Please help

Good for you for sticking with this, Wish – you know when you come here, the advice can be brutal, and it is hard to communicate with people who are very experienced and quite opinionated.

There’s a bit of bullying going on here that isn’t fair to a 15 year old girl, and I include myself in that. Come on folks, let’s lighten up. I agree, the fistulous withers are a concern, but she’s had the vet out and is giving the horse rest.

Wish, the vet will be your best advice on when you can ride again. Have him come out and recheck. Just brush your horse, spend time with her, and you will get the bond you desire.

[QUOTE=Ambitious Kate;7961578]
Ok, usually I wouldn’t argue with this kind of ignorance but OP, there isn’t a “part of the world” relationship to the terms people use for a fistula. Anywhere in the world, a fistula is not a “swelling”, Its an abcess - an abcess is often not swollen. Its a huge pocket full of pus. The only time it “swells” is when the pocket of pus is so big it is going to burst out of the skin. Calling it a swelling is minimizing the seriousness of this injury.

It was caused by a pooly fitting saddle. I have never ever seen a horse have a fistula on the withers from anything except a poorly fitted saddle. Its rare that a fistula would form for other reasons, so I hope your horse, which has a severe problem, is going to be alright, and your saddle will be fitted to her correctly. Forget it.[/QUOTE]

well she’s going to be alright :slight_smile: no doubt about that!! and maybe it was caused by a poorfitted saddle.but another reason that fistulas form is if they are ridden long and hard and/or suddenly ridden out of the blue for a longer time…which would more have likely been the case,as the trainer wasnt able to ride her much during the summer,then probably started riding her once she decided to sell her…and I’m not pinning the blame on anyone tho.Its not my place. :slight_smile: we only wish we knew wat happened and how…

[QUOTE=Kwill;7961604]
Good for you for sticking with this, Wish – you know when you come here, the advice can be brutal, and it is hard to communicate with people who are very experienced and quite opinionated.

There’s a bit of bullying going on here that isn’t fair to a 15 year old girl, and I include myself in that. Come on folks, let’s lighten up. I agree, the fistulous withers are a concern, but she’s had the vet out and is giving the horse rest.

Wish, the vet will be your best advice on when you can ride again. Have him come out and recheck. Just brush your horse, spend time with her, and you will get the bond you desire.[/QUOTE]

thank you for your advice… i will brush her and spend lots of time with her,thanks :slight_smile: I did kinda figure that would happen;but thats fine!at least i know you guys arent pushovers!! :slight_smile: i like to see people that stick with their opinions…:slight_smile: I am not near as experienced as some of the ppl on here.Thanks for your advice…I’m learning!:slight_smile:

[QUOTE=meupatdoes;7961599]
You’ve ridden her …twice.

In two years.

ETA:
Wait, hang on, I just realized OP has not just one, but two horses.

My favorite thing in the WORLD is when people have “no money for training” because they have so many horses they can’t provide a proper situation for any of them.

I could have 10 horses for the price of one if I kept them all in a muddy field with a barb wire fence and 2 flakes of extra hay per day and never put shoes on and didn’t bother with saddle fit or providing them proper training or educating myself.[/QUOTE]

hahahahha no non no!!thats my OTHER horse!!!:slight_smile: the one that has fistulous withers,THATS the one I’m talking about that is the new horse!however,cowgirl is my good old 8 yr old QH!!the one i’ve had for two years!!I just got the one wiht fistulous withers…

[QUOTE=Kwill;7961549]
Seriously, please investigate why those withers got swollen. There will be a cause.[/QUOTE]

yes but i have no way!we’ve asked the lady over and over again,and trust me,I’ve looked :frowning: the vet did say that it could’ve been as simple as rolling on a rock,or getting kicked when they were establishing the pecking order.

If there is no money for training is there money for a vet emergency?

[QUOTE=meupatdoes;7961551]
Really?
No money, no transportation, no training program, unsupportive parents, unwillingness to get job, horse’s withers explode in pus.

What exactly is your horse getting out of this situation?

The number one creator of confidence is skill (which you do not have).
The number one creator of skill is training (which you will not get).
And round and round we go.

Amazingly, some people wait until they have a job that can support a horse FIRST before they go and get one. If other elements of your life are uncertain or unsupportive then wait until you are in a better situation.
What a concept.[/QUOTE]

well…i have had experiences…which you learn from…which gives you skill…which gives you confidence…seriously,not everyone has to have a trainer to be the top…or to own a horse…how do you think my dad learned to ride and me when i was a lil kid?

[QUOTE=Jealoushe;7961619]
If there is no money for training is there money for a vet emergency?[/QUOTE]

well that would be necessary then!!my parents dont think that training is necessary…however they would think an emergency is due call for putting money into tho

I’d sell all the horses and get a job. Then when you have money and transportation you can go be a working student somewhere.

[QUOTE=Wish_Upon_a_Star2000;7961623]
well…i have had experiences…which you learn from…which gives you skill…which gives you confidence…seriously,not everyone has to have a trainer to be the top…or to own a horse…how do you think my dad learned to ride and me when i was a lil kid?[/QUOTE]

Your results are a horse with a fistulous wither that you are scared to ride.
How much confidence are these learning experiences giving you again?

You are the one posting that you are scared of your horse, not me.

[QUOTE=Ambitious Kate;7961578]
Ok, usually I wouldn’t argue with this kind of ignorance but OP, there isn’t a “part of the world” relationship to the terms people use for a fistula. Anywhere in the world, a fistula is not a “swelling”, Its an abcess - an abcess is often not swollen. Its a huge pocket full of pus. The only time it “swells” is when the pocket of pus is so big it is going to burst out of the skin. Calling it a swelling is minimizing the seriousness of this injury.

It was caused by a pooly fitting saddle. I have never ever seen a horse have a fistula on the withers from anything except a poorly fitted saddle. Its rare that a fistula would form for other reasons, so I hope your horse, which has a severe problem, is going to be alright, and your saddle will be fitted to her correctly. Forget it.[/QUOTE]

yah it isnt the saddle! :slight_smile: just cuz i’m a country kid thats used to having to make do with what i have does NOT mean i’m a dummy!! :slight_smile:

Something to explain to your parents, maybe, is that you train a horse every time you ride it… or you untrain it.
An inexperienced rider on a greener horse, or a horse who hasn’t been ridden in a while will regress, not progress.

The only thing more expensive than lessons is a horse that is no longer use-able [because you’re afraid to ride it] or sell-able because it’s lost training/ride-ability.

[QUOTE=Wish_Upon_a_Star2000;7961555]
@SusieQ Nutter- what does a bike have to do with this I am wondering? :slight_smile: I havent been looking for excuses…in case you didnt read my thread,I’m looking for help! :smiley: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: and her saddle does fit, (its a western saddle,easier to fit) and the lady we got her from (who is an honorable trainer!) said she doesnt have a problem with saddles.why is it life threatening?..all im doing is asking for confidence advice…I’m fine as far as groundwork…I let her know my limits,she respects them…I’m also trying to find more exercises=)any advice?[/QUOTE]

The bike gives you independence and freedom to earn money, to muck out at a riding centre, to get to peoples houses to look after gardens or walk dogs.

Your bike is your transport until you are old enough to own a car.

You may have to find ways to earn money to get your own bike, although I work at an op shop and have seen them go for $10.00.

It sounds like you should also be saving for a car for when you are old enough. Take life by the horns and don’t let your parents hold you back.

I delivered pamphlets to buy a bike and my first horse.

Fistulous withers have tubulas under the skin which can be very very deep. If bad it is not a quick easy fix. I am so sorry.

Your problem is a lot more than your confidence with the horse. It is the I can’t get a trainer. I can’t get a job. I can’t. … I can’t. … i can’t. …

[QUOTE=meupatdoes;7961628]
Your results are a horse with a fistulous wither that you are scared to ride.
How much confidence are these learning experiences giving you again?

You are the one posting that you are scared of your horse, not me.[/QUOTE]

OK…?the reason I am “scared” (if u can even call it that???) to ride her is i dont want to hurt her more!!! :slight_smile: I guess I have to learn from this experience huh?:wink: i never had a fistulous horse before,guess thats why I dont want to hurt her???

[QUOTE=Angela Freda;7961631]
Something to explain to your parents, maybe, is that you train a horse every time you ride it… or you untrain it.
An inexperienced rider on a greener horse, or a horse who hasn’t been ridden in a while will regress, not progress.

The only thing more expensive than lessons is a horse that is no longer use-able [because you’re afraid to ride it] or sell-able because it’s lost training/ride-ability.[/QUOTE]

yeah i know you train ur horse every time you ride it! :slight_smile: I dont see how I could untrain it tho…and she’s certainly not green broke! :)and she’s not un-usable either :slight_smile: for now i cant ride her

[QUOTE=Mosey_2003;7961626]
I’d sell all the horses and get a job. Then when you have money and transportation you can go be a working student somewhere.[/QUOTE]

I’m still not allowed tho!Why would i sell my horses…? they are my life just about! To me,there is nothing better than seeing them at the end of the day

someone needs to explain to your parents that regular training is a part of owning a horse. it is not optional.

if you and your horse are not improving as a team, then you are getting worse. and if your confidence is eroding (very common when you don’t ride regularly–we all have experienced that, i’m sure), then so is your horse’s.

what is the result of that?

an accident. maybe a serious accident.

what is the antidote?

lessons. regular lessons with a good teacher that helps you and your horse be a team and feel confident together.

ask your parents to think about what a trip to the emergency room costs. then ask them if they think that is cheaper than riding lessons.

[QUOTE=Wish_Upon_a_Star2000;7961215]
All my friends horses are easy-going,and yet I feel uncomfortable on any horse that isnt mine!I feel uncomfortable and not-so-confident on any one else’s horses…!!Does anyone have any advice to help me with that??[/QUOTE]

The only advice I have for you is to become a better rider. The more confident you are in your riding ability, the more confident you’re going to feel when you get on strange horses. If I’ve understood you correctly, you do have another horse that you can ride while your new horse is recovering, so get out there and ride her. Ride her as often and in as many ways as you can. Ride every day, even if you’ve only got time for 15 minutes in the saddle or a 5 minute bareback ride around the pen. Ride.

You say lessons are out. OK, fine, then get some good books. Get some good magazines. Study the pictures. Get someone to video you while riding. Everybody has a cell phone that takes videos these days. Watch the video. Compare what you see with the book and magazine pictures and videos of good riders you can find online. How do you compare? What are you doing differently? What do you need to do to look more like those pictures and videos?

Editing to add:

I’m going to, well, not disagree with the standard COTH wisdom, but offer an alternative viewpoint. The best way to learn to ride is by taking lessons. The only way to become a polished rider with good technique is to take lessons. Everyone who wants to ride seriously ought to take riding lessons.

However, a lot of people grew up riding wild ponies and old horses in the pasture with little opportunity to take riding lessons. I was lucky enough to have parents that could afford riding lessons. But I rode at home with lots of kids who had no interest in formal lessons or the ability to get them even if they were interested. Were they pretty riders? No. Could I have kicked their butts in a show ring? Sure, five ways from Sunday.

But did we all ride wild through the countryside together? You betcha. Did they mistreat or cause physical harm to their ponies or themselves in the process? No, no more than I did.

I was in 4-H with a young man whose parents were kind of like the OP’s. They bought him a horse, for Pete’s sake, what more did he want? But, he was really serious about learning to ride well. He was like a sponge, soaking up information and never missed an opportunity to participate in 4-H clinics and work days. He remained a little rough around the edges (wouldn’t have won an equitation class on his best day), but he was a lovely, soft rider and his horse was just a gem (my first ever extended trot was on his horse).

[QUOTE=Wish_Upon_a_Star2000;7961646]
I’m still not allowed tho!Why would i sell my horses…?they dont cost money :slight_smile: and they are my life just about! To me,there is nothing better than seeing them at the end of the day[/QUOTE]
You said you were allowed to work in a store you don’t like. I would take the opportunity anyway.

And they don’t cost money? Your whole series of posts revolves around how they cost your parents money, thus they don’t want to pay for you to take lessons. They cost money every day, even if you don’t see it. Feed, fence, using the tractor to move manure, this all costs money.

[QUOTE=Wish_Upon_a_Star2000;7961646]
I’m still not allowed tho!Why would i sell my horses…?they dont cost money :slight_smile: and they are my life just about! To me,there is nothing better than seeing them at the end of the day[/QUOTE]

You aren’t allowed except magically in March when training is allowed.

They don’t cost money? Really? Was the fisula wither call free then?

They are your life but not enough your life to get a job.

At some point you are going to expect this horse to literally carry you around and work for you.

You should ask yourself what you have done to earn it from her.