Dear Keith...
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Hello. I'm not sure if you answer training questions via email, but I have created a real problem. My horse has tender hooves and has been having problems. My farrier is helping me fix it. I rode (not intentionally) this weekend for 7 hours over rougher terrain than I am used to (rocks, continuous uphill climb, etc.). It wasn't supposed to be a ride like this. Our "guide" became a jerk and starting rushing me & informed me my horse was spoiled because she wouldn't pick up her speed (I ride a QH, he was riding a Paso Fino) to keep up with the gaited horses. It got pretty tense and my horse got tired & started hurting and balked on me. It took some major motivation to get her moving (I got her off the rocks, also). Anyway, I tried riding her on Sunday and she really balked on me. I rode her on soft ground with no rocks, but she fought me the entire time. I messed up, then. I let the tension from the previous day (along with our "guide's" mouth again) get to me and was pretty rough with my mare. Basically, we fought and I got madder. Now she will not let me touch her ears and she backs them at me and curls her nose (she does that when she is mad) up at me. I can barely touch her and she will not let me catch her except for feeding time (of course I have a hard time catching her anyway).
What can I do to restore a relationship with her? She is a standoffish horse, anyway, but now is even worse.
If possible, please help.
Thank you in advance,
Pamela B |
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