WOW, I'M STILL I SHOCK..... I THINK.
I saddled Banjo again today, and i got on him!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Dad led me around, nothing fancy but we were moving!
YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!
I wasn't nervous at all, but i didn't feel to safe. It seemed like nothing changed, he was back to his old self again. He kept trying to bite Dad when he was leading him, and he bit me when i was leading about to let him go (it hurt!!!!). I checked all his gear and everything, it was all fine.
I know i keep saying i'm going to sell him and then i say i'm not. Well this time is different, he has changed on the ground, but not in the saddle. So i am going to sell him, and this time i'm not going back. I want to ride so much, but Banjo is holding me back. I still love him and i always will, but at this moment in time he isn't for me.
Lily.
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It's an interesting thing which has happened to you Lily. I'll give my slant on things. Banjo has been used to dealing with you (ground work) and then when you saddled him up and your father came along, Banjo may have got upset. Horses (as you know) are claustrophobic. To have an extra person there (and leading Banjo - limiting his options) may have struck a bit of a chord with Banjo and made him feel claustrophobic. Having said that, if you just feel as though Banjo isn't the right horse for you, then by all means sell him (or at least keep him in the background while you develop your skills with another horse). Also, just remember Banjo is expressing himself (easy for me to say I've never been bitten by a horse before - sounds ouchy) Go onto the forum and check out Denise's posts. She had a horse which she just couldn't get on, she felt too nervous around him. So she's leased another one and is going great guns riding every where. Sometimes I think it just seems that the chemistry is not right.
ReplyDeleteMy only other suggestion is to do a bit more ground work - particularly no yields around his face and front half - so he gets used to you being there. Protect your space. If he bites you, feel free to give him a phase 4 to let him know it's not on - I've heard of people who have had horses that bite them for years and they let them know to keep away and they haven't bitten again. It's often a dominance issue and YOU ARE BOSS! ! !
Either way, you do what you feel is right, but please if you can find another horse as it seems to me you're on a roll regarding your horsemanship.
Good luck with it Lily, and keep us posted. There's got a beautiful pony club horse down here for sale $1200.00 bombproof apparently. I can give you the details if you want.
See ya possum.
Luv
Ann
Hey Lily
ReplyDeleteI feel if you dont have that connection with your horse then maybe that horse isnt the one for you. I had a pretty major incident with Roxy the other day, but I feel so deeply that she is the one for me I consider it just something we have to work through. I have never had to sell a horse and have had to deal with behaviour that was worse than Roxy's rearing but if I look at it from the horses view I had no right to expect to just get on her and go riding. I should know better and have better judgement.
My friend said to me the other day. We buy a horse to enjoy them and if that isnt happening then you are with the wrong horse. I am sure you love Banjo deeply and make the right decision in the long run. I believe that ANY horse can come good some just need more work and assertiveness on our part. I hope I dont sound too preachy I look forward reading along with you...thanks for checking my blog out too! ;-)
Lorrie
xxx
Hi Lily,
ReplyDeleteit was great to read you actually climbed into the saddle :). Well done, even though you were scared. I know how hard it can be if you love a horse so much it hurts, but at the same time you are scared of him. I had that with Stubby, and with Firefly I got the biting... and yes... does it hurt!!!
In both instances though the solution was within me, I needed to step up my game and become a leader for both of them. Stubby needed to know he can trust me and once I showed him that I am a good leader he turned into the sweetest and softest horse. He used to rear but it was only because I wasn't a good leader showing him that it was safe to go forward, because I was afraid of the forward myself. It took me a while to figure that out, but following the QS programme made all the difference.
Firefly too was testing my leadership when she bit me, she still tries to bite me to give me 'hurry ups' if I am dilly dallying around with my mounting procedure, or nag her. She has an opinion and she expresses it. She is a great teacher in that regard and has taught me a lot about me. Mind you, had I had Firefly before Stubby I would have sold her as she would have been to difficult for me to learn my skills with.
Horses are great teachers, but we need to be willing to listen to them and be honest with ourselves. Horses reflect our emotions back to us, so if we are in any way unsure about our intention, whether it be riding, leading, feeding them, they will be just as unsure about the same tasks and will express it. Some horses go into their shell and look quiet, calm and 'not phased with anything' even when under stress, but then, one day blow up for no apparent reason. Others are very expressive and turn into a bully in similar situations ... a bit like offence being the best defence. These are the horses that become bouncing horses... from one owner to another, or worse.
Banjo may be the latter, expressing his opinion, asking you to step up and be a leader. That's what I had to do for Stubby and Firefly, step up and become a leader. I am glad to have learned with Stubby first as he was much much easier then Firefly, because he is so much more layed back. I had to find the buttons to push to get him out of his shell, so I know what makes him 'blow up'. Pushing his buttons is what keeps me safe and makes me a leader in his eyes. Same with Firefly, she tests my leadership by pushing my buttons, eg by biting, but once she is satisfied that I am still the leader, she does as she is asked. She hasn't bitten me in ages.
As you are developing your leadership skills with your horse, you will find your relationship changing and improving and it is always best to start with an easier horse and I am glad I had Stubby first, even though he scared me and drove me to frustrtion at other times.
Banjo and you may not be a good match yet, and it may be easier to find a new horse, but no matter the horse you buy, all will ask you, and expect you to step up and be a leader for them, just some will let you get away with more mistakes as you learn then others.
Whatever you decide, we will be here to support you on your horsemanship journey, whether it will be with Banjo, or your new horse. Afterall, being with horses is supposed to be fun.
Love
Petra