Thursday, August 15, 2013

what now?

Imagine you are a horse with an unknown history. Two years ago, you refused to be caught in under two hours and people scared you so bad you would shake. When being around people, especially new people, you backed away and became a tense ball of nerves. If it became too much, you just wanted to get away, quick. You never struck, reared, kicked, or anything aggressive, you just needed to be away.

Back to present day. . .you, this same horse, actually like people. Maybe you won't go out of your way to go up to them or be a cuddly horse, but you aren't terrified of them. You know people carry treats on them. You know your routine, you have been driven, ridden, and you are doing great. And, if someone you know is on the ground with you, you can relax and do what is needed. Even if you get spooked or a little nervous when working, you can easily relax and move on without issue.  

Pretty big improvement, right? This is Shy. She is great. She has come so far. Bad days do happen, but Shy is a horse that wants to please and wants to do what is right. She never has the intention of hurting someone. She really is a good horse. 

But for some reason, on this drive, Shy went back to a place she hasn't been in quite a long time. 
Only photo I got
After making some cart adjustments so it fit Shy better, off we went. Shy started out decent, but she was pretty tense with Beth. At certain points, Shy refused to do what was asked of her for no particular reason. Beth was patient with Shy and waited her out and eventually Shy would comply. This happened a couple times and Shy was getting more and more anxious and tense. There was no reason for her to be so worked up. Beth was calm, easy going, and letting Shy choose to do the right thing. She never forced Shy or made her do anything. So when Shy busted out into a canter and tried to run away with Beth, it was scary. It was like all of Shy's pent up energy and nervousness just exploded. Beth was able to stop Shy before it got too bad, but it was still scary. And Shy was just shaking. Like I said, there was no apparent reason for any of her behaviors. 


We ended with some line driving to make Shy work. She was still a little bit nervous and absolutely refused to go near the cart. We did put the cart on her and had Shy stand. Shy was still jumpy. And we don't know why. What we do know is that Shy is perfectly capable of being good with a cart. But this time, she reverted back to behaviors from the beginning. 


So, why these behaviors? Why now? At the last show, it had been a while since Shy was hooked and she did wonderful. She was even driven by a kid and placed! That is the show that her and Art placed first in a couple different team events. Shy was a rockstar that day. So I know she has it in her to be awesome. 

We racked our brains as to what the issue could be. Shy being in heat? She is, but that never was an issue before. In fact, she was in heat last time we drove and she was great. The cart? Maybe. . .Shy really seems to not like this cart. She drives great in Cody's cart. Herd sour? Shy does express her desire to be back in the herd, but she never calls out and after a few short arguments she is able to get back on track. Beth was completely puzzled by Shy's behaviors. She said it seems that she was expecting to get beat every time she took a wrong step. It was odd. It was stuff similar to two years ago when I got Shy. And now that we have overcome that on the ground, it is something we need to overcome under harness. 
The "oh hell no" look!
As crappy as it was to have Beth experience Shy at her worst, she said she finally understood my trepidation about driving her. I told her I was not crazy. . .she said she never thought I was crazy, maybe just over reacting. I have tried to explain how Shy can be, but the Shy most people see is the calm, go with the flow, just wants to eat grass Shy. I still think they all think I'm crazy. 

So, one million and one thoughts have been running through my head and getting me pretty down. . .Should I even continue trying to drive with Shy? Is this something that we can overcome? Can we work through this? How? What if we can't? I don't even want to think about it.

As of right now, we will not be driving in the show. We will concentrate on our lead line kids and having fun. And I am okay with that.

14 comments:

  1. Poor you, I know how hard these situations are. Only advice I can offer is to put it in the box and file it away and move on. Do everything you can to stay safe and go back to basics to build both of your confidences back. Something mules have taught me is that things get worse before they get better and sometimes this kind of explosion is a precursor to things actually improving a lot..... sounds weird but often seems to be the way, maybe our equines test the boundaries and explode and then realise it didn't get anyone anywhere and actually was pretty awful, a lesson learned perhaps?

    Hugs from over the pond xx

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    1. I have noticed that before a breakthrough things do get a little rough. It's always in the back of my head that Shy can behave like this, but it has become far and few between. Luckily, she does give signs.

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  2. I strongly urge you to go to www.michaeljohnsonbooks.com/healingshine.html‎ and buy this book. Even better buy the audio CD and listen. Either way, it is not a how too book, but it is a great true story with some amazing insight on horses who are afraid or who carry baggage. There is so much good information in a story that will just blow you away.

    In a nutshell I will tell you that what he says is that sometimes they relapse, for no apparent reason, and all we can do is to continue on reassuring them that they can trust us and it will be okay. That doesn't mean molly coddling them, we still have to be the leader, the parent, or what ever, but just continuing to be the consistent good thing in their lives helps them come back from where ever that place is that they go.

    No matter what though, do not give up. Just make sure you stay safe and learn to recognize the warning signs right off the bat. One of the things he says he learned about his horse, Shine, is that when a horse is afraid you have to take them back to a place where they are not afraid. Then you start from there. There is more too it than that but it is a good start.

    Don't give up, she needs you and you need her.

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    1. Thanks! I checked out the website and I will be looking into the book for sure.
      Staying safe for others, Shy, and myself is top priority, that's one reason why I have never driven her without a capable person present and in the cart with me.

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  3. I'm sorry she had such a big step back! I didn't realize she came from such a rough past. You've done an excellent job with her.

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    1. Thank you. I wish I knew more of where she came from, but I can't track her past the auction from where the lady I bought her from got her.

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  4. Could it be something simple? Something like she doesn't like the feel of the cart with the weight she has gained? It might be pulling/poking/squeezing in a place that brings out her "baggage".

    Like you've been told, don't give up.

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    1. We have analyzed everything. Could be that, but she has done this once when she fit better in the cart. Ugh, it's so frustrating not knowing!

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  5. Just thinking about yesterday's post which included a "honeymoon" with Isaac & her private parts being roughed up. Could be something to do with her being ouchy or having something behind her after having Isaac "behind" her? Just kinda thinking

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    1. Thought about that, but she was the one who wanted Isaac in that position. Funny thing, when she did her few good laps, she looked so good! Using her hind end to move and not pulling from her front. So, I really don't know, could have been anything.

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  6. I can see why you have so many questions.... and there are no answers!
    My trainer, similar to what Cindy says the author said, believed that horses have 'flashbacks' that can impact their behavior.
    I also wonder, as GunDiva commented, whether it is something about the cart. Is it the fit? Is it a sound? That also seems reasonable as her behaviors escalated.
    I am just so glad that you recognize how far Shy has come. You have been so good for her!

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    1. Awww, thanks! I have been trying so hard with her. And she had been so good, especially with the kids! Something about this cart, she just doesn't like. I am thinking of selling it and getting something different.

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  7. Like the Three Muleteers said, put it in the box and move on for the moment.
    Maybe she has been more stressed by the move than you think? Remember all the hassle I had with Aero when I moved to France... it took him three months to stop being a nervous wreck.
    ANd I second what everyone else said, you've done an amazing job with her!

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    1. I remember how hard of a time Aero had, maybe you are right!

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