rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Interesting thoughts Tina.... thanks for them as sometimes it is hard to see beyond the daily frustration. There were other parameters that changed yesterday too.... first time being driven away from home and somewhere strange without Zak next to him.... ie he needed to keep up because he didn't know where he was and didn't have Zak next to him for comfort/support. I like that you mention "collar shy" because we have just changed his collar.... although we have been driving him round the roads locally with the new (second hand) collar without so much success, the last few days, but maybe it has taken time for him to feel comfortable in it. The previous one wasn't a bad fit and not rubbing him at all but this one is a better shape for him and it was something Ian made comment about yesterday as possibly being a factor. He is however also extremely nappy under saddle or even just long reining him away from home but of course he is always keen when you turn for home. Interestingly he is really good at breeching. In fact he does have lots of great qualities but not going forward is incredibly frustrating to deal with, especially when we are used to horses that are very forward going and give 100%.Interesting about Arthur. So 2 parameters changed - flat not hilly and super hot not normal temperature. Usually some reason for being collar shy but, short of a desire to work only on Mediterranean plains, rather difficult to identify! ? Some hidden stiffness relieved by heat?
I do think part of the problem is psychological.... He has lived on his own for quite a long time (far too long) from quite a young age due to serious integration issues and getting kicked and injured, so whilst he can see other horses, he isn't part of a herd and I think that affects his confidence. We keep trying but unfortunately Zak will not share the field with him and we can't afford for either of them to get injured just now and Arthur doesn't have the nowse not to get cornered in the field and hammered or put through a fence. We also think he may have been "started" by being tied on the side of another horse (travellor style) rather than singly, so that he has become used to just jogging along a few inches behind a more experienced horse. He is pretty numb to leg and whip aids and he started life in the hawker community where his sister is, I believe, winning money road racing, so he was sold on as a 2 year old because he just wouldn't "go". He flies round his field which is very rough and undulating and really moves well, so it is hard to believe that it is stiffness or pain. Interestingly he could stand in the stable for a month 24/7 and then lead out and he would walk like a donkey ..... he just isn't fizzy or silly at all, trailer loads so easily I have to tell him to wait or he would be in before I get the ramp down, travels great and doesn't poo in the trailer which suggests that he is very chilled and comes out cool calm and collected ... but he certainly found some "go" from somewhere yesterday!!