First of all, do you remember me? Elizabeth Cappon. I rode at West Gait with Dion, and my friend Colette rode your guy Shorty for a while. I moved to the Sacramento CA area 10 years ago. I still keep up with Mary Jo and Colette and Deb Venor etc. Anyway, I stumbled upon your blog about Nina, and for two days, I have been hooked! Started at the beginning, and just now got up to the last entry. I feel your pain with this mare! 18 months ago, I was given an unbroke, 5.5 year old Hanovarian/TB cross mare as a project. If I could get her going, I could have her. She had slipped through the cracks at her breeders' and never really got started. She is small, that's part of it, no one was that interested in a 15.2 mare. I am 5 foot 1 inch, so she's perfect for me. We also free jumped her when she first came, before I made the decision to keep her. Sent her through a chute, built the out jump to 3.9, she was adorable and I pictured a saddle, bridle and me on her back over that jump and said "yes." While never abused, she spent her whole life in a pasture, lording it over other horses, fine-tuning her alpha status, and generally developing into a major B*&tch. She had 30 days put on her sometime in her three-year-old year, then went back out to pasture for another 2 years, (forgot that she ever had a rider) until I got her. It's been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and every step forward has come with at least FIVE steps back. So much of what you went through, I did too! Mine is more of a bucker than a rearer, and she has dumped me so often I have lost count. Still, she has reared, thrown massive temper tantrums, practically throwing herself on the ground or into the rail with me on her to avoid whatever. Although I work with a trainer, she rarely rode the mare, believing that I needed to fight and win our battles on my own. She's gotten on maybe 4 times since I've gotten the mare. It's been a long, long 18 months, but finally, this is what I've got now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbPSpyFRZdQ&feature=related This was a Handy Hunter round, hence our higher rate of speed :) and trot fence. One thing I did not have to contend with was bad weather affecting our training. I have to say, I do not miss Colorado weather at all. Not one bit. Here it is sunny for six months and cloudy/rainy for six months, but you can almost always ride. No wind, no hail, no snow, no bitter cold. By the way, I often feel somewhat discouraged, and the video you posted about never giving up has been a huge boost for me. I found it on COTH originally, and have watched it over and over. I have big plans for this little mare, big jumping goals, so we'll see. Right now she is very lame, nursing a ginormous splint that popped 2 weeks ago. She is really sore. Vet was out, gave me Surpass cream, and I have been using that. I hope she gets better soon!!!! Let's keep in contact, I think our experiences with these stubborn mares could be beneficial to each other. I am sure we could both learn from what the other is going through, or went through. OMG, don't even get me started on lead changes. Talk about hell. She's got 'em now though. Take care, I LOVE reading about Nina, and thank you for sharing her with everyone!
Elizabeth - I DO remember you. What a great surprise to hear from you AND to hear about your mare! Yes, we will definitely stay in touch. Are you on Facebook? My link is on this page... somewhere. Great video - proof that it can be done. Chat soon. :-)
What a wonderful story, and what a cute pony! Lol, sort of reminds me of Arty. The little trail pony turned show horse. I wish I were still able to ride him regularly. Elizabeth, I recently started riding a mare who was in the exact same situation as yours except she had a foal or two along the way, and instead of being 5, is 17. Can you say stiff unyielding neck? She's a real sweethert though, just a little bit nuts.
Kate and Barb, we definitely need to share our mare stories with each other! If only to remind each other that whatever crazy new behavior crops up ... "this too shall pass." Honestly, every time Holly mastered some new skill, she found another new (bad) behavior to torture me with. The name I show her under is "All About Me" because that is her view of the world in a nutshell. Her life is all about her, and I am just there to provide treats, grooming and be a minor annoyance to her. However, she is as brave a horse to a fence as I have ever ridden. She will jump from any distance, any jump, any height and try to make it work out. I jumped her through a gymnastic last winter that my trainer set up with the final jump being 4 feet ...she didn't blink an eye (although I did!!)
That was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! What a beautiful story and message!! Thank you for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteThat was beautiful, touching, inspirational. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove this, love the story, love the video :)
ReplyDeleteThat almost made me cry. So sweet. :)
ReplyDeleteIt did make me cry!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne (still can't post under my profile)
Me, too!! *as she wipes her eyes and blows her nose quite indelicately*
ReplyDeleteWow. I too got a little teary-eyed. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, do you remember me? Elizabeth Cappon. I rode at West Gait with Dion, and my friend Colette rode your guy Shorty for a while. I moved to the Sacramento CA area 10 years ago. I still keep up with Mary Jo and Colette and Deb Venor etc. Anyway, I stumbled upon your blog about Nina, and for two days, I have been hooked! Started at the beginning, and just now got up to the last entry. I feel your pain with this mare! 18 months ago, I was given an unbroke, 5.5 year old Hanovarian/TB cross mare as a project. If I could get her going, I could have her. She had slipped through the cracks at her breeders' and never really got started. She is small, that's part of it, no one was that interested in a 15.2 mare. I am 5 foot 1 inch, so she's perfect for me. We also free jumped her when she first came, before I made the decision to keep her. Sent her through a chute, built the out jump to 3.9, she was adorable and I pictured a saddle, bridle and me on her back over that jump and said "yes." While never abused, she spent her whole life in a pasture, lording it over other horses, fine-tuning her alpha status, and generally developing into a major B*&tch. She had 30 days put on her sometime in her three-year-old year, then went back out to pasture for another 2 years, (forgot that she ever had a rider) until I got her. It's been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and every step forward has come with at least FIVE steps back. So much of what you went through, I did too! Mine is more of a bucker than a rearer, and she has dumped me so often I have lost count. Still, she has reared, thrown massive temper tantrums, practically throwing herself on the ground or into the rail with me on her to avoid whatever. Although I work with a trainer, she rarely rode the mare, believing that I needed to fight and win our battles on my own. She's gotten on maybe 4 times since I've gotten the mare. It's been a long, long 18 months, but finally, this is what I've got now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbPSpyFRZdQ&feature=related This was a Handy Hunter round, hence our higher rate of speed :) and trot fence. One thing I did not have to contend with was bad weather affecting our training. I have to say, I do not miss Colorado weather at all. Not one bit. Here it is sunny for six months and cloudy/rainy for six months, but you can almost always ride. No wind, no hail, no snow, no bitter cold. By the way, I often feel somewhat discouraged, and the video you posted about never giving up has been a huge boost for me. I found it on COTH originally, and have watched it over and over. I have big plans for this little mare, big jumping goals, so we'll see. Right now she is very lame, nursing a ginormous splint that popped 2 weeks ago. She is really sore. Vet was out, gave me Surpass cream, and I have been using that. I hope she gets better soon!!!! Let's keep in contact, I think our experiences with these stubborn mares could be beneficial to each other. I am sure we could both learn from what the other is going through, or went through. OMG, don't even get me started on lead changes. Talk about hell. She's got 'em now though. Take care, I LOVE reading about Nina, and thank you for sharing her with everyone!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth - I DO remember you. What a great surprise to hear from you AND to hear about your mare! Yes, we will definitely stay in touch. Are you on Facebook? My link is on this page... somewhere. Great video - proof that it can be done. Chat soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Barb,
ReplyDeleteI am on Facebook ... and here is my email: ecappon@yahoo.com
What a wonderful story, and what a cute pony! Lol, sort of reminds me of Arty. The little trail pony turned show horse. I wish I were still able to ride him regularly.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I recently started riding a mare who was in the exact same situation as yours except she had a foal or two along the way, and instead of being 5, is 17. Can you say stiff unyielding neck? She's a real sweethert though, just a little bit nuts.
Kate and Barb, we definitely need to share our mare stories with each other! If only to remind each other that whatever crazy new behavior crops up ... "this too shall pass." Honestly, every time Holly mastered some new skill, she found another new (bad) behavior to torture me with. The name I show her under is "All About Me" because that is her view of the world in a nutshell. Her life is all about her, and I am just there to provide treats, grooming and be a minor annoyance to her. However, she is as brave a horse to a fence as I have ever ridden. She will jump from any distance, any jump, any height and try to make it work out. I jumped her through a gymnastic last winter that my trainer set up with the final jump being 4 feet ...she didn't blink an eye (although I did!!)
ReplyDeleteI loved it! Thought I was going to cry, too. I think Priscilla should see this, it might inspire her to keep going. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDelete