Just spoke with S.I. he said Grace is doing well. Also found no evidence of any pain. He is going to work with us and the horse, Teaching us to properly take care of horses and ride them.
Gypsy is a 4 year old Missouri foxtrotter paint in color. We adopted her from Giddy Up horse rescue in cleavland mo. We got her for a friend for grace.
things are looking up for our horses. We are looking forward to being good horsy people.
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I was following this thread also so thank you for the update. Iâm so glad that you are getting some good help with this horse. Horses can indeed be very challenging animals at times. No matter how well things go, you may need to be prepared for the fact that this mare may not be a suitable match for you and your family. The trainerâs explanation is a reasonable one, but doesnât make the behavior any less dangerous. Most horses just get pushy or rude when they start feeling too dominantâthey donât start charging people and biting people in the face.
The behaviors you describe donât sound compatible with an enjoyable family horse, even with training. I would have a very dim view of any horse that bit me or a family member in the face under any circumstances. I also think that it is a bit of a red flag that the previous owner had not ridden the horse for more than a year.
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I am glad to read things are progressing for Grace and you. Thanks for the details on Gypsy, that is not the same horse I was thinking of.
Edited to add, I agree with what BeeHoney said, 10000 times!!!
I really, really hope that you either have,or will soon, GET A VETERINARIAN TO THOROUGHLY EXAMINE GRACE! (That will probably mean xrays to rule out a disorder called âkissing spinesâ which is very painful for the horse, and ultrasound to check for ovarian cysts or tumors.) The fact that you have not yet mentioned that you have had that done is a warning, red flag to those of us who are trying to help you, that you might be doing a âpenny wise pound foolishâ cost-cutting move by not having it done. I hope I am wrong, and that you really have scheduled Veterinary workup, but your not mentioning it is worrisome.
If you do not get that done, Grace is a âticking time bombâ that can become dangerous at any time, due to underlying pain. I used caps to âshoutâ on purpose, because this is a truly important issue, both for the horseâs welfare and for your and your familyâs safetyâŠNo amount of âtrainingâ will make a difference if a horse becomes so crazed by pain that it lashes out unexpectedly. If it is kissing spines, that will cause trouble under saddle, and remembered pain can cause aggression. If it is ovarian problems, that will wax and wane with the estrus cycle. Please, for your own familyâs safety, please have a Veterinarian rule out physical problems.
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So glad to hear you are getting the professional help you need. In my opinion, the person who sold you that mare is a jerk. I would NEVER consider selling a horse with such dangerous propensities to a first-timer! OMG - you are fortunate that you received good advice here and that you are now getting help with her. Keep up the good work and enjoy the journey!
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