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23 Posts
Hey there guys.
Has anyone ever had a one-person horse? A horse that no matter how great they are for you, the second another human enters the mix they absolutely go to pieces?
I have such a horse. She's a 16 year old arabian mare that I've owned for the past seven years. Rosie is seriously my best friend and the inspiration behind how I handle horses now. When I found her she was a victim of ignorance. She had gone through multiple owners (from what her papers indicated) and had been shipped all over the mid-atlantic/southeast. Along the way she suffered what I've come to believe was severe ear-twitching, or maybe she was just hit around a lot. Anyway, when she came to me she was what my trainer at the time called a "hot mess." With any slight movement towards her she would rear, strike out, pull back, etc etc.
Now, after years of patience, love, and "horsey-rehabilitation" she is perfect (considering all things). I trust her completely and I believe she trusts me, too.
The one problem is she will not trust anyone else. To this day, she regards all other people with anything from anxiety (jigging and blowing) to outright terror. The only people she allows to touch her are my mother, my neice (who is almost 2), and one of my close friends. My vet, farrier, trainers, and parents have deemed her a said "one person horse," but they always say it with mild distaste.
In a weird way I feel like I've done something wrong. I wonder if since she trusts me this much, shouldn't she trust me to take care of her when other's are around? Should I have done/be doing something different?
I'm taking her to a Bill Scott horsemanship clinic in a week or so and am hoping he can shed some light on the issue. In the meantime, are there any things I can do to maybe desensitize or acclimate her to others?
Sorry for the novel, ya'll. Any advice, tips, personal experiences, etc etc are greatly appreciated.
Thanks and have a great night!
Has anyone ever had a one-person horse? A horse that no matter how great they are for you, the second another human enters the mix they absolutely go to pieces?
I have such a horse. She's a 16 year old arabian mare that I've owned for the past seven years. Rosie is seriously my best friend and the inspiration behind how I handle horses now. When I found her she was a victim of ignorance. She had gone through multiple owners (from what her papers indicated) and had been shipped all over the mid-atlantic/southeast. Along the way she suffered what I've come to believe was severe ear-twitching, or maybe she was just hit around a lot. Anyway, when she came to me she was what my trainer at the time called a "hot mess." With any slight movement towards her she would rear, strike out, pull back, etc etc.
Now, after years of patience, love, and "horsey-rehabilitation" she is perfect (considering all things). I trust her completely and I believe she trusts me, too.
The one problem is she will not trust anyone else. To this day, she regards all other people with anything from anxiety (jigging and blowing) to outright terror. The only people she allows to touch her are my mother, my neice (who is almost 2), and one of my close friends. My vet, farrier, trainers, and parents have deemed her a said "one person horse," but they always say it with mild distaste.
In a weird way I feel like I've done something wrong. I wonder if since she trusts me this much, shouldn't she trust me to take care of her when other's are around? Should I have done/be doing something different?
I'm taking her to a Bill Scott horsemanship clinic in a week or so and am hoping he can shed some light on the issue. In the meantime, are there any things I can do to maybe desensitize or acclimate her to others?
Sorry for the novel, ya'll. Any advice, tips, personal experiences, etc etc are greatly appreciated.
Thanks and have a great night!