What would you do? - Western Training & Behavior - Western Training & Behavior - Horse Community, Horse Pictures, Horse Forum and Information

Posted : 7/13/2011 6:27:24 AM

We bought a new mare, Lady about a month ago, just turned 16 yr. old TB, OTTB, but hasn't raced since she was about 4. She was advertised as a trail horse, when we tried her out the owner got on her, I rode her, my daughter rode her and since we've had her, we've ridden her in our arena, taken her to a Pony Club lesson and taken her on a trail ride and she's been fine. She tends to be a little antsy at the beginning of every ride, but just a little jigging/jogging and then settles down w/in 5 minutes.

Sunday, my husband and I were going to go for a ride, his first on her, got outside our gate and she was a little worked up so I had to hold her for him to get on. My daughter was trying to get some pictures of us and Lady didn't want to hold still and started to move around and back up. My husband tried to turn her around to get her next to my horse and suddenly she started scooting backwards quickly across our dirt road. She went so fast, her hind legs slid under her, she hit the edge of the road, sat down and her body went up and over, rolling back on him and then over onto her side. She took off down the road to our horse gate and galloped back and forth, very agitated, wanting to get back in.

My husband spent 2 days in the hospital w/ a concussion, has a very bruised thigh......

Not sure why she suddenly flew backwards and not sure where we go from here because I don't believe any horse is worth your life.....

What would be your next step with her?

hunterseat

Posted : 7/13/2011 2:11:18 PM

I guess you need to decide if you want to keep her or not. Could be she's not a man's horse. I love T'breds but.... not for me.

I don't think I'd keep her because, if someone else got hurt it would be really hard to deal with. There's someone out there who's perfect for her. She might make a wonderful hunter/jumper lesson/school horse.

tripleluckyprince

Posted : 7/13/2011 5:12:43 PM

I agree with hunter
She could not like men, Diablo doesn't like men and will not do a darned thing for a man but he will follow a woman like a lost dog, horses are weird,
It kinda sounds like she felt trapped and tried to get out, i dont think she meant to hurt your husband, it was just an instinct, which also kinda sounds like she gets too excited and psyc's herself out then just has a mental breakdown,
Of course I could be wrong, I wasn't there so I could be barking up the wrong tree entirely,
I guess just decide if you want to keep her or not then go from there
Good luck girl

FreeMare

Posted : 7/15/2011 12:17:38 AM

Sounds like it to me that she was trying to get away with not wanting to stand and then being forced to she got scared and did the next thing she knew. Next time, if you do head out. Take her out by her self, first, walk her down the road with your husband. Do all sorts of speeds, walk, trot, stop. To see if it more of your husband that she getting worried about her somthing else. Then take her some place that you can work her and do lots of ground work, stops, slid, turn on forehand and hocks. Jump over things. Every time she gets scared or worried about somthing she goes back to her other side of her brain and is no longer thinking. Also when she starts to acked up, put her feet to work, yeld the hindend, stop, trot, do any thing to get her feet going. If she flips out more, flex her head to side to side then make her yeld her hind end. This will keep her from going over. If she thinkings about doing so.

danastark

Posted : 7/15/2011 1:35:32 AM

I know she didn't mean to go over backwards, that part was unintentional as she had her head down when she was backing up, was going too fast, perhaps she is a bit weakened from being starved for a while and she sat down and her momentum from backing carried her over and perhaps when she sat, my husband pulled on her. Backing seems to be her way to avoid things when she is anxious.

We're going to take her out front, in hand and see how she does and work on being patient, it's a vacant field and we live on a dirt road so we can lunge her and put her to work doing groundwork if she gets riled up.

I just really don't want anyone else to get hurt, could've been a lot worse. Don't know that my husband ( a weekend warrior rider) will ever want to get back on her.....

FreeMare

Posted : 7/15/2011 2:38:49 AM

Well I would work with her a lot more before your busband gets back on her. I beat after a while he will get back on if he knows she is not going to do a repeat of what happend.

danastark

Posted : 7/15/2011 5:17:27 AM

Thanks for your ideas. My 15 yr. old daughter was out of town when it happened and she's ridden her several times and said "I'll ride her." so she doesn't seem afraid of her but I worry about putting her back up there..... Sigh.... We'll start on the ground ':)'

littlebit

Posted : 7/15/2011 2:51:12 PM

You said that you chose this horse for your husband. If he feels uncomfortable with her, it doesn't matter how many other people can ride her. Don't risk another accident. I would find her another home and get another horse for your husband. There are a lot of very reasonablely priced, wonderful horses on the market right now because of the economy.

hunterseat

Posted : 7/15/2011 2:58:57 PM

Give him Cody! [ ':D'

] Kelly can do pony club on her until.... ? I have to say Kelly and Tahoe are my favorite pair! One day she'll be flying the friendly skies on Jewel. [ ':)'

]

danastark

Posted : 7/18/2011 4:52:11 PM

Contacted the TB rescue where I got Cody (they also got into PMUs at the height of the industry) and they referred me to another well-respected rescue and I got an email back saying they could take Lady next month when they've moved on some other horses. I was honest and explained what happened and they seem fine with taking her on........ It'll mean taking a loss on her but at least she's not starving and getting healthier by the day and I don't have to antagonize about what to do w/ her...... I think she'll be great with a more advanced rider like she was w/ Kelly and I. I got her to be Gary's trail horse and that's not working so..... I've only got about $800 into her right now so oh well.......