Sensitivity to Change

I am still enjoying memories of meeting/riding with my new friend

" HORSEMOM"  above, on her QH  mare Cassy.

While she had mentioned that her mare was able to go ahead or behind and was pretty good overall- as we got closer to the weekend away together, I worried about my mare's attitude for the change of having new horses. And a PONY around, humm,  she can be somewhat frantic about making herself clear and  I have learned to expect her to make her opinion known to all new horsefaces-don't mess with me!

My mare was totally GREAT, aside from the antics she pulled when Romeo was not wanting to move, and I asked her to go on and she bucked ..that was NOT related to change I speak of. Wa was just great with Cassy..and never looked sideways at her. It was breakthrough stuff. But then, she does love a horse that knows who they are, and doesn't make a fuss over her.

Now here is something that is currently baffling me ....do tell me what you know or think about this.***

I try to notice what gets my mares ire up, and usually, it is CHANGE. She and I share this confounding emotional bond- to not liking the unannounced wind of change.

For the record..this is not day to day normal changes... now that would be down right controlfreakish weird! I am talking about much larger changes..the ones you take time making- because they should take some consideration of facts and feelings and ramifications involved.

..anywho...sometimes, even when I know change is coming, I go through the loss feeling of what will be lost in the differance, with the new thing appearing. My mare, She gets told by me (you tell your horses things too, right?!) that something will be happening, and that does seem to make things smoother.

 But, I had no idea that there was a change coming when we arrived to "homestable" from our 9 days away -WOO-we got home and IMMEADIATELY the mare was on her upright stance of something's new going on!

We walked into the stable, and through the back door we saw him at the same time, a new horse has arrived while we were away.

No matter what I did to console her, or to  get her attention..she lost it and could not listen or stand or even turn her back on the horse- that was outside! I put her into her stall and run...she ran down to the end frantically.

I set to unpacking from the beach trip...and came back to check on her every so often. She absolutley would NOT come into her stall. I knew I wanted to ride, she had had some time off since our return and it was a fabulous day.  I needed the time out in the woods,  and now, I thought, SO DID SHE!

My PBO came into the barn from a ride shortly after my unpacking had begun. While I longed for a solo calming ride I said, "Wanna go for another ride?" She answered," YES, I will ride Willow."  She has 2 Paint horses an often rides them consecutively.

Now- what was I thinking??? Another NEW horse to Wa, as we had never ridden together, save last year on the beach. We had  been trying to ride together and had  planned some rides, only  to have something come up each time.

 Okay, my mare does see and smell  Willow, so she may not be all that new...but with the way she was right now, I did not know how it would go. I was  game for it as we MUST ride with many different horses and get a handle on this freakish behaviour, to some extent! PLUS, we have plans in a month to go on an all  STABLE OUTING to an INN near Joeseph, Oregon!

I had to groom the mare facing backwards...she would NOT stand with her back to the outside-WHERE HE WAS, this new gelding. Ready to go, my PBO was closing the gate and I walked on ahead, to mount up, out on the trail as there is a makeshift mounting "thing" there. I was maybe rushing  somewhat, to get on before my riding partner got there...I totally FELL OFF that stupid D----?!xx*=+X#-! mounting thing...ripped up my right shin and turned my left ankle (it is ALWAYS the left ankle) POP it went and I cussed something fierce...but somehow, she did not hear me - good. I don't like to loose it and have anyone hear me be profane.

I just got on and lumped the pain...at least my ankle would be steady in the stirrup.

Wa was jittery and jumpy. I thought it was the new horse but later, as she and Willow settled so nicely to trotting and walking next to each other- it was not her my mare was unsettled by.

AND...***check this out***...as we were headed back home an hour or so later, approaching the long hill home, my mare took another direction. Eventually, we went up that hill, but as we neared the top, she slowed and wanted to stop. We got to the top finally and she turned the opposite way! Away from the barn and a way, by the way-she dislikes to go! And then, turning towards home again, she ACTUALLY TURNED, and went BACK DOWN THE HILL!

I dismounted and walked a reluctant horse back to the barn.

I arrived at the stable yesterday and could NOT see my mare anywhere. Horses had been put out in differently (normal) but I thought, she'd be with her turnout buddy...I could see him clearly. I set out to find her...I thought maybe she was in the far corner of the front pasture..I walked into Maddy's pasture to see the backs of both turnouts she could be in...I called a few times. I noticed Maddy shaking all over..it was a drizzly, cold day from having 80 degrees the day before..that is turing out to be normal for this year..one day warn/nice/next few crap. I knew I'd take her in to fleece dry her in the stall, but I had to find my mare first!

OH! I saw her finally!

In the farthest reaches, of the furthest point, of the back pasture ( am I getting across here??!) She did peek her head out of a fir tree covering...

these are all phone camera images

She always runs to the gate when I come. Not this time! I had to almost pull her out of the field...HE WAS STANDING THERE ..watching! I had to tread all the way to her, getting thoroughly drenched, to find her standing shivering too. Big changes in weather and personal environment. I would take her in and  put her fleece on to dry her.

Here is the SCAREY NEW HORSE~

When stuff like this happens I get concerned with her water consumption. She wouldn't come into her stall, the day before where the water is and out in the field, where she is, the water is closer to where HE is. I tested her skin recovery. This day, it was fine and I also noticed, she had consumed plenty the night before, but she pooed all over her stall and not in the customary area.

 She is clearly  UN-SETTLED with this change to her environment.

My ankle and leg were really hurting so I decided to just allow the fleeces on the mare's to work drying them off, and let them warm up with a flake of hay. I cleaned my salty, sandy tack more, from the beach rides last weekend. I also watched the little video I took  of Wa  mare in the arena as I had thought she may like to roll before she went to stall. She did roll then trotted about and was really forward,  as if someone was asking her to move out.  Hind legs and front legs extending forward. Really pretty stuff. But only at the FAR END of the arena. She would NOT go down to the end where HE was, just outside the walls!

*** SO I am wondering how long this will last, her pensive, awareness. As some friends and savvy horse folk have told me..it may be permanent he could be proud cut and study..so I will just keep her away from him and hopefully, she will settle into trusting her environment again , and be calm and settle.

I noticed this Robin's egg, as I went to fetch the mare in. Springs "New Life" is all around finally, though the sun is still too shy. Hoping that your weekend activities are full of smiles and family times..and of course...horses!