No Vet Today

[dancinghorse]

He got tangled up in various and sundry things including his own pet emergency--his dog needs eye surgery (he doesn't do dogs so he gets to sit around like the rest of us). He assures me Capria can stay as-is for another day. I'll clean up her leg with warm water in a bit--it's finally over 60 degrees and last night's blood is still on it--and see how she's managing in the stall. Last time I checked, she was happily pigging out on extra! hay!

Thanks to all who are worried about me--you guys are sweet. I'm sore but not crippled. The ibu is doing its work. I have arnica but since I'm not bruised, it's not doing much. I managed stall cleaning this morning and have been handling just about everything else, though Spot is doing more of her own walking on potty breaks except for the part where she goes up and down the steps off the deck. She's not ready for that yet.

As for why I rode Pandora after she walloped me, I didn't realize I had pulled muscles until after I started riding, and there was also the issue of training the horse--you do not stop while you are behind or you will have Major Problems the next time you try anything. I was not pissed off, I'm a better trainer than that, thank you very much. I put aside my feelings about what she'd done as soon as I finished letting her know it was not acceptable behavior. The point of the ride was to continue the routine and the training program, and we did. She had some nice free walk and some wonderful trot, especially considering that I wasn't up to my usual speed.

The fight was a mare fight--spring estrus is always Such Fun, as other horsepeople in the flist know too well. For the record, Capria was not the one who was cornered. She did a profoundly stupid thing--she knows Pandora doesn't back down and is also half again her size. But no. She had to pick a fight and then stay in it when she had the whole length of the turnout to escape into.

When Camilla gets into it with Pandora, they keep a judicious distance and Camilla usually wins. She's little but she's strong, and she's fast. Capria is quite stupid when it comes to her own health and safety. She's always doing things to mess herself up. Always has, always will.

I guess she didn't want to be lesson pony for Horse Camp this weekend. (Yes, we are having it. It's tiny but it's happening. Our camper will get the Real Farm Experience, what with Mare Wars and bandages and war wounds and all, and me not managing to get the house as clean or organized as I wanted it because, well, Life Intervened.)

Comments

[raithen.livejournal.com]

also, I forgot to say it: but really, I ADORE mares, but sometimes...

was the cowkick to you also a hormonal thing? and, out of curiosity (because I have girls who do the same every so often. And who bite, too. want some TWHs, actually??) what, for you, constitutes "letting her know it was not acceptable behavior"?

[plutosonium.livejournal.com]

I'll stick with boys anytime. :) Neutered boys, at that.

[raithen.livejournal.com]

we have a lovely old gelding (my Mom's guy, Beau - he's 20!) and I'll agree that there is something awfully nice about the lack of hormonal outbursts. But I've always loved the challenge of mares. There is just Something about the way a mare approaches life that appeals to me, even as it often drives me MAD.

Mom was a teensy bit disappointed when JJ was a filly and not a colt (she'd hoped for a gelding to replace Beau when he retires) but I was secretly happy to get a filly - she's FUN! ;).

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Keed can be WORSE. He's just consistently worse is all--we expect him to be Evil. Versus the entires (male and female) who vary depending on hormone levels.

Right now, consistency a la Dr. Evil is a relief. Spring on a breeding farm can be a little too adventurous for words.

[plutosonium.livejournal.com]

Come to think of it, Fat Boy's kinda evil too. Today: letting me put the weight tape on, and then moving one step away so I couldn't read it. Over and over and.. (This reminds me that I should put up a picture and get opinions on whether or not Fat Boy's diet is working.) He is no longer concerned by the fluttering weight tape, he's just being Evil.

Playboy was never evil. I may have gained a mistaken (good) impression of geldings in general from him.

On the other hand, Playboy also never came at a gallop when he saw my car approaching. Or got furious when I left. It's good to be wanted.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Fat Boy is a keed. Keeds are like this. They come that way from the factory.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

I think keed and/or Capria did something to her (they were just outside the grooming area at her head) and she backpedaled and slammed me just as I put her foot down. She got Loud Rebuke (body language and voice) and the Whip of Doom--a very very old whip that is all split and doesn't hit any harder than a fly wisk, but it makes the most appalling noises. Took about 30 seconds all told. I'm sure she didn't mean to clock me, but she has to remember where the human is. She got out of the habit when she was in that pasture.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Meant to stay, the whip touched her maybe twice, but it savaged the ground a few times. Basically I turned into Crazy Mad Alpha Mare. Got the message across. Went on and rode her.

Of cuss after she nailed Capria, while I couldn't punish her except to yell and drive her off because Capria was the instigator, I did let her know I wasn't happy with her. In so many words.

Mostly with Lipps, a verbal rebuke is all it takes. Or even a solid Glare.