun round, Winter followed his lead dear of her but didn't do anything else, then came the dreaded orange mesh flapping in the wind, rightly so she shied at that jogged a little but settled quickly! No real problem the rest of the way round, a little worried by the wind in the overhead cables, back past the mesh, gave it a wide berth but not bothered really!! Overall a good ride, oh and she's in season again so desperate to be with Winston preferably in front flashing her backside at him!!! Old Tart!
Well this will be an entertaining evening, just rung my farrier & left a message as Winter has twisted a hind shoe in the stable this morning!! Wish us luck, going to try & her a sedalin to chill her out!
Well she was quite a lot better than last time. Had the sedalin but she didn't seem that dopey if you know what I mean! Not sure if it chilled her out just enough to be managable or if the "Slut Mix" has helped as well?? Slut Mix has extracts of Agnus Cactus which helps balance hormones! Kicked Paul as soon as he asked for her foot old cow! She walked off a couple of times but nowhere near as bad as before, a few steps not all round the yard! So other than the initial kick Paul & I are quite pleased with the improvement, and she made a fuss of Paul afterwards which surprised me. Still away to go but we'll take any improvement no matter how small.
Shes also been sold to Jo who's coming up to ride Polly, she wasn't going to have a horse again but fell for Winter! Shes staying here with us, Jo won't ride her until shes ready so I've still got the ride then I can compete her when shes ready!Result
Sounds as though good progress is being made Tiggy; where on earth has the name "Slut Mix" come from???
I would think from mares that have really strong seasons or are in season an awful lot! It worked for another mareish mare Jen had here she was terrible apparently, really tetchy & defensive, had been here for about 12/18 months before we came here so was lots better by then! Another one that loved my other half to the point that she would ignore her rider and grass to go to him!! She went to a chap up in Cheshire & they adore each other.
RESULT, Jo & I have been working with Winter all week to get her to pick up her feet, we've had a major problem with her super gluing her off fore to the floor! Today she picked it up, Jo said she looked a bit uncomfortable but she did it & I picked it out, would have been happy with just a lift up!! The others she very happy to give have picked, brushed out & oiled! Acid test will be on Monday again when Farrier comes to do her hinds.
That's great Tiggy, nice progress!
i just love that name - Slut Mix he he he!!!
I used to have both of my mares on Hormonise, which resulted in a very chilled Libby overnight as she was so bad when in season as a baby i thought she had terrible colic one day, she wouldn't come away from the gate, was sweating & kicking her belly....... I stopped if for ages, then when i re introduces alfalfa into her diet as a bit in a handful of chaff & she bolted with me, i put her back on it cos when she gets in that elevated frame of mind, she tends to get worse! I now have them on just Agnus Castus seeds, which i grind up in a coffee grinder, it's a lot cheaper.
Lib is 13 now & she too will still use that glued foot to the floor as a controlling behaviour, yet she will stand untied for me to trim her feet. Mare eh? Don't you love em!!!
I'm soo chuffed with her, thanks for the support ladies and gents!
I think there's some Agnus Cactus seeds still here but Jen got 3 bottles of Slut Mix which I find easier to use! Think Winter thought we'd just give up on trying to pick that foot up or that we would get mad with her, how wrong was she, we put her back in her box after Id picked it out & oiled the outside! Will try to get some oil on the inside later. I know it's not like being shod but every little bit is an improvement, if she only stands for Paul for 2 minutes at a time without hassle I'll be over the moon! Will ask him to be a bit quick getting a nail in each side so it won't twist if she decides to go walkies!!
I know it's difficult to ask the farrier to go as slow as you'd like as it's not his job to train your horse, but if he could do as you just said & then let her put it down for a rest before she makes the decision, that may help.
They can get unbalanced & tired if the foot is held up for too long.
I've never heard of slut mix, but it sounds like the Hormonise, Ag Cast in liquid form, it does tend to work quicker as the liquid gets into their system faster than the whole herb.
Paul is very good with young & difficult horses he's sensible and has god knows how many years experience! As long as she improves he'll be relatively happy he knows I'm working with her everyday!
Definitely have had as result today, someone stood almost like a rock for the farrier to do her hinds today!!!!!
Super stuff!!! That old Agnus Castus really does help doesn't it!!!
Seems to! Jo and I have been picking her feet up everyday mind, picking out, brushing & oiling so shes used to a bit more time with her foot up. Paul wouldn't let her snatch her foot away from him when he'd finished she had to relax and put it down gently. But he is soo impressed at the progress we've made in a week, nice to have some help to educate her. Jo's really quiet but won't let her get away with anything.
Have found the problem with the off fore, her tendons in the near fore are sore, not enough to make her show any lameness though, so bandaged overnight when shes out, hosed & leg iced when in!
hope she mends well. I found Libby had a big sorely hind leg on Sunday, so i've been hosing her too & giving her Bute Free, it's gone down a lot.
My Old Dragon is on 20mls of Bute Free a day now for her fetlock, brilliant stuff also on Bloom n Sheen Vits/mineral supplement which does them the world of good!
I defiantly rate Bute Free above No Bute, it' works better, is cheaper to buy & you give less of it.
My 2 are on Top spec Antilam as both are laminitics BUT, we've been laminitis free since Oct 2010 - my vet was very surprised when i told him that, his reply was WOW, YOU HAVE DONE WELL!!!
We've not seen him for a fair while as he's a partner so doesn't do the free visit booster jab days.
I was put onto Bloom N Sheen by a friend it's used by farmer for cattle etc for showing, contains pretty much everything except copper. Wonderful stuff seems to helps mine with his itching, not exactly sweetitch but he has a very greasy coat so just mane tail & face! Also feet improve they go hard but flexible if you know what I mean.
Great hack out with Jo & Polly, we met a rather big B&Q lorry, he kindly shut the engine off for us Winter walked past nicely no fuss, but she just had to go over for a proper sniff & taste!! Nothing really fades this little mare just needs to gain more confidence to go out in front then we can progress to out on our own..
She's coming on a treat isn't she.
Reading though this is good :D, really glad I've got geldings, but helpful as the one mare (Hattie) i'm training at the moment is very temperamental. Works really well then suddenly she switches off and will even go into pressure and ignore the dually. The owner uses the slut mix, quite appropriate for her when she's offering every fella she meets her butt. lol.
Well done Tiggy all your work is paying off!
x
Hi Mel, yeah shes really coming on. Jo comes up between 4 & 5pm and we bring her out to groom & do her feet, she no longer tries to walk off because Jo has been at her head to make a fuss & hold her which has been a great help! She now merrily munches on her net and yesterday her feet were on the way up as I touched her shoulder or rump, she also didn't snatch them as I put them down! Getting used to having the bandages put on overnight! Although I do this when shes munching then she doesn't take much notice, anything for an easy life as she likes to wander round the stable beaky madam that she is!
We've got her!! Was very comfortable with me picking up the off fore today, tendons must be getting better in the other leg!!! Off tomorrow to get her her own bandages and grooming kit! One thats toddler proof!
Finally had time to google Slut Mix - It is the same as Hormonise that I've used, but the feeding instructions are totally different!!! Slut Mix says you can feed it only when the mare's in season if you like, but Hormonise instructions (& i have spoken to the manufacturers as i wanted to sell it)are basically, you feed for 3 weeks, then stop for 1 week so the mare can have her season, just like being on the pill for women; Thats how i've always fed it & it continues to be in their system, so season problems are much reduced. The idea of stopping their seasons is sometimes used for competition horses, but not normal, regular riding horses.
I feed the Agnus Castus seeds in the same way, 3 weeks on them & 1 week off.
Thats interesting Beryl I thought it should be like the pill! But it says on the bottle 15mls 3 times a day with feed for 10 days reducing to once or twice a day thereafter! Trouble is I can't remember when I started her on it!! Think it was around 2 weeks ago so will give her a week off it next week! Must get a diary for this lot what with the farrier etc.
Anyway we went out yesterday took a different route, had a slight issue with a green BT box (very scary) so let her look and back away a little then asked her to go on, stiff legged walk past it eyes on stalks kinda thing, but that was the sum total next we had water running across the road so we tucked in behind Winston then decided to stick our nose in it hmm maybe not as bad as she thought! Went a bit further on to the next lane & went through the stream, shock horror she put her toes in then launched, so we kept asking her to go back through it & the 5th time she just plodded through so huge result there, catered up the lane a bit oooh she was soo pleased with herself a little toss of the head & a buck. This mare is totally bombproof on the way back we pulled in to let traffic past and what comes past us the flaming train, heard the whistle and thought "oh shit" but all she did was flinch as it appeared then didn't bother! She can see the trains going past from her field it's a distance of about 3/400 metres! So over the moon with her, what more can I ask than she looks, assess' and deals with any situation without panicking?
Since when has a 4 yo babysat an 8yo?? Just been out with Polly met a articulated lorry coming dwn the hill Polly no I can't possibly go past that!! So kick kick smack with a whip as its going across the road, trying her luck with Jo, Winter not bothered so I gave Polls a swipe with the schooling whip only caught her with the lash but it was enough to send her forwards!! Bloody pony!
Re Slut mix, yes i did read the instruction you said, but the other bit about only giving it during their season really worries me. If you follow the Hormonise instructions for 3 week on it & 1 week off, you'll be fine. You preferably want to wait till the week the season starts, let them have that & then start the 3 weeks on it. I've got it on the calender & on my phone calender cos I'd not remember otherwise - oh, & also on their calender where i keep notes on what's going on with them, invaluable when i was trying to sort out so many problems when they were young!
Fantastic, she is a brave girl, you did exactly right with the stream, i also do that with things like the green BT box too, then it's never a problem again. That's why Libby will stand & assess things, I let her have a look, wait till i think she's ready, then give her a squeeze with my leg, if she's ready, she'll walk on, if not, she needs a little more time, then will go past, then i turn her back & we go past till she's so no bothered by it.
Lib escorted a ridiculous older mare out several times as a baby too, they are very honest at that age!!!
one other point i forgot re slut mix or Hormonise is that if you're feeding it to a gelding (either for aggressive behaviour or as a calmer) you don't need to stop feeding for the 1 week cos they don't have seasons. hee hee hee!!
Yeah started her on it when she was in season, so by re-reading these posts she started about 3 week's ago this week! Could do with a wall play Inner! Not used to a mare with such strong season's, could never really tell with my old dragon.
Polly is bombproof in traffic, so sure she was just trying Jo out, also not going out of the yard with her, so Jen got the hose out and sprayed her!!! Came back and Jo rode her in & out of the yard several times again had the same on Saturday! Winter stood in the yard quiet til I asked her to move, not at all bothered about being left! Polly does this every so often,gets ideas above her station little bugger!
Thats better, just got Winter out of the yard on her own!! That was after she backed into the porch & the step ladder thats there! Had to back down to the workshop then she just stood there & went when I asked instead of going backwards, we wandered down to & round the school then went back and did it again! 3rd & 4th times she walked out happily so I called it a day there, jumped off and led her in. Try her again tomorrow see if she remembers
Big day today, we popped over a couple of x poles, well we kinda fell over it the first time, but then got the idea even with a flappy shoe!! The dearly beloved has just removed it, soo chuffed she was really good to have that done considering we only do it in emergencies!!
BERYL, where do you get the hormonise from??
Well, i can do the 5 ltr jugs, i don't sell the small ones as it's not worth the bother. It feels a bit cheeky putting the link on here, but there's no private messaging so here goes.
http://www.bforrestsaddlery.co.uk/hormonise_13.html
I'm glad you only sort of fell over the poles :)
Do you know what, you may as well scrap the previous link as no one will now accept liquids over 1 litre for delivery, i've no idea how other people stay in business in this country any more as we can't post anything!!!!!
Looks like that'll have to be collection only, sorry Tiggy.
Oh I know!! Postal services are a pain! Where are you to and how much?
Now we have no flappy shoe we jumped about 75/80 cms as a x pole, loving it happy very important pony today. Somehow I've been conned into riding the 14hh Skewbald I was working with earlier in the year, jockey has disappeared! Poor pony, seemed happy enough with me on board she didn't do owt, well tried to broncing in canter but I'm stronger than the 15yo that was riding her! As shes little & not done that much just going to ride her every other day, I'm 13.5st ish but luckily I ride quite light!
I'm near Princes Risborough, Bucks, It's £80 for 5 ltrs.
very good jumping, that'll help her to go forwards.
It's more about how you ride than your weight, if you are with the pony, not against it, I'm sure she'll be fine. There are tiny 14hh & big bruiser 14hh!
Pony is part Welsh, out of Polly thats here who's 1/2 Welsh, but by a top dutch JA jumping pony, so shes not a heavy built mare! It loves to fly buck in canter, only trouble is the saddle slips forwards, no bleeding shoulders or withers on the mare! Think thats why the 15yo stopped riding her, she just wasn't strong enough to send her forwards through the bucks. Mind you I'm used to it as my big man will buck all the way round a 60x20 school for the fun of it, he loves the fun of it!
Tiggy, what is going on here? Fly bucking is not ok! And what's with the "horse has no shoulders and withers"? - all horses have both ;-)It's up to the saddle to fit the horse not the other way round!!!!!! Might the two things be connected? Change the saddle :-)
Believe me, i know how difficult it is to fit a saddle to this type of horse!!!
They are a saddler's nightmare. Vicci, you are right, the saddle very likely is causing the problem, but the conformation sounds like it's wider ribs are pushing the points of the tree into the back of the shoulders.
Tiggy, do you mean she is very narrow, or broad in the shoulders?
How old is she?
What sort of girth straps are on the saddle?
Shes not got well developed shoulders, and is very low withered! Thats what I mean! Shes quite round and only 4. Finding a saddle for her is going to be a nightmare but I'll try my Optimus or Wintec Dressage saddle on her both might be too big as they're 17.5/18" with med wide bullets for my big man. As for the bucking it doesnt bother me she'll stop in a day or two when she realises it doesnt get her anywhere as for mine he started that when he learnt walk to canter transitions it's all good fun to him and he only does it in the school! No one else will get on him anyway with all his previous antics. He'll chill out again in a day or two just gets over excited. Believe me when I say he'll buck to vertical if he wants me off or spin out from under me and leave me looking at my foot on top of the saddle thinking oh b******s not again!
being only 4, she's not fully grown yet, so her withers won't be fully formed. Quite round with narrower shoulders is going to push the saddle forward.
You didn't say what type of girthing system the saddle has; if it's a traditional, 3 straps in the middle, that won't help at all.
what can help is one with either a point strap at the front plus a balance strap right at the back of the flap, or a "Y" shaped system so the girth & straps can sit where they need to on that pony.
Another thing that may help is a forward shaped girth; thats one that is shaped to sit in the girth groove,(i suspect, she has a forward, narrow girth groove right behind her elbows) & then the parts that fit onto the girth straps slope back, so the saddle can sit where it should. Most are expensive leather, but there is a waffle one available, just can't remember who it's made by.
Your other saddle will be far too long for a 14hh pony & will sit on her loins.
Was the saddle fitted to her originally?
Youngsters do change shape so quickly!
No saddle wasn't fitted to her it's a Stubben MF Special, the other saddle is a Klost De Chantal! Girth straps are in the middle, I know what you mean about a point strap my old mares Champion saddle has a forward strap, shes high withered and has always been slightly hollow on the shoulders, shes nearly clean tb!
Lots to read and catch up on. Sound like everyone's going good :D
Re riders weight, it's recommended by the BHS rider and tack to be 1/6th of the horses body weight. Pye is just under 14hh, but because he's very strong up front he can take a weight up to 86 kilos about 13.5 stone.
x
Yeah, Mel in an ideal world we'd all be at our medically "correct weight" to ride our horse's! My dearly beloved is a "stone" overweight, hes 5'10"ish 11.5 stone with a 30" waist but there's not an ounce of extra fat on him! I should be about 9.5 stone, but at less than 11 I look seriously ill! Lightweight riders can ride heavy just like heavy riders can ride light!I'm only going to be riding her couple times a week,we're hoping to send her off to a friend for her daughter to bring on but time and money
Indeed Tiggy; my weight should be about the same as yours, but due to "LIFE" & THYROID DISEASE it rocketed & at Christmas, i was a whopping 15 stone!!!!! I have got 2 stone off, but with another load of stress, like the fall we had plus another couple of things at the same time, my weight loss has stopped at 13 stone.
Absolutely right, some "light" riders can be like a sack of spuds, but if you are heavier & in balance you will ride your weight well.
Re the saddle, she needs to have a saddle fitted correctly, before you can address the bucking.
Trouble is in Cornwall we have no master saddlers!!
Master saddler's aren't actually qualified saddle fitters - they make saddles! However, EXPERIENCE counts for more than a piece of paper as in all things!
See if you can find a saddle fitter, there's quite a few around.
My saddler, who made my saddle & who has had a lifetime of experience fitting saddles is Steve Hartill, Pennwood Saddlery, he comes from Gloucester & i live in Bucks.
I met him at a show & he had a good solution to our problems, so i asked him to come down. He was going to wait till he had someone else out in this direction, but i needed him sooner, it cost me his call out, but it was worth it as we worked together for 5 years to get Libby fitted with a well fitting saddle. That may sound a very long time BUT, she was a left hand banana, her right side is longer than the left due to injury at 6 weeks old, her right shoulder is larger than the left..... After working her slowly & steadily, the last time he came down, as she's out grown the first saddle & i decided to have one made to fit her, he couldn't believe she was the same horse! The saddle still fits perfectly & she needed memory foam panels as her muscles, like all horses moved the flock but with her shape it happened all the time. I started her in a Thorowgood dressage saddle & i had to reflock it every week!!!
Steve is a consultant saddler to other saddler's who are having problems fitting saddles to awkward shaped horses.
They do travel miles.
Will have an ask around, there is one woman I know of who's supposed to be quite good but getting hold of her can be difficult! Trouble is the owner swears by Stubben! Have suggested trying the Thorowgood thing shes got but she reckons it's a bin job! Will see.
Well, it's all very well "swearing" by a particular make of saddle BUT, if the tree doesn't fit the horse it's going to do nothing but cause pain & muscle destruction.
I'm not saying a Thorowgood will fit this pony as I'm not there to see it, (It was just what i started mine in as i knew she was going to change shape, I wouldn't want one to ride in forever, it served a purpose at the time) what i am saying, is the current saddle need to be checked for fit & if it doesn't fit, it needs changing.
The make is immaterial, the fit is what matters.
I know, I can only keep suggesting changing the bloody thing! Will see if I can borrow a couple of others to see how they fit the little mare and get our back lady to check em for fit as well, she doesnt say but she is a saddler! But she won't be down now for about a week.
Just throwing this out there- treeless saddle? A normal treed saddle always pinched woods shoulders and as he held most of his tension in his back n shoulders, doing his 'stretches' combined with this treeless saddle works really well for him. It also means I can feel him better. And apart from a lack of knee rolls ( to get fitted at some point) it look like a normal gp saddle n acts like one too.
Doubt it very much, not my pony! Owners not really into "new stuff"! I would probably get a gullet measure for my Optimus then get appropriate gullet for it. Hopefully pony will be sent off for bringing on by a child rather than me, I am too big for her really, but shes so bored with me lunging her etc just to get her out of the stable. Shes that age when she wants to learn & see new things, shes more than proficient at long lining, loose jumping etc has a " not again" look on her face! I have found the flexi measure so will get an idea of what width we need for her to be much more comfortable, then might be able to borrow from a mate until we can get her a saddle of her own! Shes having new front shoes on Monday so might get a short stint round the block with her rather than the school!
Widgymaphlip I'm glad a treeless saddle works well for your pony. I've known a few that have tried them, not all as successfully as you sadly.
Even treeless saddles need to be fitted properly to that horse.
I was told that someone was asked to trial a treeless saddle for a manufacturer with very bad results for her horse, It had to be turned away for a long rest as a result.
What happens is the movement of the rider's seat bones act like a drill in a circular motion & this had caused the muscle damage to her horse.
Tiggy, that sounds like a good idea to get your back lady to check the fit of the saddle.
Most tree points go directly down the back of the shoulders, in my saddle, they designed them to sweep back away from the shoulders to allow for her big movement & big shoulders.
There's pros & cons for everything to do with horse's!! Must admit I'm not struck by the general look of a treeless, perhaps I'm just old fashioned in some areas?? I would love a WOW saddle, but again needs to be properly fitted!
Unfortunately a cousin to my dad gave up Saddlery, he was working for the Queens saddler but left to do something else, he would've inherited the business! I could've have bespoke saddles at a reasonable price!
Morning All. Well it's been hay time so not been riding much, we've borrowed a saddle for the little coloured mare, it still goes forwards when she bucks but not so much! It's a Kent & Masters, rolls a bit on her back, I rode her in it last Thursday. Now been told that the owner ddoesnt want me to ride her, thinks his daughter can do a better job!! Taller heavier and a rough rider, so pissed right off at the moment! Poor little mare is gonna be soo bored doing nothing! Shes ready to go on now and learn. I know I'm really to heavy for her but 15/20 mins in the school doing the basics couple times a week is hardly gonna kill her. And that is all I do with her, walk, trot, canter circles I do push her forwards when she bucks until she stops, it's usually in canter so I ask for the transition again until she doesnt buck, then it's walk on a long rein for a min or 3, jump off, praise then back to her stable untack, rinse under the hose if shes hot!! One happy pony afterwards, I do the same with Winter if we can't go out.
I am now in possession of Winter's Passport so I can take her home as soon as her stable's built!!
Took her out on her own today, no major problems, the usual spoiling at birds flying out the tree's etc! Soo chuffed with her. Off in the lorry tomorrow to our local indoor school for a play! Think I'll take the lunge lines and give her a few minutes before I get on let her have a look around, big 60 x 20 school.
great news Tiggy!
Back to saddles - I've always had enormous probs with fitting a saddle to Libby due to her growth being stunted in her shoulder through injury at 6 weeks old.
Wool flock is useless for her as she need it to be re-flocked every week!
She's now managed to shunt a memory foam panel!
FINALLY, i actually got round to trying a KORRECTOR saddle pad made by the same people who make WOW & FLAIR, it's a pad with 4 air bags in it that can be adjusted separately to get the saddle sitting straight & in balance form side to side & back to front.
For the first time the saddle sits straight on her back, not across her, she's a VERY HAPPY GIRL!!!!!!!!
You can get them for English, Spanish & Western saddles.
They are tricky to set up right & it can take quite a lot of tries & thought to get it right, but when it is, the horse will tel you without doubt, if it's wrong they will go heavy into the ground, but when it's right, boy do they power forward! They can be used for saddles that fit & saddles that are too wide, but NOT saddles that are too narrow.
Beryl, our back lady came about a month ago and said she needed a Wide 16.5" saddle, so the owners got one finally!! She also checked Winters back & the fit of the shires optimus I bought both were perfect!
Winter practically ran up the ramp on Sunday, then promptly ran back out again! I had asked her to just move her bum over a little more to shut the partition so just a misunderstanding, loaded again traveled beautifully. Let her wander round the school before I got on so she could investigate at her leisure. She went well looking at everything stored on the walls, but that's ok, just the basics lots to take in.
Thats great news Tiggy.
I'm so glad she's doing so well for you - enjoy.
Yeah she's coming on nicely, having a couple lessons a week with her!
Took himself out in the lorry last week, he has to have his Dually on to load, thought he might be an ads about loading as we've not been anywhere since November but 1 back up then straight in, last time he was trying to figure out a way to win against it!!
Well Winter was well behaved today at her 1st party, only did Into A (walk/trot dressage test)51.1%, she coped with the flower boxes etc. Didn't want to leave busy looking at the other horses there so rather distracted loading home, need to work on getting her used to turning so I can shut the partition.
Himself I could merrily have shot today, took him up later for his test, did well, a little stiff through his back however. Went to load him & he decided no I'm not doing that, stood on end shot to the end of the lunge, jerked it out of my hand, promptly trotted off out of the gate across the road & started going home!!! Then he stood on the lunge after about 1/4 mile & waited for me to catch up, led back to the show & went up the ramp like nothing had happened!!! AAAGH that horse is so annoying, after being so good last time to be such an ass today!!!
Winter's doing well, we had a lesson with a Spanish international dressage rider last month & she's getting the idea now that she has to move off my leg, she went to another "party" the following weekend & came 5th out of 9 in Intro A, Intro B wasn't so good, lots going on outside so not listening to me, but that's fine it's still new to her.
Now feeling her feet, having issues with a particular lane, 2 horses & a Shetland pony about halfway in that she's taken a dislike to, yesterday she didn't want to go down there at all!! Brown wheelie bin in someone's drive then the road sign, ooohh no mum cant go past them, left her to look & decide that they weren't going to kill her then asked again & she went until we got to the offending horses!! Strange because we've been through there before & she's not been bothered & she did have a Shetland pony where she was before! And that is what she was looking at the day before.. Fine for the rest of the ride, have to take it easy for day or two hind shoe is a bit loose, Jenny's back now so, we'll go out with a chaperone for the weekend.
Great to know things are going well Tiggy
Yeah, she's going well, loves schooling too busy rubbernecking when hacking out so its her relax time, as long as she's off the leg and going forwards I don't ask for any work, although I do ask for leg yeild at times.
Himself had a lesson yesterday and fell flat on his nose the bloody idiot..
Soo chuffed, clipped Winters neck & chest yesterday!! Been running the clippers around her & over her for a few days but was still not entirely sure how she'd cope, gave her a net to occupy her, she was good as gold.. Lines are a bit wonky with her munching but she was happy. Going to do a bit more today probably a bit of her belly, the most ticklish bit, but will go quietly and not stress her out see how far we get. If it takes a day or two it does I'd rather not force the issue and end up with a problem for life..
Great stuff, you've made such great progress Tiggy
Thanks Vicci, why was I worried, the made never moved, not at all bothered by clippers on her belly!! Although I did work back to her stifle rather than start there. She's such a different horse to the Piranah we brought home in February..
Terrific progress Tiggy, you're both doing so well, i wish you all the best.
Hope himself is ok after falling flat on his face!!!