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Discussion on Skittish pony mare
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Member:
Heidim
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 15, 2005 - 12:20 pm:
We recently bought an eight-year-old Hackney/Shetland mare that is unusually skittish. I've already read the information on this site about desensitizing, but the list of scarey items is endless for this mare. What's more, the trainer I sent her to says the mare resists overcoming her fears. For example, she never did get used to the trainer driving her truck past the pony's pen each day. Does anyone have any advice? This is a gorgeous, gaited mare that I would love to see go to good use.
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 15, 2005 - 2:17 pm:
The mare first has to be desensitized to you. When I have had skittish horses I first have to get them to trust me not to do anything that is going to hurt them. Once that happens I find the rest of the world is not so scary.
We got a Quarter Horse mare last fall that was scared of everyone and everything. We couldn't do anything without her getting a wash sweat. Now we can do most anything to her because she has decided we are not going to eat her. I have an eleven year old student who has been showing her.
Ella 
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 15, 2005 - 4:28 pm:
Hmmm...Hackney vs. Quarter Horse...be sure you aren't comparing apples to oranges!
Hackneys are bred to have "fire" in the show ring. Are you trying to make a quiet trail horse out of her?
I have an American Saddlebred mare (like Hackneys, they are high strung). At sixteen she is finally a steady trail ride, but hasn't the right mind for hunting or much group work. I finally stopped fighting her nature and we are both happier.
Take your mare out with a steady Quarter Horse type. Miles and miles and years might do the trick. Or would you rather make her a fancy driving show pony as she was bred to be?
I don't mean to sound flip. Just something to think about. There are lots of really nice horses out there and it can be hard to make a horse go against it's temperament.
Good luck, I hope you prevail.
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Friday, Sep 16, 2005 - 9:19 am:
Yes a different type of horse but regardless of the extent, behavior is going to improve when they trust their people.
Ella )
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Member:
Heidim
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Posted on Friday, Sep 16, 2005 - 9:45 pm:
I am sorry to report that the mare spooked yesterday while my 11-year-old daughter was riding her, grew instantly agitated, and went bucking back towards the barn. My daughter landed hard on her tail bone but, fortunately, is okay. The previous owner's stable hand mentioned the mare doing something similar to her, but the owner assured me she'd simply mishandled the mare and then blown the story out of proportion. Fortunately, the owner guaranteed me the mare would not buck (in response to the stable hand's remark) and so is taking the mare back. This is especially disappointing, as I had been slowly gaining the mare's trust over the last two weeks. I appreciate all your input all the same.
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Monday, Sep 19, 2005 - 8:30 am:
Hard to do but a good choice. Our kids safety is more important than anything!
Ella Ì
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