cup of tea and biscuits ...long post!

[dcjovi]

Well, I,ve found out that shes definitely hormonal! She changes into a slightly bargy bossy mare when shes in season , but because I know the cause it is easier to deal with.I don't ask as much of her and allow her to be a moody mare LOL. On a good note we are definitely beginning to get an understanding of each other, wouldn,t quite describe it as a bond but we're moving in the right direction.I've actually managed to hack her out on her own, on a new route across a busy road and she was an absolute angel.I just decided she was in a good mood and i was feeling brave and we just went for it! the high lasted days ha ha....haven't done it since but as I've written this I've realised that even on her 'in season' days and my 'wobbly leg' days her bucking sessions are getting less, and I'm beginning to relax enough to not worry about riding, if we do we do and if we don't ...hey theres something else we can do. Am eagly awaiting my own copies of Kellys' books so always have them to hand.

[brynsleigh]

You two are doing so well.Just a thought if she is hormonal maybe agnus castus and raspberry leaves may help . I have just started my two on this as one gets touchy on her back when in season and one feels unsettled when ridden. I get wobbly legs as well so know just how it feels!

[lesleyking1]

You probably don't realise but from the way you talk about her it's clear there is a good bond coming, It does help a lot when you give a problem a reason, loads of supplements about, when you find one that you think works (and I'm not totally convinced they do) then it has the added placebo effect on your confidence.

Scarlet is very clearly hormonal, through spring into mid summer it helps me to mark seasons on the calendar so I am prepared for the monster days, she has a 22 day cycle, 6 days in season, 4 of which she is intolerable, the other 2 brain dead and sqirty, yuk! It is very tempting to do nothing with her on the 4 worst days but what I've found is that if I keep to routines and as she strops about I concentrate on waiting and not reacting until she settles, then her training comes on leaps and bounds until the next season, it's like these worst days are an opportunity to get loads done because she gives you all her issues, right in your face, all in one go, so if I don't allow her to intimidate me I gain another level of respect. (horrible teen really)

I feel sorry for her as well, I really think she suffers, during some of the spring cycles I've seen her looking at her sides like she has colic, when I think how we suffer with monthly's and what we take to help, I have wondered whether to give her something for pain for the worst days but I've not found anyone else that's done this.

[Deleted]

Lesley thats sooooooooo true of our other mare Inaya.........she is vile when she is at her worst! Like yours she gives you all her worst issues and they can get worked through........hopefully......but its not me sat on her its daughter!

dc, it sounds very much like you two are really working out a partnership... ........ its hard for them and for us when they get all hormonal, but we can understand their feelings.

[portiabuzz]

thats great to hear you are bonding xx

[dcjovi]

A second hack out on our own today.A bit of a backward step today but I am definitely gaining confidence as we went the distance I had planned and overcame meeting other horses,a train across the railway line and horse going in same direction but then branching off and leaving us to carry on.Found if I ask dream to sidestep when she plants herself it works, and she then walks on.That worked today after the first few bucks but then she worked out if her head was in the air it didn't.Then  I let her stop and didn't ask her to go forward for a few minutes, that worked the next few times but sadly admit to having to use a whip the next couple of times she planted herself which worked and after that she went quite nicely (this was about 40 minutes into the ride)Luckily our road is closed to traffic at the moment which allows us the space for all this messing about.What I was wondering was, coming home Dream messed about with her head, up in the air, pulling me forward etc....do you think this is because shes tired or is she trying it on, can't quite decide and also any more ideas on how I can get her to move forwards without resorting to a whip.

[portiabuzz]

Casper can do this when he's tired if we go for a longer ride so I let him have his head and walk

Glad your more positive xx

[dcjovi]

Had another ride out today on our own and all the hard work yesterday really paid off today as Dream was much more willing to go it alone.We still had the calling to her friends but only a threaten to nap and no actual!  
I had only walked her yesterday,no trotting but think you are right about her being tired when she messes with her head, or she could just have got bored walking !

[portiabuzz]

thats great