A cheeky young TB mare

[littlemissmoss]

Hi All,

I am a new member to the Kent Savvy group following a conversation I had with two fantastic staff members at frogpool.

I joined Parelli connect and had previously started with some of the seven games after buying my first horse, a 4yr old tb mare, last May. Shortly after buying her I had lessons on her up (x2 a week) until the end of November then felt that we wasn’t really progressing so decided to ask my instructor to school her as I felt I wasn’t experienced enough. My instructor agreed and has been schooling her since but I now have a problem, she has started to rear whilst being ridden.

I love her very much and she is soooo beautiful (I would say that) and I bought her with the intentions to keep her forever but I am beginning to lose my confidence. I jumped back on the other day and it was not a great lesson at all, there was no control and she can be very dominating and I was worried she was going to rear so did not feel very comfortable or relaxed and she knew it and took full advantage.

I am thinking that perhaps I should go back to ground work as she clearly doesn’t want to be ridden. I have had her teeth, back, saddle, tack etc checked and none of these appear to be the problem.

After owning her for 10 months now, I feel I know her well enough and if I was to be honest, she is just cheeky, dominating and very intelligent (This is proving to be good and bad!). As soon as she learns what she is being asked to do, she already starts to think how the cheeky mare can avoid it! But she does make me laugh, and cry!

If anyone can offer any reassurance that this won’t last forever or that there is just a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel I would be grateful. It has been suggested to me that I should sell her but I really don’t want to give up on her as I know if I can turn it around it will be an amazing achievement but I am not sure what to do for the best at the moment.

Any suggestions etc will be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks x

[Jodes]

hi littlemissmoss!

Welcome to Kent Savvy! and thanks for posting!

Sounds like you are starting in a similar position that we all started at or have been through at some stage!

Where abouts are you located? I can put you in touch with some local instructors and also please take a look at our facebook page and website www.kent-savvy.co.uk as there are lots of demos and playdays coming up that i hope you can come to.

Great that you are on parelli connect and starting to play the games - the most important part of level 1 is SAFETY - it teaches you to be safe on the ground around horses and start building a communication and language with your equine partner so that there is more harmony in the saddle and in the future.

If you ever want to call me and have a chat to assure you that there is ALWAYS light at the end of the tunnel i would love to speak to you

You just need to remember that Parelli is not a quick fix... its changed my life with horses and in my personal life too and its never ending self improvement

Im sure other people on the forum will post their experiences of "dark times" but you have made an amazing choice and you will be back on track in no time!

Hope to speak to you and catch up with you soon!

07821 050 623

[littlemissmoss]

Hi Jodes,

Thank you so much for your kind words, I shall make arrangements to come to the play days. Am I able to come to watch before bringing little miss?

I am located in Bexley and would love to have a chat when you are free, thank you for your time its greatly appreciated.

I know its going to take time and I am 100% commited its just hard to juggle work, family, study and horses! Although, no-one ever said life was easy, ha ha.

I am glad to have found the group and hope that I will learn how to communicate with her so that we can start to have a better relationship and try to get back on track as we have seem to have gone backwards for now.

Thank you sooooo much and look forward to speaking to you soon. x

[marshmonster]

Hi Littlemissmoss

Don't give up on her. The first horse that took me to Parelli I thought was going to kill me but she truned out to be a total star. With the new way of communication you will work it all out and she will be your best companion. Get help from a Parelli professional and you won't look back. Good Luck

[emilyyy]

Hi little miss, you can come watch the playdays first, meet everyone, see what they're about first (: Good luck on your journey x

[Jodes]

Littlemiss - there is a playday in Fawkham that Emily and I will have our horses with us - Bouncer my horse will be giving a little demo - details are on the Kent Savvy website and its this sunday

Would be great to see you there!!

Also Bexley is very close to me! Im stabled in Chislehurst
x