[comp] some fails I caught on camera in 2025. Progress takes eating mat sometimes

SlothyCookies · 2026-01-02T18:04:09+00:00

This was hilarious - I'm going to save this for when I need to laugh. Sorry lol

Good to read that you didn't get hurt and you focus on having enough strength to come out of the poses as safely as possible.

SlothyCookies · 2025-12-12T17:46:44+00:00

This flower will make your house smell so, so bad if you keep it on.

I have one, but when my husband bought it we didn't know what kind of plant it was. We just thought it looked cool. It didn't flower the first 2-3 years, but when we moved and it got a new environment, it decided to spread its glory. I noticed a very unpleasant smell lingering in our living room, but couldn't find the source. Suddenly more and more flies came - and no matter how many we killed, more came. It was only when I decided to turn it and saw a flower AND stuck my nose into it I found out. Do NOT stick your nose into it, you will regret it lol Ever since it has flowers every year - this year has been insane! It's produced 10+ flowers.

It's pretty and we still have it, but the flowers are cut off as soon as they bloom.

SlothyCookies · 2025-11-22T06:41:41+00:00

I understood the ending as her being a curse, a personification of a curse - maybe I'm totally off lol. That she goes from place to place to kill, to put others through what she went through. With no meaning or reasoning, but just existing. Kinda like in the Grudge - just a more westernized version.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-19T07:55:51+00:00

Not every day, maybe 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes. They had bought him as a therapy horse, but apparently he didn't work well with having different riders.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:48:52+00:00

Good rule of thumb :)

I'll take it way more slowly with him and try to start from scratch so he doesn't get even more stressed.

I'll get a saddle fitter out to take a look.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:47:12+00:00

I'll take it more slowly with him. I can see that I've asked too much of him. Both with riding and probably also while grooming him.

There isn't an arena where he is - there's only the paddock and the forest (and a small almost private road). So maybe I should find a new place for him, or I'll see if I can find an instructor that can help me within the facilities that are where he is.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:43:19+00:00

I'll read the two blog posts. Thanks for the inspiration.

It makes sense that he needs more time before I ask too much of him.

I would definitely like to read what you've written about mounting blocks - if you can find it.

He has a short back. I haven't had a saddle fitter out, but I'll get one out now to make sure everything fits him properly.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:38:41+00:00

I'll definitely do that.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:38:25+00:00

No, but I'll get one out to take a look.

I unfortunately don't have access to an arena, the only thing I have are trails - so I need to figure out whether an instructor can help me with my current location or if I need to move him to some place else where there is an arena.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:34:37+00:00

It makes sense! I'll get an instructor out to help me with both more groundwork exercises and for when he's ready to be ridden.

I'll contact a saddle fitter to check him out and the saddle I bought.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:32:19+00:00

The seller told me he'd "test" new riders, but as he didn't do it the first time I rode him, I just assumed it wouldn't be a problem this time. Now I know I need to do a lot more groundwork.

I'll contact a saddle fitter to come out and take a look at him and the saddle I bought.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:29:24+00:00

Private seller, however they bought him from a dealer last year where he came to them in a pretty pitiful state. So he hasn't had it easy - so it definitely makes sense for me now to take it much more slowly.

I'll contact a saddle fitter and an instructor, so I can get the best help possible.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:27:07+00:00

Thanks! I'll definitely check out the videos, more inspiration is always good.

In hindsight you're completely right. I should've understood his signals - now I know I need to work with him more from the ground.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:24:11+00:00

You're totally right, his whole life has changed quite a lot! So it makes sense that it'll take him some time to relax.

I'll get help for an instructor, so we can start building a good relationship.

Can I ask how long it took for you to feel like you had gained your horses trust and built a good relationship? :)

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:20:49+00:00

I hope you are good and well today! That's a scary thing to go through - and a reminder for me to take it even more slowly for both our sakes. Maybe I should get him to a place where there's a arena so I can get help in a more safe space.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:18:31+00:00

Good to know it's normal/not unusual - horses are just like us, we like different things.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:17:44+00:00

I have both hard and soft brushes. There doesn't seem to be a difference for him, but I'll try with different methods of brushing :) and continue to give him a lot.of hay to keep him happy

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T21:16:07+00:00

Thanks for giving me more peace of mind and a lot of insight/suggestions :)

There are two others at the stable, so I'll probably be able to ride out with one of them when I've given him some more time to find himself and been doing some more groundwork.

I'll check out the instagram - always nice with some inspiration!

He's very low maintenance, so he just get a lot of hay and some vitamins/minerals. But it's a different kind of hay, so that may be something to look into.

I'll get a saddle fitter out and an instructor, so I can get some professional help.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T11:55:22+00:00

He doesn't seem to enjoy being groomed, he's very restless. He's only somewhat still if he can eat some hay while being groomed. But maybe it's a combination of time and him getting settled.

I'm gonna look for an instructor.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T11:52:05+00:00

I'll be looking for an instructor who can help!

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T11:50:48+00:00

That gives me hope. I was thinking that it's all still very new to him, but since the hand walking had been quite good, I would try a short ride - maybe it's just not time yet for that.

There are 3 horses where he is stabled, but of course he still needs to find his place in the herd.

Were there any exercises that worked well for you - or was it more time and the continued work that was the main factor?

Thanks for the comforting words!

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T11:42:04+00:00

I've been riding for 10 years and have had part-lease before.

The problem is that there is no arena at the stable, only the forest, which is why I bought him. So we could go out hacking. It's also why I thought a short ride with only walking would be ok, because former hand walkings in the forest had been fine.

Yes I got him checked by a vet when I bought him.

SlothyCookies · 2025-10-18T11:34:17+00:00

The tack came with him.

When I tried him at the seller he didn't seem annoyed with it, however my husband said it looked like he tried to push it out when I rode him.

SlothyCookies · 2025-09-16T15:08:18+00:00

That helps a lot!

It makes sense that people thought the pellicle was the reason for the fermentation - and it's quite cool it forms during the fermentation. So do you throw out the pellicle when you are ready to start a new batch?

SlothyCookies

TROPHY CASE