bad pony

I guess I can't go on a vacation because Shyloh acts like she can do whatever she feels like when I am gone. Bad pony!

I knew Beth was going to take her on a walk around the property with Casi and Kathy. I was excited for all of them, and kinda bummed that I couldn't be there, but hey, I AM in Florida! Then I got this picture sent to me from Kathy with the words, This was after our ride. She was a handful today.

Um. . .the main thing that stuck out to me was that Beth had a helmet on. Beth rarely wears a helmet! What happened?? Then I got this text. She bolted when we were walking in the back by the field. Beth was fine, but she was hanging on. She is gonna let you know herself. It all ended good though.

So, I waited and waited and waited for Beth to call, all the while anxiety was sitting in. It didn't help that I was 1200 miles away, so I kept thinking of the worst case scenario. Beth was going to tell me that Shy is too dangerous. Beth would say that Shy can't be fixed. Beth might mention that I would never be able to ride her safely. Yeah, my head was in a pretty awful place while waiting to attend this reception for dental students at my husband's conference. 

Finally, Beth called and she did not say any of those things. She told me what happened and her thoughts on correcting it. 

Beth had said Shy was doing real good at the start of the lesson, relaxed and walking a loose rein, until they got to the back field. Then, for no reason that anyone but Shy knows, she bolted. Like whoa! No spook, she just took off at lightening Halfinger speed. Beth lost a stirrup and was practically leaning straight back with all her weight on the reins to get Shy to stop.

And Shy kept on going, completely ignoring all aids from Beth. Beth seriously thought they were going to run into a row of pine tress when Shy finally decided to stop. Scary. And very unacceptable horse behavior. Apparently, Shy lifted her head in the air and clamped down on the bit so it had no effect on her whatsoever. Luckily, Beth is sticky and was able to stay in the saddle. I am so grateful that no one got hurt!

Shy got her bit changed to the shank bit, but she was being a brat with that, too. At this point, Beth had put her helmet on, just in case. Beth said Shy was openly defying her and avoiding the bit, but at the same time, she was incredibly nervous and a ball of ready to bolt again energy. Shy was brought in the arena and the lesson did end on a good note after a lot of circling and bending exercises.

The training plan has now changed. We need to teach Shy some collection and flexion, and to accept the bit. Dressage-type stuff. This new and out of the blue behavior has really put a halt on my trail riding plans, but I'd rather have a safe horse who listens to her rider! The good thing though is that Beth said Shy was not being mean and not trying to dump her. 

Beth had said that this behavior is fixable, but we need to get back to basics and work Shy differently than she has been working her.  She is young and she probably was not started at two since she never was a show prospect. She was probably started around three and that only gives three years of probably not the most consistent, stable training, if any. 

Beth believes that Shy did not just discover evading the bit tactic, she learned this some time ago, way before I got her. Shy also does not have a good grasp on the foundation of riding. Maybe she was testing Beth. Maybe she was trying to get out of work. Maybe this behavior has worked in the past to get her out of doing things she didn't want to do. No excuses though, that behavior is unacceptable. Who knows? Only Shyloh. . . 

But, on the plus side. . .Shy does sweat! I had been worried because she has yet to sweat from any of her rides with Beth.