One on the list

My Thoroughbred mare Washashe, is very opinionated.

She is the first mare I have owned aside from my pony Trixie.  But at age 7, I was not observing Trixie's Nature so much. She was  my pony, and maybe I noticed a heat cycle...but truly now, I do not recall it.  I don't recall her ever balking at anything we did or anywhere we went.
After nearly 25 years without a horse-all the learning has come whoosh bang-fast and hard! Reasons for behaviour can be simple and sometimes, very complex.

Washashe mare of course, is somewhat touchy and reactive during the sensitive times of season. And there is the pre season and the post season times as well .(it seems "~'  )
 I take her into account and  change/diminish the amount what I may ask her to do -accordingly.

It's tough being Washashe, and at that time, it's even harder! Focus is disturbed and I am like an nat bugging her, so to make sure it's not tough being me, her rider!  I do take care and like I said, I diminish greatly what we do.

 I care for her  and the things she goes through. I want to acknowledge them, and also be a smart manager of my horse. It is what it is, nature at it's finest and I try helping her through the symptoms by giving her Raspberry leaves. Fresh in the summer, I dry them myself, and through the other times, I buy bulk organic. It does seem to take the edge off..as well as for us women too..Raspberry tea is very good.

THAT isn't really ON THE LIST of disliked RIDING THINGS ( I'M the only thing on that season list) Wa mare has..that is just nature.

Her LIST begins with- and is not limited to:

1. RIDING IN WIND
2. Riding in rain that is moving sideways, in wind
3. Riding through deep muddy bogs
4. Riding through thick underbrush ( or a deep wooded area with narrow, uneven trails)
5. Slippery trails (second only to)
6. Steep, slippery trails
7. Hills with rocks
8. Creeks with large rocks
9. Riding near or around fiercely barking or lunging at us- DOGS ( when she even hears a dark bark, she is high alert)
10. CLIFF edged trails
11. Riding near llama's (this may be taken off the list soon~)

 ALL the above- being in back!

I understand  why she dislikes all of them. As much as I sometimes want that trail horse that is oblivious to-some-or  most of those things... I have ridden THAT horse over the past 4 years..and let me tell you- I AM HAPPY WITH MY MARE!!

 She is honest and true about her dislikes, I just need to know the terrains we travel and make wise decisions.
FORTUNATELY, there are many destinations here where we live, to meet the safety needs of riding in any weather!

 I can mix & match some of the dislikes - And get a fine ride in on my mare .

I dismount for some bad hills, she settles and is able to pick her way without my weight atop. She also frets about being hit in the mouth ( why I like bit less for the trails) is she gets upset and rushes or slips. Though, my sign to her if bited, is to put my hand upon her withers with the reins, so she may pick and choose her way without my hands moving at all. She does honor this most times, by going slower and methodically so.

When she dislikes something she rushes..."get this crap thing over with!"  Her nervousness towards an area and it's terrain, it has gotten us in BIG trouble in the past. Her falling or almost falling.  Doing laterals or backing or anything that involves pressure =AMPS HER HORSEY ENGINE UP!
So to dismount is to be safe.

ROCKY HILLS and rocky creeks. I put hoof boots on her. As Long as she has  something to grab onto with the boots, she is good. But riding onto slicker trails with boots, NEVER again! She starts to dance with nervousness, to keep herself upright.

Wind riding-is okay without the rain involved AND if I stay to the open areas. She can clearly see the predators there..they won't pounce on her from a tree above! Being smack -dab-in the middle of the forest..as it is moving in wind..I have found- makes for a wild ride as she wishes to get out of it!

 

DOGS we can conquer, if I speak aloud to the dog. It  is likened to my "Trail Opera". Speaking loudly or singing seems to cover the scarey times and she settles.
If I know the dog is contained, I can take my time with her fears..by approaching and stopping, settling and then again moving forward. If we are somewhere ( I try NOT to go to these places) where the dogs may be off leash..I am prepared to jump off and defend her. She knows this too..I have defended her before by hacking a pit bull in the face as it B-lined for her hind legs.
NOW,  I'd  probably just spray it with my Bear mace!!

THICKLY UNDERBRUSHED forest trails or beach trails.
 I won't do the beach trails unless I know they have been trimmed..those  scrubby trees and sage bushes really gouge, poke and scratch!
 If I have to 'Off Trail it" because of downed trees or an obstruction...she gets nervous with the sinking ground and poky untrimmed branches...plus, me leaning over and such. We do it all the time, and I know she dislikes it but sometimes-you gotta do-what you gotta do!

IF IT'S STEEP uphill and dry..we go for it. If it is not dry, I dismount, place the rein on the halter ring and undo the other side, get behind her and hold her tail ( if bitless-connect both rings)...she knows what to do now and we walk up ( I mean really Steep) the  trail together!

If it is a downhill steep...I walk besides her, holding  the stirrup leather for ballast. These past months being bareback.. I hold onto the girth ring or pomel grab strap.

So, though it may seem a rather large list for a trail horse...  I Keep in mind, these places we go to are not on the trail maps, most times. They are being forged by us, and reestablished as  usable trails.

ALL The ways she  does come through for me on trail rides, with her level head and willingness to try. Her athletic ability and  ability to rarely tire.

  Her trot...oh man, her floaty trot..others are cantering to keep up, and she is floating in trot!

Her being a mare and a Thoroughbred mare at that, has me smitten with all she does with me!

LOVE does not cover my emotion for this mare-o-mine.  I do LOVE her deeply, but more than that, I admire her so much. For all the trials she seems to hand me sometimes, I actually am handing her the same ones...she is just talking to me through her opinion and reality of the issues! The longer I know her, the more I accept her for who she is. She just about has me trained to her liking!!

 I am hers and she is mine..that is the long and short list of it~