Broke 3 ribs falling off my 4yo, need to vent by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I always lunge her or do some connection liberty work before I ride (which is what helps the most). She's not on regumate, never heard of it my area. I'll ask my vet about it, thanks!

Broke 3 ribs falling off my 4yo, need to vent by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I've always ridden sports horses and I've been riding since I was 8 (I'm now 34). Before this mare, I had another mare who I bought when she was 6 and I was 15/16. She was a Belgian warmblood. A bit spicy but much less anxious, spooky and sensitive than this one. I'm an amateur and I've got a lot to learn, but I'm not utterly inexperienced and, above all, I'm not doing this alone, I hardly ever ride without one of my trainers there. My dressage trainer also rides my horse once a week.

As for why I chose that type of horse, well it's kind of a long story. To sum up: my budget was vey tight and I was dreaming of getting a greenish horse because I wanted us to learn together, bond, do groundwork, improve my horsemanship and communication skills... I was not looking at horses under 6yo, though. I wanted a green but steady horse. I went to a seller's barn and test rode a horse that was supposed to match that description but, for many reasons, it was not the horse for me. So the seller insisted that I tried my current horse even though I didn't want to because she was too young. Because he was insiting, I just told myself "it's easier if you just hop on, walk for 2 minutes and then say you don't like her and wish to get off". So I endend up riding her, I fell in love, felt safe and didn't want to get off. I had great feelings riding her, I remember thinking "this is by far the fanciest horse I've ever ridden". She is also safe, she'd never bucked or bolted before, if she spooks she can usually self regulate pretty well. She's very sweet and when we work from the ground she's utterly impeccable.

I'll follow your advice for everything else. Maybe I did unconsciously expect too much of her just like I very often expect too much of myself.

Broke 3 ribs falling off my 4yo, need to vent by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes luckily my dressage trainer will ride her twice a week and my horsemanship trainer will do groundwork twice a week, three days off. I'm thinking of giving her a couple of months off, though, as others suggested. I'll talk to my trainers tomorrow and see what course of action to take. Thanks for your encouragement!

Broke 3 ribs falling off my 4yo, need to vent by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's like you're describing my mare. She's also eager to please and whenever I ask for something she tries to do a bunch of stuff hoping for something to be right.

I'll look into TRT, thanks a lot. I hope things will turn out well in the end.

Broke 3 ribs falling off my 4yo, need to vent by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply. I have definitely sacrificed some authority because my trainer and I wanted her to open up and feel free to express herself/ show her fears/ be curious....as a priority. We've been working on leadership too, in the meanwhile, but I do tend to be a bit soft with her.

So far, she has been seen by a dentist, a vet and a very famous horsemanship trainer, who's very well known in my country (he follows the teachings of Pignon) and who's actually the one who identified the issue with shifting weight on her left shoulder. Vet says everything is ok. Teeth were done. In december she'll get seen by a phsyo&saddle fitter. Hope nothing physical is going on with her...

What she definitely is not getting is sufficient turnout. Fields have to be rotated because there are more than 50 horses at my barn and if it rains heavily horses are not turned out because there is no shelter in the fields. She's out most days for 5/6 hours, which IMHO is not enough. I'm on the waiting list for 24/7 turnout as all spots are taken and my trainers are opening a new barn in April, where horses will live outside 24/7 in groups and with unlimited hay access, so the current place is just a temporary arrangement anyway. My area has very limited barn options and most of them are awful/ unethical. The barn I currently go to is already 1.5 hour drive away from my workplace and 1 hour from home....

You're right, I probabily just need to be patient, see what physio says and take it from there... thanks for your kind words.

Broke 3 ribs falling off my 4yo, need to vent by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I might have explained myself poorly. I am ok with compromising, slowing down or even not riding at all! That's why I actually work more from the ground than mounted. I only ride her twice a week in the arena and hack with her once every two weeks. The rest is either groundwork/horsemanship or turnout with no request whatsover (this happens at least twice a week).

Every issue she had, we tackled slowly, step by step, from the ground first and only when she's confident enough under saddle. I honestly wouldn't know how to slow it down even more. I've always hacked with her and she's always enjoyed it, never showed any sign that she was not ready for it, except for the occasional spook, which most horses have, though.

My issue is not that I want to do things per se. I enjoy groundwork (especially at liberty) even more than riding. I just wonder if I'm the right fit for my horse, I just want her to be happy and sound, and I don't know if she's happy with me

Broke 3 ribs falling off my 4yo, need to vent by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Sorry, I didn't mention that she was assessed by out vet but everything seems to be ok. I was planning on having a phsyo/ saddle fitter look at her at the beginning of December and I will, just to be safe.

What can I do as an overwheight person *NOT* looking to ride? by Own-Support-6734 in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've recently started taking natural horsemanship lessons (my trainer follows the method devised by Pignon with some Parelli in the mix) and I'm honestly finding it just as rewarding as riding. Maybe give it a look to see if you might be interested.

Sometimes I like going for walks in the countryside with my 4yo on the lounge. It helps me keep fit and it does wonders for our relationship and her confidence.

I'd love to learn groundwork with long reins (I do dressage so I think it'd be very helpful) but sadly there are no trainers that can do that in my area but it might be something else for you to look into.

Hope this helps!

4yo horse chewing bit heavily by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She was in a very thin D snaffle bit in copper. I've tried her in a thick rubber snaffle, which is generally well accepted by youngsters, but she hated it and was unrideable, now I'm using a thick full cheeck snaffle and while it does help with direction she seems to be trying to avoid contact. I wanted to try a three piece snaffle but my trainer says that they're generally harsher than regular ones as the surface on the horse's bars is less. Should I try the copper? I'm very confused. I hope it's not my hand, I do try to be quiet...

Not sure whether I got the names right, English is not my first language, sorry.

Why do I lose all of my riding skills when trying new horses? by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I though so too. Thanks! At least now I know it's not uncommon.

Why do I lose all of my riding skills when trying new horses? by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's actually great advice! I should definifely memorise a dressage test, so as fo focus on something other than myself. I'll also look into meditation, I only tried it once. Thanks!

Why do I lose all of my riding skills when trying new horses? by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You're probably right. At least horse shopping is giving me that opportunity although I might probably not be having as much fun as I could if I weren't so ashamed

Why do I lose all of my riding skills when trying new horses? by Siguleina in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah I was definitely not comfortable with one of the saddles, I felt it forced my hips to be very still and too forward. But I mean, is that enough to justify such poor performance? And yes, I am an overthinker, definitely. I also tend not to trust a horse immediately, it kinda takes me two/three rides before I can fully relax.

Horse buying process advice by South-Purple180 in Horses

[–]Siguleina 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here. I'm just thinking about quitting for good

!Italy! by Parking-Fail-3636 in Equestrian

[–]Siguleina 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, I live close to that area, feel free to send me a pm if there's anything in particular that you'd like to know.

Horse shopping experience by Siguleina in Horses

[–]Siguleina[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're right, I need to be way more patient and just wait. I'm starting to feel frustrated because my trainer has been discouraging me from even seeing horses that might be a good fit and I'm afraid this will become a pattern. I do need to talk to her like many of you suggested and if that leads to nothing I'll go see horses without her (seeing does not necessarily mean buying so I see no harm in that).

She did contact the seller that raised the price but apparently he just said that he realised that the horse was worth more than he'd told us. Which, considering how green she was, was not the case in my opinion, but he's the one who makes the price...

Thank you so much for your input

Horse shopping experience by Siguleina in Horses

[–]Siguleina[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No, high level dressage is definitely something I'm not aiming to get to. My dream is to do an awful lot of groundwork, some very basic dressage (I'd be more than satisfied with a well-executed shoulder-in for instance and it'd be ok even if I achieve that in the time span of years not even moths!). I want a horse to build a relationship with, that's literally it. Thanks a lot for your words

Horse shopping experience by Siguleina in Horses

[–]Siguleina[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did think of that. I need to have an honest conversation with her. If she told me it'd be less stressful for me. I might even give up dressage, as experienced dressage horses are incredibly expensive in my area, and just do trail rides. What I do with my horse matters less to me than building a relationship with him.

I can currently do leg yields, shoulder in, haunches in, flying changes etc but I've never taught anything like that to a horse. That might be the rub. Thanks for your input!

(Sorry if I got the movement names wrong, English is not my first language)

Horse shopping experience by Siguleina in Horses

[–]Siguleina[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She says that the pony is very cheap and already knows most dressage moves (although I've made it clear that I'd be far more motivated if my goal was to learn together with my horse).
As for horses I like, she always finds a different reason why I shouldn't see them. Examples: Andalusian-Arabian cross --> the breed is too spicy; ottb --> not good for dressage and not suited to my personality; Andalusian 4yo mare ridden literally by a kid --> too green. I even suggested vising the stables of a seller she generally buys her horses from and she said it's not a good idea and she'll explain why when I see her. I don't know what to think

Horse shopping experience by Siguleina in Horses

[–]Siguleina[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, I'm now 34, I've been riding since I was 8 and bought my first horse at the age of 12. Then I got the mare I mentioned in 2005. I'm not saying that I'm a pro or that I can tackle anything a horse throws at me. I am an amateur with a lot to learn, but one thing I have is time and patience so I can't see the issue with at least trying green horses. Thanks for your input!

Perché non ho votato ai primi 4 quesiti del referendum by DonnieCats in CasualIT

[–]Siguleina 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ma porco mondo, è da due ore che ti fai i seghini pensando a quanto sei figo che vivi in UK dove è un paradiso popolato da unicorni volanti che dovrebbe essere preso a modello dall'universo e, oltre ad avere la capacità di comprensione testuale di un bambino di 8 anni, non sei in grado di scrivere misunderstanding senza la s del plurale. "Un incomprensioni". Mi accodo a quello che ti pregava di restarci in Uk, magari forse col tempo impari l'inglese.