Yesterday was a frustrating day. I decided to ride out alone with Anky as Jim was busy. I didn't know what to expect, but she was quite perky, obviously a little apprehensive without Corky but we started out and she felt relatively forward and willing. We got as far as the bend in the lane going into the wood ( 10 minutes out) when she stopped dead and immediately spun round and legged it back towards home. It took me completely by surprise, she's never been quite as spooked before. I managed to stop her (kudos to the treeless, it was very secure), after about 50 yds, luckily without touching the electric fence at the side of the track. It didn't worry me, but we are supposed to be having stress-free ( for Anky) hacks. After halting I turned her back, away from home and asked her to walk on. She walked forward about 30 ys and then stopped again, obviously looking for whatever was lurking round the bend. Our stress free ride wasn't going to happen so I dismounted and led her quietly and calmly down the track for a few hundred yards until she started to calm down, then turned around and headed for home. She was still a little apprehensive when we got back to the yard. I wasn't angry at Anky, but I am very frustrated with the situation.
I'm not sure what to do with her. Yesterday, I thought I'd just stop doing anything with her and let her recover, let her be a field orament. Or is exercise going to actively help her improve? Knowing she's not fully well is really colouring my judgement when I'm riding her and I'm not sure this exercise regime is really going to help her get well. Should I just continue with the lungeing and in-hand and leave the hacking out? Or only hack out in company and take her in the school the other times? God only knows, - at the moment, I don't.
I left her this morning and took Remy up to the school. He's not been up there for a few weeks and he was a little distracted, looking at things. He was a good boy though and I lunged him lightly on both reins followed by a little walk down the track to our apple tree.......
Back in the stables, I tried my new treeless on Rem again, we're having our treeless try out tomorrow, a few friends are bringing their gear for me to try so he's going to get a lot of attention.
I did the same again with Bonbon, five minutes in the stable, oh she is a lovely little girl.
6 comments:
There are no right and wrong answers. I can't imagine that gentle exercise is going to harm her and it perhaps could help - either in hand, on lunge, or under saddle. Do what you feel comfortable with and let the rest go - she certainly won't care. You were wise to get off and walk her when she was worried - that seems to have helped. Whatever you decide to do, there's no need to worry about it - what you decide will be right for you and you can always change your mind and do something else later.
longline? see what larri's doing with bailarina and i'm following that lead with molly in hopes of increasing her confidence.
mmm, I am not convinced yet as to my abilities to chill Moo so I know exactly what you're feeling on that one. As you know, hacking is a bit of a chore for me but I do it for the horse not me, lol. So then I ask myself 'if they don't enjoy it why would I force them' except of course we all know that a little kick up the @rse can be good for us from time to time. Oh damn I'm no help but I would say I like Kate's last line ''what you decide will be right for you and you can always change ''
Thanks guys, the problem I have is that I WANT to ride Anky, it's what I enjoy most, so am I being selfish? Although I like going into the school I also love hacking. Sorry Claire, the thought of longlining doesn't appeal, I've never done it, although I'd be willing to give it a go.
No not selfish but in too much of a rush, like all of us humans. It's really early days Di, she's not fit enough to do too much and it's just a bummer that she's spooky; nothing you've done so go on, gimme that big stick and stop whacking yourself with it. Is she still on the meds by the way?
She's finished her course of Gastrogard and now she's on another supplement to buffer the stomach to enable her to continue healing.
Yes, you're right it's early days. I don't feel like I'm in a rush and I don't want to rush her, I just want to get things right for her. I've decided to continue riding out in company which will help to fitten her up and inbetween take her into the school for light lungeing or in-hand. Hmmmmm, exactly like I have been doing!! What am I like!!!!
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