|
Post by portiabuzz on Jan 31, 2014 11:19:52 GMT 1
sending you are doing really well to keep at it xxxx Gypsy is gorgeous
|
|
|
Post by lesleyking1 on Feb 20, 2014 21:49:47 GMT 1
When I first got my TB Mare I used a rope halter as this was what I was used to. Like the horses in this thread she would spin and rear when led. A year on from getting a dually and doing some work with an RA I can see in retrospect that the rope halter actually encouraged the rearing as it can be quite severe on the poll, My lady hasn't reared for months, Thank god!
Now when she gets agitated I find that continuing to keep her at my side was makes her feel trapped and worse, so I now lead with a 12ft rope so I can allow her space, I take back control by moving her on, once calm I engage the dually by stepping her back, moving her feet how I want them. It's taken a year but she settles down straight away now.
Because I have to give her space I don't walk her out on the roads, it's very busy where we are, so I have borrowed a trailer for this year so I can get her out to the bridle paths, roll on the decent weather and longer days!
|
|
|
Post by lesleyking1 on Feb 20, 2014 21:49:57 GMT 1
When I first got my TB Mare I used a rope halter as this was what I was used to. Like the horses in this thread she would spin and rear when led. A year on from getting a dually and doing some work with an RA I can see in retrospect that the rope halter actually encouraged the rearing as it can be quite severe on the poll, My lady hasn't reared for months, Thank god!
Now when she gets agitated I find that continuing to keep her at my side was makes her feel trapped and worse, so I now lead with a 12ft rope so I can allow her space, I take back control by moving her on, once calm I engage the dually by stepping her back, moving her feet how I want them. It's taken a year but she settles down straight away now.
Because I have to give her space I don't walk her out on the roads, it's very busy where we are, so I have borrowed a trailer for this year so I can get her out to the bridle paths, roll on the decent weather and longer days!
|
|
|
Post by portiabuzz on Feb 21, 2014 11:38:04 GMT 1
Are there any updates? xx
|
|
|
Post by mygirlgmissy on Feb 24, 2014 12:30:55 GMT 1
** UPDATE ** So, here we are a month or so later and a l
|
|
|
Post by portiabuzz on Feb 24, 2014 15:55:36 GMT 1
am i missing something ?
|
|
|
Post by mygirlgmissy on Feb 24, 2014 21:46:27 GMT 1
Oh am so sorry, i thought had written a better response than that lol. ** UPDATE ** So here we are, a month on and there have been some drastic improvements. Last weekend i decided enough was enough, i couldnt go on the way i was. The rearing had gotten too bad, i was getting even more scared and i was in two minds to sell her or not. With the help of my husband, who gave me a verbal kick up the backside, i decided that it was a 'now or never' situation. I tacked Gypsy up and took her out on our own. After a lot of nerves and shaky hands and Twice! One little trip after the other. We had no rearing, no naughtiness. I had my mp3 player on in one ear, quietly, and if i got nervy i sang out loud and this seemed to calm both myself and gypsy. Have taken her out once on our own since and a couple of times in company, and our bond has gotten so much stronger. Am no longer scared of her, although i do still get shaky and nervy but i put this down to excitement. Tomorrow i will be riding her out on her own and attempting a little canter or two. But i did it!!! All it took was for me to 'grow some b*lls' and a teensy bit of Valerian Cordial for gypsy, to take the edge off her tension. Am so happy
|
|
|
Post by portiabuzz on Feb 25, 2014 11:31:46 GMT 1
great stuff!!! keep us posted xx
|
|
|
Post by lesleyking1 on Feb 26, 2014 21:00:49 GMT 1
WELL DONE !!!!
|
|
|
Post by portiabuzz on Feb 27, 2014 14:44:54 GMT 1
go you!
|
|
|
Post by mygirlgmissy on Mar 17, 2014 22:07:25 GMT 1
The title of this thread no longer applies lol! Have been taking Gypsy out on our own a lot more recently, which was going brilliantly well. My nerves were slowly disappearing and I wasn't getting nervous about riding her. Then the spring grass came... Along with her first season... Last weekend was awful!! Took her out along with hubby on his bike, doing some 'husband-hunting' down the bridle path - cantering along behind him while he pedals furiously, petrified Gypsy is going to trample him lol - we got halfway down and I asked her for walk, to which Gypsy's reply was to rear and spin as usual. My girth wasn't tight enough and my saddle slipped mid spin which freaked her out and made her bolt, so there was a heart stopping moment I thought I was going to fall off. Somehow managed to right myself and sort saddle out and regain control, by which time I was freaked and I got off her and walked her home. Didn't want to ride her all week This wkend I tried riding her again, was really nervous but she was brilliant. We had a lovely hack out in the sunshine, trotted and cantered home (while following hubby on the bike) and no problems at all. I have just re-read all of my posts on this thread, and amazed at how far I have come since my very first post. I am no longer scared, I have overcome my cantering fear, if Gypsy spins then I make her continue spinning so she is beginning to learn that spinning gets her nowhere. If she doesn't spin, then she doesn't rear. Everything is so much better, and as a result my confidence is greatly improved!! I know if we have a bad day, we will also have many good days in return. Big plans for summer, maybe including a fun ride or two, so am over the moon! Many thanks to all of you who have helped me over the last few months, it's been wonderful having people who know what I have been through and can help You're all wonderful, thank you xx
|
|
|
Post by ruthp on Mar 17, 2014 22:46:42 GMT 1
Well done you! Sounds as though you're really getting things sorted. And it takes a lot of courage to persuade yourself to ride through confidence issues, so you should be really chuffed with yourself.
|
|
|
Post by alonerawnut on Mar 18, 2014 1:18:37 GMT 1
Wow, huge congratulations for how far you've come! It makes such a difference when you have a 'plan of action' to deal with tricky situations. Love the 'husband-hunting' - I'm sure it's good exercise!
Looking forward to hearing about your summer adventures: photos please!
|
|
|
Post by portiabuzz on Mar 18, 2014 15:48:08 GMT 1
thats wonderful, well done for carrying on and pushing through!! wishes you alot of happy summer hacking with Gypsy xx
|
|
|
Post by holi on Mar 20, 2014 12:43:39 GMT 1
well done and don't forget, if you can't do it don't beat yourself up. I know loads of us ladies who never hack alone including one friend who used to event affiliated! She reckons its far scarier going out alone!!!! I am at last starting to realise that riding is about what we actually do, not what we think we should do
|
|