I could use a little white healing light at the moment if you've any to spare...

[magical thyme]

Until tonight, Dahli has been a star. I just bragged the other day at work how there isn't a psycho bone in her body. She's quiet and workmanlike about tacking up and not taken one step out of place under saddle.

Yesterday, I almost didn't ride because I hadn't slept well the night before. But I went ahead, with no particular goal in mind. She was a bit fussy, pushing my buttons and in my weariness, let myself get into a bit of a "wrestling match" with her. I got out of it by sending her forward into a big trot, which she happily flew across the diagonal. Then, just as I was about to slow her down a bit to help with the corner, she broke to her first canter. I went straight into a "half-seat" (low gallop/jump position with butt out of saddle) so as not to disturb her back. She cantered several strides and then came back to a trot. Her canter was lovely -- fluid, elastic, easy-peasy. I set her up the same way across the diagonal and this time asked for the canter. A couple taps and she got it! Again, fluid, elastic, easy-peasy. Each time she rounded herself into excellent carriage. The second time so much I got worried she might buck, but she didn't. She seemed happy. I got off and made much of her all the way back to the barn, and some more in the barn.

This afternoon, I again almost didn't ride due to not enough sleep (Jake fell out of bed at 2:30 am!) and being busy all morning. But I decided to go ahead, again with no plan in mind. I try to take each day as it comes and adapt according to Dahli's current state. She started out fabulous. Stretched herself round and sneezed into the bit (my first teacher, who went on to be a successful Olympic coach, used to say "when they sneeze, they're thanking you!&quot , easy-peasy, forward and seemed happy. So I decided to set her up and ask for a canter. The first time we missed. No big deal. I just rode around a couple more minutes, back to walk, back to trot, and set it up again.

And then I asked for it again, with a firmer tap and a clear "Canter" voice aid. And she turned total bronc. This was not a happy, "isn't this fun" couple of little bucks. This was serious, "you are OFF my back," bronc-busting type bucking. I was able to stay on for half a dozen plus huge bucks and then she got me off. Unfortunately, my helmet was not strapped tightly enough and it fell off. The brunt of the landing was on my right hip and thigh, which are now quite sore. I was too stiff and muscles to strained right from the get-go to even think of getting back on. I also had banged my head (lightly) when I landed, so had a touch of headache and was a little worried, but that dissipated within a couple minutes and my vision, balance, coordination, etc. remained fine throughout.

So I put her on the longe and gave her a long hard gallop in each direction, cooled her down and put her away. No carrots. No grain. No fussing. It was now getting too dark to think of getting back on, and I'm still quite stiff and sore.

I have lost my trust in her and myself/my judgement. Not my riding; this was serious, serious broncing without broncing gear, only my balance to keep me aboard. I never saw this coming. The closest thing to warning was when she started to curl up at the canter yesterday, but she didn't even start a little buck. Just a lovely rocking horse canter, and she seemed happy. What makes me so sad and worried was that she clearly was determined to get me off, no ifs, ands, or buts.

So I need some healing light, especially for my right hip and thigh (nothing broken, just bruised and strained muscle and joint) and for my relationship with Dahli.

[magical thyme]

1. Ah...where I went wrong. The answer came while I was showering.

There are 2 types of arabs: hi energy and low energy. Dahli is a "hi energy" arab. Since we started our serious under saddle training, since before actually, I've made a point every week to 10 days of giving her a good gallop to burn off the excess. It's been on the longe, over small jumps once she started jumping, or just having a good run. I've been longing to eventually get her to a trail where we can have a good, exhilarating run. Constant ring work builds frustration in high energy horses.

I just realize that between the weather and my work schedule for the past 3 weeks....I have been remiss. She didn't get that excess energy burned off. That's why she was fussy yesterday too. She was just getting too wound up.

I need to keep a calendar. Can't afford a mistake like that again...

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Glad this came to you.

I didn't understand what you were talking about since I don't understand horse lingo, but knew you were very, very upset.

Hopefully you feel better now, on all levels.

[PADemD]

2. sending Reiki

[Tumbulu]

3. So sorry to read this

Oh I know all about fear of riding....I get an A+ in it......

My thoughts....do you lunge her before you ride her? To check out her mood?

Can you get one of those eventer's vests to wear to protect your back and ribs a bit in the event that you are thrown again? I got one- my friend was riding her bombproof horse when the horse tripped and fell and she fell and broke her ribs. Being over 50 one needs to have a bit more protection.

Sending hugs and healing thoughts and most of all prayers for courage and belief in your capacity to read the signs of your mare and respond to them appropriately.

Also, do you take glucosamine? It really helps me with these things and of course arnica.

[magical thyme]

4. normally I lunge her before riding.

It figures tonight I didn't. She's been so easy and quiet on the lunge lately, and I was short of time. I had gotten on once before without lunging and she acted a little surprised and "cold-backed" for a couple steps. So I decided to check out to see if she is over that now that she has a couple months under saddle, to help decide if it was a physical or psychological reaction. She was totally relaxed and easy-peasy from the instant I mounted until the instant she erupted.

I saw those vests when I was last down at the big horse store. I'm heading down there again to pick up more sea jerky for Jake's hips, so will pick one up then. B-day present for moi! Yup, over 50 we break much easier. Glad I'm only bruised, not broken this time.

Hmmmm....I forgot about glucosamine and arnica. I may have some laying around still, although it's probably outdated. I used to grow arnica as well, but it got overrun by the lemon balm

I'm reminding myself right now that Dahli doesn't totally understand the implications of dumping her ol' lady. So far, she's learned it got her a tough workout and no carrots or grain. Hopefully after that sinks in for a couple days, she'll have a come to Jesus moment and decide she prefers having me happy then lying on the ground cussing and crying.

[LWolf]

5. It's yours.

I wonder what set her off...if she was reacting to a firmer cue, ior if there was something else in the environment, or pain on her part that the movement set off, or?

Healing for your bruised trust as well as your body.

[magical thyme]

6. I check her for any signs of soreness when I groom before I tack up...

There was no sign of it anywhere either grooming, or while I was riding. She was loose and easy, relaxed, sneezing down into the bridle. And afterwards when I longed her, she looked fine. Galloped easily in both directions, both leads, and trotted out easily and even both directions as well.

There had been some 4-wheelers in the woods a little earlier which spooked her, but they were gone by the time we got to the arena and I didn't hear or see anything. Usually if she gets spooked by something, she'll turn and stare at it, or stop and stare. Not go off half-cocked.

I'm not sure what set her off other than my asking for a canter, but the one thing I am sure of is she intended to dump me. That's what makes me sad. I thought she enjoyed our canters yesterday. I only tried again today because I thought she would enjoy it again.... Instead, she looked very pleased with herself after I was on the ground.

The only thing I can think of is the energy buildup from the extra feed in her diet. The only time she has been rebellious and aggressive in the years I've had her was when I accidentally overfed her. On a hay/pasture (with grazing muzzle) only diet she is peaceful and stays in good weight. I added in the feed because she'd lost a little more weight than I liked over the summer. Usually they lose a little in July due to the flies, but gain it back in August when the worst of the flies disappear. This summer, instead of our normal cooler, dry August, the weather continued very hot and very humid, with a lot of flies, so she continued losing weight instead of gaining it back. I started her on a tiny bit of feed in September and her weight stabilized until her winter coat started coming in and she started losing a little again. So I upped the feed. She didn't look ribby, but had no fat over her ribs so I could feel them a little too easily. And now that the nighttime temps are going into the 30s, the grass is higher in sugar as well.

It's hard to gauge her weight at this point -- I can't tell if there is a bit of fat again on her ribs or if it's only fur. But this afternoon's personality was back to her bratty, obnoxious fat years again, so I'm thinking the covering on her ribs is fat, not fur.

[LWolf]

9. That sounds like the culprit to me.

All of my horses over the years reacted to richer feed by becoming full of themselves, so to speak.

My senior mare is now retired, but she, while never defiant in any way, was always "hot." Even on grass hay only, she needed 50 - 75 miles a week to have a ride without dancing, prancing, twitching, etc.. To keep weight on her, I used this:



I hope you and she get back on track soon.

[magical thyme]

11. I'll have to check out the Cool Calories next time I get to the "big" horse store

Which will be fairly soon. Hopefully they'll either carry it or will order it.

Thanks!

[southerncrone]

7. Don't understand all the horsey lingo, but

I'll be happy to send you some healing light for that hip & thigh!

[Howler]

10. Sending

To both you and Dahli.

[yellerpup]

12. Healing light.

For aches and for bonding.