frustrating...*update* this week just gets better and better

royaldakotabreez · 04-05-2007, 08:24 PM

well, it was windy and cold today, but the sun was out and it wasn't so muddy, so i decided to go riding for a bit.
Classy- hasn't been ridden in a couple months, she's just an ol' broodmare and a trail kinda girl. did good, kinda fought and didn't want to turn to her left so much. she's the one with the attitude, but did amazingly well considering how cold we both were. just did some circles and practiced giving to the bit and neck reining.
Jet- roping gelding, hasn't been ridden all winter and even last summer wasn't ridden much. been in with my Sadie, so is pretty grouchy. had a complete fit when i got on him. was going to go out into the pasture but couldn't get him to settle down enough. i felt bad because i was pulling so hard on his mouth, but he would not stop for anything. wasn't bolting, just really not wanting to do what i wanted.i made him do tight circles around my leg, and he pulled his head away so hard he almost yanked the reins out of my hands. tried to get him to sidepass, and he half reared two or three times. he has never behaved like that. i don't know if it was the weather or what...i almost cried when i got down. i was so frustrated with him and myself. i still am actually. i just longed him for a few minutes with the saddle on and then worked on some ground stuff and put him away. did i do anything wrong? it's supposed to be the same way tomorrow...should i go get on him again? i'm really upset and i don't want him to get into the habit of behaving like that, but i'm kinda shaken up after that one...any advice is appreciated...

Mule Fool · 04-05-2007, 09:06 PM

Sorry you had a bad day. Considering the background on the gelding, I might do some ground work with him for awhile. Concentrating on getting him softer, giving to pressure. It sounds like he's forgotten his work ethic and needs to be reminded he has to work for a living! Don't feel discouraged, it's been a long time since he was really used. I'm assuming he has been well behaved in the past.

MVeventer · 04-06-2007, 08:27 AM

Consider if you were really fit a year ago, and then stopped exercising, and then one sunny spring day your personal trainer told you to run 6 miles. Probably it wouldn't go so well. I would start your gelding off with groundwork and very basic flatwork, pretending he knows nothing. He'll come back sooner than you think.

**gbarmranch** · 04-06-2007, 08:32 AM

The wind, cooler weather, spring time, and down time... Start with some ground work again, and go from there... They should respond quickly and should stay quiet under saddle when you ride them again

royaldakotabreez · 04-11-2007, 03:05 PM

this week has just been...there's not even a word for it. well, went out and rode Sadie, and was doing really good. someone slammed the dumpster shut, and it scared her. she skittered sideways and i pulled her head around to my knee and she stopped. everything was ok, i was a little off balance, but she was ok. then out of nowhere, one of our other horses skidded up to the fence and nickered, and i slipped even more off balance and accidently nudged her with my left leg. well, she decided she had had enough, and started hopping. i hit my right side on the saddle horn, and leaned down to grab the reins, and just swung my leg off. she stopped and went trottin over to the other side. i knew she was going to do it, but we were on the cement so i hit the ground pretty hard. took the skin off my elbow and bruised it, and i couldn't sit down right for a couple days. i am pretty sure i also have a bruised rib, but it doesn't bother me too much. so like i said, this week just gets better and better...sorry it took so long for me to update, my grandpa had to go to the hospital, so i have been busy with that. (he's ok, he's been on chemo, so he was just dehydrated)

AfleetAlex · 04-11-2007, 03:52 PM

I'm so sorry about your week!

Is there anyone who might be able to help you with your horses while you get back on your feet? Again, i'm very sorry for your week and if i lived near you i'd be over there helping you in a heartbeat.

royaldakotabreez · 04-17-2007, 09:24 PM

thanks Alex. i think we're going to send Sadie to a trainer and i'll just keep working with Jet. my parents just bought a house, so once we get the horses over there and they get settled in we'll seperate him from the girls and maybe he'll settle a little. the place down the street has an arena so that'll also be a big help. i was also thinking about getting another gelding to keep him company. as for Sadie, i was thinking about "checking" her. has anyone done this? does it work for you? her main trouble at this moment is she shakes her head when i tug on her mouth, so this would only be to get her to give her head, not as punishment. i tell ya, that mare has me on an emotional roller coaster. i hadn't gone out there for a couple days (been busy, mom's been doing chores) and i went out there cause i missed her, and she came trottin over nickerin to beat all get out...one minute she loves me, the next she's puttin my face in the dirt. gotta love her tho.

04-05-2007, 08:24 PM
royaldakotabreez Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. Dak Posts: 530	*frustrating...update* this week just gets better and better** well, it was windy and cold today, but the sun was out and it wasn't so muddy, so i decided to go riding for a bit. Classy- hasn't been ridden in a couple months, she's just an ol' broodmare and a trail kinda girl. did good, kinda fought and didn't want to turn to her left so much. she's the one with the attitude, but did amazingly well considering how cold we both were. just did some circles and practiced giving to the bit and neck reining. Jet- roping gelding, hasn't been ridden all winter and even last summer wasn't ridden much. been in with my Sadie, so is pretty grouchy. had a complete fit when i got on him. was going to go out into the pasture but couldn't get him to settle down enough. i felt bad because i was pulling so hard on his mouth, but he would not stop for anything. wasn't bolting, just really not wanting to do what i wanted.i made him do tight circles around my leg, and he pulled his head away so hard he almost yanked the reins out of my hands. tried to get him to sidepass, and he half reared two or three times. he has never behaved like that. i don't know if it was the weather or what...i almost cried when i got down. i was so frustrated with him and myself. i still am actually. i just longed him for a few minutes with the saddle on and then worked on some ground stuff and put him away. did i do anything wrong? it's supposed to be the same way tomorrow...should i go get on him again? i'm really upset and i don't want him to get into the habit of behaving like that, but i'm kinda shaken up after that one...any advice is appreciated...

04-05-2007, 09:06 PM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Sorry you had a bad day. Considering the background on the gelding, I might do some ground work with him for awhile. Concentrating on getting him softer, giving to pressure. It sounds like he's forgotten his work ethic and needs to be reminded he has to work for a living! Don't feel discouraged, it's been a long time since he was really used. I'm assuming he has been well behaved in the past.

04-06-2007, 08:27 AM
MVeventer Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: East Coast Posts: 459	Consider if you were really fit a year ago, and then stopped exercising, and then one sunny spring day your personal trainer told you to run 6 miles. Probably it wouldn't go so well. I would start your gelding off with groundwork and very basic flatwork, pretending he knows nothing. He'll come back sooner than you think.

04-06-2007, 08:32 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,575	The wind, cooler weather, spring time, and down time... Start with some ground work again, and go from there... They should respond quickly and should stay quiet under saddle when you ride them again __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

04-11-2007, 03:05 PM
royaldakotabreez Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. Dak Posts: 530	this week has just been...there's not even a word for it. well, went out and rode Sadie, and was doing really good. someone slammed the dumpster shut, and it scared her. she skittered sideways and i pulled her head around to my knee and she stopped. everything was ok, i was a little off balance, but she was ok. then out of nowhere, one of our other horses skidded up to the fence and nickered, and i slipped even more off balance and accidently nudged her with my left leg. well, she decided she had had enough, and started hopping. i hit my right side on the saddle horn, and leaned down to grab the reins, and just swung my leg off. she stopped and went trottin over to the other side. i knew she was going to do it, but we were on the cement so i hit the ground pretty hard. took the skin off my elbow and bruised it, and i couldn't sit down right for a couple days. i am pretty sure i also have a bruised rib, but it doesn't bother me too much. so like i said, this week just gets better and better...sorry it took so long for me to update, my grandpa had to go to the hospital, so i have been busy with that. (he's ok, he's been on chemo, so he was just dehydrated)

04-11-2007, 03:52 PM
AfleetAlex Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: United States Posts: 159	I'm so sorry about your week! Is there anyone who might be able to help you with your horses while you get back on your feet? Again, i'm very sorry for your week and if i lived near you i'd be over there helping you in a heartbeat.

04-17-2007, 09:24 PM
royaldakotabreez Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. Dak Posts: 530	thanks Alex. i think we're going to send Sadie to a trainer and i'll just keep working with Jet. my parents just bought a house, so once we get the horses over there and they get settled in we'll seperate him from the girls and maybe he'll settle a little. the place down the street has an arena so that'll also be a big help. i was also thinking about getting another gelding to keep him company. as for Sadie, i was thinking about "checking" her. has anyone done this? does it work for you? her main trouble at this moment is she shakes her head when i tug on her mouth, so this would only be to get her to give her head, not as punishment. i tell ya, that mare has me on an emotional roller coaster. i hadn't gone out there for a couple days (been busy, mom's been doing chores) and i went out there cause i missed her, and she came trottin over nickerin to beat all get out...one minute she loves me, the next she's puttin my face in the dirt. gotta love her tho.