Today is Star Trek day where I show Ani Next Gen, her first time. After, I showed her the clearings I've made on 72. How you can actually see across, and as we gazed over there, Mag threw up his head from the other side and stared at us. She said, "He loves you." I said, "Hrm."
I told her I wish I had a horse I could just sit back on and enjoy, and not be constantly vigilant on against potential horseback-malfunction. *sigh* Oh well. Someday Mag will be that sit-back-on horse.
Cuz he's nearly as attuned to me as Baasha. We understand each miniscule movement or nuance of expression. He'll never replace Baasha, but he has the potential to come into the realm.
***
My phone, a new one this month, a flip phone from the 90s, cried out for attention and it was Ani.
10 minutes ago as I type this. I feel like Captian Kirk when I flip it open and say, "Yes?"
Ani texted, "I can only advise you to sell Mag. He's such a great horse, I see him differently than you. I'm so sorry that it's hard for you with him. I cannot help you. I'd love to have a horse like Mag. Unfortunately I cannot take him. - Ani"
***
What huh?
***
I wouldn't start Thursday blaming the weather, but. Not so bad for me, just....Mag.
He's got some sort of desert blood in his veins and he spent his breakfast hour eating his warm mash (hay pellets and beet pulp, salt and vitamins).... trembling.
I hate many things less than the sight of a horse shivering:
1. Spoons that fall behind your oven.
2. Pencils too short to sharpen.
I threw the cooler on him and resigned myself for a walk instead of a ride. I did not get far.
I got 15 minutes. It's May 2 and Mag had apparently missed the neighborhood activities on May 1 or...midnight April 30. A magificent May tree stood glittering and voicing its contents in the wind. This tradition is about announcing love to a young girl. Heck I don't know but suddenly Mag just lost his stuff and went shaking mad. He pooped all over our neighbor's driveway as I ushered him away from traffic. I pushed the poop to the side. His pulse was shaking his entire body. Earth to Mag! WTH!
After who knows how long Mag jolted anew from the sound of a slamming door. The door to the house with the May tree. The blond lady walked out with her two dogs on two leashes, the toy dog barking at Mag. Mag did't care about her dogs, he was out of his mind about the May tree.
She is our mail carrier. She saw Mag skittering around in front of her street: "What?" I replied, "May tree." She said, "Oh, actually, our dogs are also upset about this new feature!" No kidding. Ok it's possible. I smiled at her and just stood my ground while Mag decided if it was actually the end of the world.
***
Usually my troubles and Ani's parallel each other, so I asked, as we met at the shepherd's house, "How is Rudi doing?" She answered, "She does't like that they are having a burn pile right next to our trail." Oh boy.
Ani noted I was leading Mag with no saddle, though I was clothed to ride. I told her he was shivering so no way, I'm not putting a saddle on a shivery Mag. She was also on foot at that point and turned Rudi back toward the shepherd's house.
Mag heard the construction guys working on the house and became upset. I cajoled him along the gravel road to pass the house of doom. Since Mara, I've had nothing but bad experiences here. The shepherd keeps his sheep dogs on chains on overhead lines that "activate" when they see a passing horse, and you've got not only dogs running at you, but a cacaphony of metal on metal. I stopped Mag and said, "Behave and focus!" And he did. That May tree had him more terrified, I realized. Now that I recollect, I'm proud of Mag for dealing with his fear and holding it together.
Then Ani left us. AGAIN.
How many times have you read and experienced this with me? That something scary happens, and Ani abandons us? This time, however, Mag was mostly under control. He was not happy, but pushing boundaries. I asked him to stop and wait and then proceed one or two steps at a time, looking to me for guidance to pass this fire (which he's seen a lot of lately with Easter fires, my fire, and my new-found habit of buring weeds with fire).
I couldn't understand where Ani had gone off to.
Eventually we rounded the corner and I saw a part of Rudi's rump, and could tell she was standing at ease. No worries. I worked with Mag some more, and we slowly made our way down. They were so far off I couldn't believe it. I saw that Ani had eventually mounted the mare, so it was clear to me she was not having difficulty with her. We rounded the corner and before I could catch up to her, Rudi moved off, as is her way. I couldn't catch up. Ani pulled her up but the mare refused, again, to wait, and we couldn't catch up.
Finally I just shouted, "I'm going home, I'm done, I'm too annoyed to go on."
It got Ani's attention and she called over her shoulder, "Was I the reason?" I answered, half truth, "It's Mag." I whirled around and went home, a different way, that would not force me to take him by that fire again. Not that my new way was any better --- it took me a full 45 minutes to get him home, in what should take 15.
At one point he ran backwards so fast he gave me rope burns on both hands and almost pulled me face-first off my feet! I had gloves on, thank God (how could I have known) and still the burn went through. What would Mag do if I lost him out here? Well, it seems I'll find out, the way he's acting lately.
I'm not givng up on Mag, I am so fond of him. Today he showed me his chocolate side (as the Germans say), anxious and prancy, but staying politely behind me everywhere I went around our field. If I stop, he slams on the brakes, "I won't run into you, no worries." This look in his eye, I cannot explain. Is it the look a foal gives its mother? "I understand, I'm good!"?
I won't give him up. Unless you'd like to cast your vote - so far I have two people who've told me to let him go.
It's hard to see in this photo from last Summer but I'm running in front of Mag and he is carefully playing behind me without trampling me. It's his most favorite thing - running around with me. It's something I've never experienced with any horse and I love it!
(To be honest Baasha would also run around with me and my sister, but he wasn't keen on noticing the moment it might happen, anticipating, and unrelentingly so!)
14 comments:
Mag would kill Ani. She doesn’t have the sense needed for him.
The shivering is a worry. Is it that cold? Does he have no coat to cover?
Could be the spring grass. It’s high in sugar andnhorses can be sensitive. Something is bothering him and it sounds physical.
You have had a challenging (exam) and exciting (land) spring. It would be normal if you have not spent as much time exercising or riding your horse. I do not remember many posts in these last weeks about riding, so Im guessing here.
Horses get more reactive in spring, and sometimes there is just no way to predict their reactions. You seem to have done well, and everyone is unscathed. So, you try again another day and hope for the best.
Conventional horse wisdom would suggest more riding hours at a trot or gallop (10-15 hours/week) , walking with a rope halter, more groundwork, and ditching Ani. But you always seem to find success and progress through your unconventional ways, so just keep doing your thing!
Considering how out of tune Ani is about most things “horse,” I wouldn’t take anything she says very seriously. When half of your troubles with Mag arise out of her lack of horsemanship with Rudy, she’s certainly not one to talk!
We all have frustrating days with our horses. You’ve come such a long ways with Mag that a set-back shouldn’t be a surprise now and then. He’s certainly not the challenge that Mara was! And it seems like you have a very good bond with him, even on his bad days. I vote to stick with it!
Teresa, I LOLd when you said "he'd kill Ani" - I'm sure you remember the last time she tried to ride him and ended up thrown violently to the ground twice! Sad to say this memory is the main reason I don't trust Mag.
He's so cold I actually looked up buying him a stable blanket for taking him for walks. Those blankets people use when horses are in their stalls. Cuz a cooler isn't warm enough for him. I've had to blanket him at night lately. During the day, he keeps his tail clamped down on his butt.
ND, I've been riding twice a week with Ani but nothing interesting has happened lately.
ES, right. I'm not even going to reply to her SMS.
When horses react to cold, they are often spooky. This is because something in their brain says to run and move to get warm, so they often take it as a signal that there is danger. Can you get some blood work done on him? I agree about the possible physical connection. That was my first thought, not that Mag is bad. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I guess I couldn't help but smile at what Nat said at ditching Ani. I'd ditch her before Mag.
No way should you give up on Mag. He is a gem. We all have our off days for sure. Sometimes those few steps back lead to a giant leap forward in his growth. It is Spring, and it is nippy out. I wouldn't read too much into it. There seems to be a lot of "odd" activities going on around the time of this walk too. Just keep doing your thing. It has been working great, you are both bonding, every time something like this comes up and you both survive, that bond becomes stronger. Revisit that singing video you made a few months back. Dwell on some good things for a while and what you have accomplished together. :)
I Mag were mine, I would sell him. This is not due to your fault or his, but is only due to having to train a sensitive and complicated horse in your part of Germany. If you were in the US, you would have access to safe open trails or the ability to find a riding ring or round pen to safely work out his gremlins, but it sounds like in Germany your safe training locations are limited or nonexistent. Busy paved roads are far from the ideal place to work a nervous horse. You also don't have an educated and supportive network of local horse friends that can be your your sounding board and your cheerleaders. You have bravely helped Mag to the point he is now and you most certainly cannot be accused of giving up on him. Going forward, I would ask you two questions. Do you feel safe continuing to work with Mag and is it at all fun anymore? We all realize that you have to take the ups with the downs when you have a horse, but from what I have read on your blog, your relationship with him under saddle or in public seems to have more downs that ups.
I will also say, I don't know you at all but from reading your blog you strike me as a thoughtful person that does not do or say anything impulsive. The fact that you even mentioned the idea of selling Mag, even as a one line comment, leads me to think that this idea has been on your mind in a very real way.
I thank you for sharing your struggles with him as well as your victories. Too many blogs gloss over the frustration and only share the good. Your blog paints a truly honest and welcome portrait of horse ownership. Thank you for continuing to share your story and wishing wisdom and peace for you in whatever steps you take next.
If I remember from your posts correctly, you seem most happy with Mag when you have time to both trail and ride in an arena. Some horses just need both physically tiring, but mentally easy work alternated between mentally exhausting and physically easy work.
I know it is hard for you to find arenas to ride in, but I would maybe focus on getting a lunge-able section of your new land cleared asap. It will give you a place to work with him and get the 'sillies' out before you even hit the trial.
However, I am not you and I understand how sometimes the things that sound right form an outside perspective are not the actual issue you feel or experience. Either way, I would not give up on Mag if you feel like you are improving. Have you gotten comfortable enough to ride alone? A bad partner is more stressful and dangerous than riding alone in my opinion.
If I remember from your posts correctly, you seem most happy with Mag when you have time to both trail and ride in an arena. Some horses just need both physically tiring, but mentally easy work alternated between mentally exhausting and physically easy work.
I know it is hard for you to find arenas to ride in, but I would maybe focus on getting a lunge-able section of your new land cleared asap. It will give you a place to work with him and get the 'sillies' out before you even hit the trial.
However, I am not you and I understand how sometimes the things that sound right form an outside perspective are not the actual issue you feel or experience. Either way, I would not give up on Mag if you feel like you are improving. Have you gotten comfortable enough to ride alone? A bad partner is more stressful and dangerous than riding alone in my opinion.
Seems like you have a choice:
You can have a horse that you can "just get on and ride."
or
You can have a young Arabian horse.
Sure, you could "just get on and ride" Baasha, but that's because you and your sister worked with for YEARS (while you were still young and boingity) before that. Without the years-before work, you wouldn't have the trustworthy horse Baasha became as an adult. When I met you, he was still fairly young and a bit impulsive...but then, so were you and I!
I know you: you are not at home with another breed of horse. You could ride a Traber, but your heart belongs to Arabians. I am just the opposite, and there's nothing wrong with either.
Ani's "advice" isn't worth the weight of the electrons that conveyed it, but you know that.
You DO feel more comfortable when you have access to an arena. Does the purchase of the new land make that possible?
I've read the post but not all the comments, but I don't think Ani is wrong when she says "He's such a great horse, I see him differently than you. I'm so sorry that it's hard for you with him." I think she may only see the hard part, which is pretty much part and parcel of owning a horse! Ani has been given some easier horses and/or doesn't fix incorrect/bad behavior in them. You are training/expecting Mag to be better behaved, which will be a longer process than just getting a made horse.
That being said, I do think what Mag needs to be the horse you want is lots of trails and riding (the proverbial wet saddle blankets). If that is hard to come by, the horse you want will take longer to get, if ever. So you have to pick your compromise, as it isn't fair to Mag to expect behavior he hasn't had enough time to practice/ponder.
I think the fact he never ran you over when being scared is the main point to take away. All horses get scared sometimes, for reasonable or stupid reasons, but Mag did fine (in my book) by being scared, not running you over, and eventually listening. I think you'll get there in time, but it is up to you the timeline of that progress. (Boy, I so wish you were here and we could take you everywhere, Major would show Mag the ropes and Mag wouldn't have time for any silliness!)
Absolutely do not sell Mag. Ridiculous. He was barely trained when you got him. Getting him to be the horse you want is totally possible but it takes time, YEARS. You did not want a 12 year old dead broke horse, so you DO NOT HAVE a 12 year old dead broke horse. It makes me nuts that people (not you) think you can train a horse to be perfect in 1 year, in 2 years. Not possible unless you use every abusive cruel piece of tack and every cruel and abusive method. see western pleasure 3 year olds.
KB, it's too bad Ani is so freaking reliable: )
Kellys, thanks for that comment, it helps.
NC, thanks for understanding - you summed up everything so well. I never considered selling Mag though, was pretty shocked that Ani suggested it. It is not fun now, but I believe it will be someday. Also, you've encouraged me to continue to blog my life realistically and not to optimize anything. To be real, and as honest as possible.
m, that's the plan! An area to lunge and even RIDE? A dream come true, I hope we can manage it.
Aarene, shhh, we're not allowed to build anything on that land, which includes a roundpen. Not telling a soul offline!
Irish, put a big old American mountain in front of me and let's go!
Chicago, he was barely trained and the seller advised me not to buy him!
I think the question is not whether or not you should sell Mag, but whether or not you should even entertain or give any extra thought to bad or unsolicited advice from people you don't really respect as trail companions or horsepeople. Mag is awesome, Ani is clueless. If you lay out the carpet on your own back, some people are just going to start walking.
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