Snip's Story: July 2009

Some History

Ok, so it’s probably about time I wrote all this down in one place, it’s been a hell of a three years with more ups and downs than I can count any more!Firstly, a bit of the history…I bought Snip from a dealer. The dealer told me he was a 5 year old, 16hh gelding who had been backed and ridden away’ (always wondered exactly what does that term mean!?) He was 3 ½, 16.1, and ‘backed and ridden away’, in this instance, meant they’d bunged a saddle and bridle on, chucked a brave rider up and chased him round their round pen a few times with a lunging whip. He was skinny and wild eyed and looked like he’d been dragged through a hedge in every direction!Well, I probably should have walked away, that would have been the sensible thing to do!So after getting him home (oops, what happened to walking away?!) I started with basic ground work, grooming, general attention. There was a really pretty horse under there – fed him up, had him chucked out in a good field for a while. Once he was handleable (that took a while – he was WILD) I started to move from ground work to lunging, then I backed him, was lunged on him, gradually started being able to ride him on my own – we had the odd setback, he had a hell of a buck/rear and had broken my ribs just by flinging his head back at me whilst I was sat on him – but I’d sort of factored in a few injuries along the way (didn’t factor in having at least one broken toe permanently, but hey!) Over the first 6 months of owning him (summer time) he went from a wild, unhandled baby who’d been dragged off a field in Ireland and shipped over wit a ‘job lot’ of youngsters…to a loving, talented, promising, willing (mostly) youngster.Then I broke my arm, badly. Not falling off Snip – I was ice skating, of all things. I was standing STILL on the ice rink and some tit skated into me. I was operated on, pinned back into place and in cast for 10 weeks – then still out of action for a further 8 weeks as the arm was so weak, almost had to have a second op…In this time Snip was out of work, it was winter and he was stabled. He was, and always has been, a stable stresser. When I was finally able to ride again I started back from the beginning, backed him and started the ridden work – the rearing and napping was back, but he was a 4 year old who’d had an entire winter off…kind of expected a few problems!Very quickly he started to come around to the idea and by the time they were out 24/7 for the summer he was a lovely, if somewhat opinionated, riding horse again. Had a fab summer. He hacked alone, we tried a few tiny cross poles, and we had some dressage lessons. Not a problem (ok, still a few broken toes, clumsy oaf he is!)Then it was winter again, what did I go and do? Got myself in a car accident (well, I was a passenger) and was out of action for 10 weeks. Idiot. Again, stable stress, few manners lost and general stroppy youngster behaviour. When I started riding him again we took it right back to basics and went at a pace that suited him. This time I was noticing some strange problems, kicking up at my legs when I asked him to go forwards, napping more than usual, refusing to go forwards, the odd rear, the occasional buck.Ok, so he’s a rising 5 year old who’s had 10 weeks off after being relatively fit, he’s naturally opinionated, theres going to be some issues…Then we moved into spring, and into better grazing, and then out 24/7….and the problems disappeared completely and we had the best summer ever. Hacking alone, with galloping and o/ditch jumping. We accompanied a baby horse on hacks – he was the sensible older horse!!! Woohoo!We had jumping lessons, we even went to a dressage competition where he excelled himself and was an utter star!Then it was winter again. This time I didn’t get injured (an achievement in itself!) the problems came back. Napping, rearing, bucking, kicking up at me….slowly at first but getting gradually worse. I started having nasty falls, I had one really bad one out hacking on Christmas eve. This is the point I decided, finally, that something was wrong with my horse.I’d always been good about making sure his teeth were done, back checked, saddle checked (saddle had been bought made to measure earlier that year after insurance payout for the car accident!) I had noticed odd behaviour ridden was always worse when he then went for a pee after being untacked…so I had liver/kidneys blood tested – nothing.We did all the normal checks like eye sight, hearing, back, feet, legs, and many more. Vet did a full work up and I had dentist, back person and saddler out again to be sure.In a conversation with the vet, we both said the word ‘stomach ulcers at the same time, and that’s the next route of investigation we tried.The scope showed grade 2 ulceration of the stomach and Pylorus. I was both elated and gutted. On the one hand I had something ‘real’ to fix, on the other hand I’d put my poor boy through hell for how long? After talking to the vet about his history we were both sure that the ulcers had been there for both previous winters, and probably when I initially bought him.But guilt over that was going to get me nowhere. I had a problem to fix and, damn it, I was going to fix it to make it up to him. After just 3 days on Gastrogard you could see the old Snip back. He relaxed, he was happy….everyone on the yard commented that you could see the change in his eyes. The vet had told me that I was to start riding him again as soon as possible because this was the main way to monitor his behaviour patterns – nothing too challenging, just gentle schooling to see his reactions.After initially napping a bit and being a bit of a git, he seemed to realise they actually, this didn’t hurt anymore! Very quickly he opened up and was obviously trying so hard for me. After a month on Gastrogard we rescoped him, and I saw for myself, a lovely smooth white stomach linin, no ulcers! Brilliant. The vets advice was to stop the Gastrogard and put him on to a maintenance supplement, Neighlox. A much better price than the £900 of Gastrogard!But after only 10 days the behaviour started to show again, gradually he became stuffier, crabby, not himself until after 3 days of this I got on and he dropped to his knees in pain, eyes rolling back in his head.I phoned the vet in floods of tears, and drove over to the practice later that day to collect our next course of Gastrogard. The ulcers were back.Again, after 3 days he was back to himself again, and the vet told me to start the ridden work again after a further week. This time Snip was not so convinced. The reactions were different, he wasn’t reacting as though he was in pain, but he wasn’t giving it chance to get to hat point, he was going to fight before it hurt. It took a lot of time, and a lot of convincing to even start to gain his trust that it wouldn’t hurt. I would sit on his back, holding my legs away from his side for ong periods of time, just willing him to take one step forward of his own accord, and when he did, praising him as though he’d just been round Burghley!During all of this time I was spending my entire non work life (and a good portion of the working time!) obsessing over researching ulcers, symptoms, cures etc. His diet and supplements were geared to solving the problem, I changed his stable layout, put p a breast bar so the door could stay open, all sorts.Then one day I went to the yard early and found him left on his own in the stable, climbing the walls in panic as all the other horses had been moved away from him for the day. I learned that they did this regularly, it was almost a ‘game’ to wind him up. I was furious and out for blood!I demanded to be allowed more turnout (in winter we were restricted) but was refused, so spent 8 hours driving round the area, stopping riders out on hacks, knocking on farm doors, texting all my horsey friends, anything to fond anther yard. I found one, a lovely place where an old friend of mine had her and her daughters ponies, they had space, they welcomed us in. So a few weeks later (in the remaining few weeks I had managed to get more turnout) we moved. He seemed to settle instantly, the layout of the place meant that even when he was in the stable, he was able to see all the other horses, the arena, and the fields….so none of the worry about being left alone.He was still on the Gastrogard, a scope had proved him clear again, so after a couple of weeks we started to gradually reduce the dosage of GG, until eventually it was all gone. In this time I was riding him more and more, this time the behaviour was worse than ever, total loss of trust, he was convinced it was going to hurt and the slightest thing would have him shaking with anxiety.But he did come round. For about 3 weeks I was able to get on, ride a bit, walk him across the fields….we even jumped! Then suddenly he threw in the towel and didn’t want to try anymore. Another scope showed he was still clear of ulcers, so this was different.He’s been having Bowen Therapy, he’s had an iridology assessment, he seen 2 communicators and he’s had a session learning how to ‘self medicate’ with a herbal therapist. But at the moment it seems the more of these things I do, the worse he gets. One theory is that the Bowen is working on deeper problems and he’s panicking at feeling the changes happening, fighting it before it can hurt him, which he’s convinced everything will.But after the hellish time I’ve been through, I’m an emotional wreck, he’s a wreck. So I’ve turned him away…I’ll give him 2 months entirely without non essential human contact…taken rugs off and just chucked him in a field full of grass. After 2 months I’ll start to groom and give him attention again and take it from there. At that point I’ll get professional help to start him again. This time is sort of a last chance; I don’t know where to go from here.Sorry, that was a very long account, but it has covered 3 years of ups an downs! I’ll keep a track of his progress on here, once I start working him again.

Friday, 31 July 2009

Wow!!!

Well, in the last few days we've been working on trot. He has been fine with it, but very stiff (peg legs and head on a pole)

Well today he really relaxed into it and we had some really nice trot, and he actually started to stretch down too.

AND, at one point he forgot himself and skipped into a stride of canter (only one stride, then he remembered and went back to trot!)

Really pleased with him, not a hint of stress at all!

Sunday, 26 July 2009

Trot!!!!!

We can trot!

I spoke to Liz and updated her with our progress so far and she suggested that maybe it was time to push for a few strides of trot....so tonight I did! It wasn't good trot, very shuffley and restricted but it was trot, and there was improvement throughout the session.

Also, I did it all in the Dually - there's much more control when he tries to nap and squim because with a bit he just opens his mouth and then I have nothing, but in the Dually I could give him a tug and there was no evasion! Plus, it's more similar to how we've been long lining so there's consistency there too.

I shall gradually increase the amount of trot I ask for in each session and work on the walk to trot transition.

Saturday, 25 July 2009

Our first battle in a while

Before the Bowen therapy yesterday (yes I know I'm out of order with my blogs!) I had a quick ride - it wasn't meant to be quick but we were interrupted by a rather violent thunder and lightening storm that I didn't fancy riding in!

Well, for the first time I decided to not do the longlining and ground work first, just get straight on. He seemed happy enough with this, no fussing at the mounting block, no tension or anything - in fact I actually got straight on, first time. Walked away fine, no squirming, perfect.

We went outside of the arena to do a lap on the other side of the fence, and he just stopped - I ended up having to rock him to get him to move, so this is a new evasion. Normally if he's unsure he'll rear/buck/spin/bolt, this is better, it's safe, but it's new. He didn't show any sign of stress, relaxed ear/eyes etc....so will watch this space with that one!

Actually about a minute after he relented and walked forwards (to much praise and a treat) the heavens opened and we had a mega storm, so it could well have been that looming that made him act differently.

I'd much rather he planted than reared, but at the same time I need to find a way of moving him forwards without getting too strong with him because I don't want to lose his trust again by booting him in the ribs!

Friday, 24 July 2009

Finally a clean bill of 'health'!!!

Had the Bowen Therapist out today, for Snip (but also had a session for myself to sort out my bad back)
Every session so far has shown up little niggles and tensions and the Iridology has shown up the liver problems etc...
His behaviour lately has been impeccable, he's just plain lovely to be around, like the horse i know he can be. Today she came out and was so pleased with the progress since last session 4 weeks ago that she has declared him not needing another for several months!
I've asked that she com out again at the start of winter mainly for an iridology assessment as I want a benchmark at the beginning and end of the winter for my own peace of mind.
But my horse is finally declared fit for purpose! lol
And it is showing in his behaviour too, he no longer panics and runs at the slightest sound, he doesn't treat everything as a fight to the deth. He stops, he listens, he works it out and he gives it a go....can't ask for much more!

Wednesday, 22 July 2009

Update after some time off

Well, after being away for a week in Cornwall (and having had a phonecall during that time off to say Sniphad to be separated as he had been mounting the mare!) I was expecting to have to go back several steps, if not right back to start again.

Wrong.

On Monday he had his photoshoot for the portrait, and he was just lovely, then on Tuesday he longreined like we had never had a break, in fact better, he was calm, polite, willing, foot perfect. So much so I was even able to get on him and let someone lead him around with me on.

Then today He was, again, perfect to long rein, and this evening i hopped straight on and was 'lunged' on him (by lunged I mean someone stood holding the rope!) we then went outside the arena and had a walk down the lane.....almost counted as a mini hack!

So pleased with him, he was just so calm the whole time. For the first time in a long time I actually felt like I might get my horse back one day.

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

A good day!

Well after a less than perfect start to the day, things turned out really well!

The farrier came out before work and Snip was an absolute horror, not scared, just naughty, you could see it in his face. Farrier was not impressed but they had a bit of a smooch at the end after feet were done...so all was forgiven! So glad I have a patient farrier!

So tonight I was expecting devil horse to come out to play so I decided to only long line and do some leading work, tempting fate to try anything else really!

But i was wrong! After one initial tantrum to try and get out of going near the scary end of the school, he settled better than ever and did some lovely long lining work, really listening, lowered head, relaxed ears etc. I was really pleased with the whole session.

After that I did a bit of leading work through the ground poles, he stayed calm, lowered head and did everything I asked first time, with no objections or sillyness.

So I kept that short and untacked him in the arena and let him loose for a bit, put 2 of his friends in there with him for a play and he was happily wandering along thenscary side without a second thought! So that was also a really positive experience for him.

All in all, really happy with him. He was a nice horse to know tonight.

Saturday, 4 July 2009

A better day

So not the best still, but not a battle today. He was wary of the hedge and it's OBVIOUS monsters, but he did do as I asked with very little squirming on the long reins.

I tried to make sure each time I walked him to the scary bit and he went straight away, i turned him away again so he had a pressure and release from that.

I've hurt my back AGAIN today, so didn't want to get on him, but we did some mounting block work and that went well. He was quite distracted by what everyone else was doing, but did behave himself.

Friday, 3 July 2009

Crashing back down again...

Ok so yesterday i was over the moon at having actually ridden my horse, but after I rode last night the farmer next door had started clay pigeon shooting and all the horses were running around and scared. I didn't think too much of it at the time.

But today i had a hell of a battle to get him out of the field and into the yard, he was spooky and flighty on the yard. I decided to long rein him and he was just terrified of the side of the arena nearest the farm next door.

Great.

I guess i should take the positive out of it, after a lot of perseverence we DID manage to walk nicely along that side - but it wasn't relaxed and boy did he fight to not go there at the start!

Tomorrow is another day. I'm just gutted as i really felt I made progress last night.

Thursday, 2 July 2009

Flying solo!

So, it's been a really good week. He's really enjoying his long reining and we are now venturing out of the arena to explore the fields etc, and he's very good at the leading work now.

I've moved the mounting block work on gradually this week as he's settling really nicely, he has no issue at all standing by it, or with me on the block. I have found that if I stand on the block and then pick up the reins, he still tenses a little, but if I pick up the reins and THEN step up on to the block he has no problem at all. So we've picked the option he prefers for now and I'll revisit the other later.

So as he's relaxed so much, I have been getting on and having a sit on him each nigh, he doesn't seem to mind too much. The first couple of times he went all squirmy and was sticking his tongue out and fake yawning, but did settle, and after the first few times he's been fine.

I've been led around in a circle on him a few times, and then last night i asked him to walk away from the leader whilst still on the lunge line. He did this with no problems, and after a few laps he let out a lovely big nose wobbling sigh - so called it a day there and gave him treats!

Tonight I had no help, unfortunately, but I was feeling adventurous so did some mounting block work on my own, and then hopped on, and then we walked around the arena! On our own!

He walked on a long rein with nice relaxed ears. We even managed to walk out of the arena and do a lap of the stable block before calling it a day....reeeeally pleased with him!

Snip's Story