Alright anna!!!
More pictures!!!
Good for you for conquring your fear!!!
Your horse is adorable!!!
Jogging with the horse?
We have a problem now, and I do not know which would be the best way to sort it out.
Puika is a big baby, very uniexperienced with the outside world and he is feeling very shy to leave his usual territory.
So there are two ways to convince him go - to slap his bum, just with hand but quite hard to FORCE him to go - or - and it is my job - to walk or run a bit in front of him and then he follows like a puppy.
OK, it is great that he loves me now and trust me, but here is some danger to this as well - today when I took him from pastures, he was so happy to see me so he decided that WE can run a bit for fun. He was not bad, he just wanted to run with me like two friends would do. But I’m nearly 50 and not fit enough!
Of course, after few hunderd metres of happy trotting with me hanging on his lead I gave up and needed to let him go (he was just on halter so my jerking he just happily ignored). He was like carrying me - not shaking his head to get me off, he was so proud and careful with me, but still - trotting. I had not feel any panicking or fear - it was not like that at all, but still - not right. He run down to the farm, spotted that I’m not following and such in a happy way run back to me like “common, come with me”. He really tried to convince me for happy game in the pastures! He let me take his lead and tried to drag me with him again. I let him go again. He runs down and comes back - like “mum, please, lets play!” I gave up, took out a treat (a big nip), and led him in the stable when he was happy chewing his treat.
Later we took him out for a ride and again, he wants me WITH him. He follows step by step. It is great feeling, do not get me wrong, but if it is turning into playing with 2000 lb “baby” I can be hurt, no shadow about that.
So I need your advices what to do in this situation. What would be right from trainer opinion:
- to get more sharp with him and use our power by even slapping him to do the job without any “mummy, do not leave me”?
or
2)let him be a baby and hope that he will build his confidence up enough to go without me on the road?
I like to brush him at morning, I like putting lavander oil on his mane to keep flies away, I love him more every day and I’m happy that he loves me, but physically I am not able to be his beloved playmate.
When is the new horse coming? I think a big part of this is that he is lonely and in absence of a horse buddy has latched on to you for company! You are right of course, you shouldn’t be his playmate! Be firm, be consistent, he has already proven to be very trainable, so once he understands the behavior is not wanted he should quit!
I do think it is time for him to get a more appropriate playmate! 
When is the new horse coming? I think a big part of this is that he is lonely and in absence of a horse buddy has latched on to you for company! You are right of course, you shouldn’t be his playmate! Be firm, be consistent, he has already proven to be very trainable, so once he understands the behavior is not wanted he should quit!
I do think it is time for him to get a more appropriate playmate!
The playmate will arrive on 4 or 5th May, but there will be a month until I will let them meet as she is coming from public stable with many horses and she can bring so many horse bugs that Puika has no resistance at all. So Shella will be here soon, but the meeting of the lovebirds will take another month or at least 2 weeks as a minimum for quarantine.
You might need to put a chain over his nose for a while when you lead him. It gives you a little extra whoa. If he’s not going forward while he’s being ridden, his rider might need to carry a whip. Often if the horse just knows it’s there it can work wonders. Unfortunately babying him won’t always work, and more importantly he won’t learn from it and get braver. I do agree that when you get the other horse, if she is experienced, it might be very good for him to follow her when you ride out.
omg…I just took most of my Sunday to read this, as I felt it read like a book…Anna, you have no idea how much impact this has on us in the US. I may start writing my book tonight…
He is GORGIOUS!!! You have done a great job in learning and taking your time with him. I am just totally enthralled in this and can’t wait to see how he looks in the summer with his coat all shedded out. Keep working as hard as you have, and welcome to the horse world!!! 
Visited Shella today. It was a quick meeting, not riding, just a bit getting used to each other so when she will arrive, she will know me - at least something to feel better, I hope.
Today she was breathing much better, only few coughs when we were walking around.
I really hope that Puika will like her!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/28-04-08/PICT3045.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/28-04-08/PICT3044.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/28-04-08/PICT3043.jpg
Visited Shella today. It was a quick meeting, not riding, just a bit getting used to each other so when she will arrive, she will know me - at least something to feel better, I hope.
Today she was breathing much better, only few coughs when we were walking around.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/28-04-08/PICT3045.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/28-04-08/PICT3044.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/28-04-08/PICT3043.jpg
Wow Anna…I can hardly keep the tears from my eyes looking at the pictures of Peter riding and you up on him as well!!
You are so inspirational from across the miles, thank you once again for sharing this incredible learning experience with us!
And now a new addition Shella is coming home to you soon what an amazing addition to this continuing saga!!
You and Peter are heros in ever sense of the word. :yes:
Oh, thank you for compliments! What i really regrett is that Peter being such poor photographer did not made that historical picture of me TROTTING for the first time in my life, and - on Puika! I bet it was something! I would like to put it here - we sometimes here are too serious, and it would be a good laugh!
First time on him, he was so happy about that he went stright into the trott down the road, i hardly stopped him at the crossroad. Of course, at the first trotting in my life, my rythm was ridiculous (it has not been improved since then, i must admit), good job that I have strong bottom.
OK, it was funny part, but i’m so full of serious questions that needs to be answered now, so I’m digging and learning like mad, and my poor job duties has been put aside until Shella will be here and well settled in.
How will Puika react? Will they settle in quickly or it will take forever?
For example - her owner had said that her heat is just over. Great. When the next? Next year about the same time or when? When and what I must watch out? I’m such an idiot! For dogs I know it all
If she is breathing heavy with diaphragm, how tight I can put the girth on? Or better ride her only bareback? And so on and on and on…
I need thinking about such simple questions like to let Puika out tomorrow or not? It is promised some thunders, some rain tomorrow. He does not like thunders, so I went across the yard to neighbors to discuss what to do if it is just raining and no thunders?
And then we were calculating how much hay we shall need next year for both horses - we worked out about 600 square bales and about the same amount of nips. Is it right? I’m so unsure about such a simple things! Can we give them hay from red clover if she has heaves? (we have plenty of red clover around here). How about silage? But if we get one large round bale of silo, will they will be able to finish it until it will be gone?
From the other side, he is such a wonderful headache, and the other great thing about having a horse - I have lost at least 10 lb now! Horse diet is the best!
And again - this is such a great source of information! Thank you all for being so patient with me and my silly questions! You really are the best!
Anna, my dear, I’m so glad you’ve found another horse for yourself and Puika.
But, and I mean this in all love and caring, tis time for you and your beloved husband to get helmets. Puika is big and he’s still gonna have “moments.” I’d hate to hear that either of you suffered a concussion. Granted, no item can protect you from all injury, but this is one that can…Especially since you’re more of a beginner rider than Peter.
If you need help acquiring some that are both reasonably priced, comfortable and, yet, fashionable, just lemme know
Yes - helmets need to be next!
umm, about the mare’s heats… it is not once a year, more like once a month during the spring and summer. The two of them may get very attached to each other and be upset if you take one out for a ride without the other, especially when she is in heat. I don’t really like to keep mares, because of their constant cycles of heat being disruptive to the geldings, but many people who have them have no trouble at all. Because you have only one gelding, you will not have to worry about fights over the mare.
Does Shella have heaves? or could she be a roarer? Heaves are usually from an allergen, and unfortunately clover hay is often too dusty for a horse with dust alergies. Some horses are alergic to a specific type of hay. We had a horse that was alergic to grass hay, but could eat alfalfa with no problem. He had been on a lot of drugs, and we changed him to all alfalfa, and ne did not need any more medicines. Other horses have been alergic to ALL kind of hay. For those, we used buckets of soaked beet pulp to replace all of the hay.
Mares in general cycle every 21 days. They are out of heat for about 16 days, then in for about 5. They do this from early spring thru late fall. Many times when you put a gelding and a mare together they will show heat and interest at first, but after months, treat each other more like brother and sister. Having just the 2 together, they will likely become very attached, and you may have difficulty taking just one out for a ride. They will learn to cope if you insist, and do it regularly.
If you are having trouble with control during leading, you may need to begin to use something stronger. I use a chain over the nose, but you will need to get some help from a trainer to use one properly. Sometimes crossing the leadrope over the nose will give you more respect.
Once a month! OMG! Hope our gelding will not think that he is a stallion! Then we shall have a funny summer, indeed. No, no more horses here around, nearest ones are 3 miles away, and i do not know if there are stallions.
Taking them both out for riding would be not a problem as we already go out both for every ride - for safety reason so if something happens the instant help is awailable. Also Puika likes me on ground and ride better if he has me around (big baby!).
As mare is very well trained and very obedient, I do hope that she will take over Puika, will be dominant one and Puika will obey and follow her. But it is just my hopes!
To keep him under control, I returned back to bridle with bite. I know, it is silly to take him just home from pastures with bite, but if it gives me that needed control and safety, I will do it again and again, untill he will become more persistant in basic obedience. But he already has done a great progress - at the beginning it was a hard battle each time to get him back in stables, now he is going obediently most of the time, without circling him around again and again until he gives up. Now he is NEARLY as good as any other well trained horse. And I can do it by myself, my confidence is good enough, and now i can easy tell him off, get him step back and all other respect things.
And yes, helmets are first on the list! Before new bridles and anything else. Peter already had few dozens of concussions, so he really does not need more. As I’m getting older, safety becomes more and more important thing.
P.S. Shella’s heaves are stable as far as I know. Damages are serious, it has not started as allergy, and then gradually like her current condition, she got it after pneumonia 4 years ago, and since then she is in stable condition, had a foal, and was used at the riding school. She has bad days, good days, and in general all treatments for heaves help a bit - watering hay, outside 24/7 (it will be my most complicated task here with our terrible and unstable winter weather) and others, but not real hopes that lungs can recover.
Congratulations, Anna, on your first ride with Puika!! Best feeling in the world, isn’t it?
FHC!
You really confused me. After your question Does Shella have heaves? Or could she be a roarer? I posted the answer and then started to think, and research… And you know – as far as I found on internet – she COULD BE a roarer – I read that it could happen after pneumonia. And it might be treated with surgery!
OK, OK, I need calm down now, but there is a slight possibility that local vet had no clue and the top horse vet who saw her 4 years ago and wrote her down just decided that such option is not worth it as she would be not a sport horse anyway.
So I do not know anything now, but at least I see another possibility here than just heaves. Oh, FHC! Your question just opened an avalanche. If her condition might be improved by surgery… !!! You will be Shella’s guardian angel!
We shall let her settle down and then – another vet will be found to work out what exactly she has. It is for sure. Thank you for asking me!
Roaring! Of course! That may very well be it! (bowing to FHC :D)
Wow that would be exciting if she could be helped with surgery!
oops-- Sorry! I’m not helping you calm down Anna am I? :winkgrin:
No, pegasus209, you are not! But let’s see - I will study as much as I can and watch her conditions closely so probably in autumn we shall be able to call a serious vet for another opinion. And the horse hospital is just an hour away from here (OK, more, with a horse trailer, but I had been told that she is very good in trailer as well).
Oh, if only that will be a possibility!
