I Hate My Mare

[Maes Seren]

May 11, 2008 21:14:51 GMT brigadier said:

AW Mae- what a shocker- when it goes wrong it really goes wrong. Hope all horses /riders are ok after their misadventures.

How tense are you during the test? Mares are mega sensitive- is she picking up your vibes and worries?
Brig

Everyone will be ok, Berthas gone back to not trusting anyone... wouldnt even come over for her tea last night apparently, but she'll come round.

I do get a little tense, maybe im the cause of it. I would love to get someone whos had so much experience in it all to ride her in a test just as an experiment, but im not sure anyone who i know will either be ideal for it, or those that will (friend ridden at PSG on last horse and shes 20!) would poss charge a fortune!!!

[kateflashy]

May 12, 2008 15:16:33 GMT Maes Seren said:

Benylin helps to calm them down? Off to tesco tonight, might get some and try it when i ride her tomorrow.

Thanks for the name of that stuff, shes off home in 3 weeks time, when she gets home ill give my vets a ring and see about trying to get some... Is it prescription only?

im not sure over they just give out drugs wily nilly
but i asked for my ali when he was vacinated cos he's petrified of men and even more so of vets and being h/w and 18 hh not easy to persuade otherwise

[ceej]

Please dont smite me (lol!)

but I am really not sure drugging is the answer for the show ring! Drugs have their places for safety and stress when absolutely necessary but to get through a dressage test? If you really feel there is no other way then I would say dont compete her...sorry...

[FirenLady]

Whenever i take Fire to a show i lunge him up a corner get him to have a good canter and a buck get it outa his system he does a fabulous bronco on the lunge. don't spouse thats really sutible for a dressage pony though!!!

Fire is very spooky too. I have a massive amount of homemade fillers to desenstise him. I try and make as SCARY as possible so the shows ones look very unimpressive. Mabye dressage markers that stand 18in - 2ft high will make real ones look totally pint sized! Good place to leave stuff for them to get used to is on the outside of the paddock, pref near the water trough. I already leave fillers etc lyin around the outside of the field for Luna to get used to! And shes not phased by them one little bit.

[duckles]

I know its easy to say but try not to take it too much to heart. BOth of you probably very nervous. Its not called stressage for nothing. A friend of mine practically wrote of her mare for dressage becasue of her rearing, whynning, etc at tests. She was continually marked down for 'tension' etc. Then she stopped caring and started doing very well. Another girl i know (who is not a nervous person) used to get so uptight about dressage with a particular horse that the horse (who was really forward) went like a plod and would hardly canter. I'm not saying your like either of them just don't give up yet. She'll improve believe me

[Maes Seren]

Ceej, i completely understand what youre saying, but im thinking that even if we give it a go and it doesnt work, at least she can be retired from a dressage horse with me knowing i tried all eventualities.

Kate, ohhh no, but what i mean is that theres a website somewhere which you can buy drugs which you'd get from the vet much cheaper. Some have to have a prescription sent off, others dont, just wondered if id need a prescription for it.

Kylie, its a show at home, its in her home schools, and warm ups were home atmosphere, probably why we were both relaxed and happy enough to go well.

Duckles, youve inadvertetly (sp) given me an idea... i wonder whether if i were to go HC, whether theyd allow someone to stand in the arena talking to me to keep me calm??

[trojanwarrior]

I have a similar problem with my horse. He's great to warm up, but once he enters at A it generally all goes out the window & the letters go flying & the boards get squashed and that's if I manage to contain him in the arena!!

I think my problem is me. I'm sure that I must tense up as soon as I turn down the center line & he senses it. I tried some Oxyshot on him & he was calmer & listening more. At the last show I went to, he had the Oxyshot & I had some Rescue Remedy (yuck, must try alternative) and he was really well behaved and relaxed. Had one of the best left canters I've ever had in his individual show.

[kateflashy]

have you tried this it worked on our loony tunes pony just stinks revolting

www.4dobbin.com/productDetail.aspx?product_id=2230

and its all natural

[Maes Seren]

Ohhh maybe thats a good idea. Think ill nip out on friday afternoon (after exams this week) or some point earlier on in the week if i get bored and grab either oxyshot or valerian, will go for which ever works out cheapest.

Unfortunately, im very sceptical with rescue remedy/kalms etc i found kalms work when i cant sleep and before exams, but esp when it comes to jumping, im just too sceptical about them so they just dont work.

However, i might try getting hold of some of that 'de-stress' whenever i can get to a H&B... Give that a try ... anything!!!

[trojanwarrior]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you can't compete under rules while using valerian

[Maes Seren]

Oh. Looks like its oxyshot then if i can find it!

[abi]

do you tense your bum any differently in the how ring?!

sounds strange, but when my friend and i tense its nearly always ur bum that goes, and the mares can ALWAYS tell, it makes them so much worse!

Take a really deep breath and physically tell your body to relax your bum, sounds mental, but we do it when tractors come past, and friend does it with the pig field, and the mares are SO mcuh better!! worth a try! x