maybe try and find her a new gelding companion, even if it's just a pony or something, that way she'll have some company.

You could get her a goat, no joke, I've seen it work.

you can always try before buying something if u cant do that but just spending a lot of time with her comforting her, she might just bond more with you. and if that doesnt work try getting her a companion

Oh how sad!
However may I suggest that you braid and cut his tail for remembering. Also your mare may find comfort with this too.
I totally like the goat suggestion and while it does not replace her life long friend, it just may keep her mind preoccupied.
Namaste,
Christina

Hi Paige, I am Christina in Channdler AZ.
I totally understand your plea..
Maybe you can knock on a door and introduce yourself and
let them know you will excercise their horses for free!!
Come to an agreement on days etc.,
Christina

idk i sold my horse almost right away..well pony..i think it depends on your area and i hate to say it but i think the shutting down of glue factories helped bum out horse sales. This economy makes it really hard now for anybody to own one. Since prices are raising but pay isnt matching the inflation, its an expensive passon.

I think it's unfortunate but inevitable. Everything is affected by the economy and it was only a matter of time before it trickled into the horse market as well. I agree with Nicole; prices are rising in just about every area of life but pay isn't following. Horses are expensive and people are having to make difficult decisions. Not to mention the rampent forclosures making it difficult to even have a place to keep your horse.

Possible solutions: accepting monthly payments on a horse. Draw up a contract and follow through with it. I think this will allow more people to purchase horses. We allow monthly payments on cars and houses, why not horses?

Absolutely!!! My husband and I aquired a VERY big TB mare about a year and a half ago... She was supposed to be my husbands horse but as she started to gain weight and trust in us (she was from the slaughter yard and about 300 pounds underweight when we got her) she got wild!! My husband wanted a horse that he could just get on and go and so he began riding my Morab and I began riding her. We would get about 400 yards from the barn into this huge field and she would go crazy. Bucking and rearing and spinning... It was scary. So I began to anticipate the bad behavior and would tense up at the slightest out of the norm motion from her. Winter came along and we ended up moving out to the country and were able to keep our horses at home. She became much friendlier and more personable. So we began riding again when the weather got better and I began longeing her before we left. The first time we went out I was nervous and it definetly rubbed off on her because she threw a fit, but it wasnt as huge as the previous ones, so I circled her and moved on.. Things continued improving as our ride progressed and I realized all of a sudden that my being nervous and anticipating her bad behavior was causing all of this and she has turned into a big beautiful wonderful fun to ride girl!!!!

I find it so interesting how they do something once for a certain reason, but then we perpetuate it. I was just so excited when it all clicked because this had been going on for months!! And the change was instantaneous which was even more amazing because it proved how much horses simply live in the moment and how they don't so much "feel" as "react" to new situations and energies.

I too have had this! My big boy likes to run me in pivots (at his command - not mine), he does this with a little buck and kick when he does not get his way. Our barn sits up behind a vineyard, the hill coming up the main lane way is a little steep (since my babies are all a little older) I usually go out the front of the pasture on the neighboring road and around the vineyard back towards the main lane. Well it has taken me almost all summer to get him to think that once we go out that I want to go on a longer ride than just around the vineyard and back up the lane. It takes time and patience - that is for sure! But it has paid off! I want on a good hour long ride the other night with no fuss! Yeah!

They're so smart! Darn things know what they've gotten away with and when...everytime like clockwork they repeat. Its almost comical to me b/c the second they stop getting away with something they're a completely new/different horse. I don't think we give them enough credit for their smarts!

Horses are really smart and yet they are like 5 year old kids! If they get away with anything, they try it again and again until we finally say, hey...that's not acceptable behavior anymore! Now apologize and stop it! (Sorry, I'm a Mom and addicted to Super Nanny!) I have been working a Pinto Stude for a few weeks now and he had habbits, bad ones and "barn sour" too. we are finally making HUGE progess and dang! it feels good! I don't have to worry about being decapatated at the barn when we flies up on it after we turn around the corner flying ninety to nothing!

It's always fun finding a diamond in the rough, is it not!? You said she was using a slow twist, as in not a sever twist? Just wondering, cause as I'm sure you know the smaller the bit/tighter the twist, the more bite it has, but I usually don't think of slow/big twists as bad, unless of course they are being misuesed. Anyway, congratualtions on your little project!

no no...it was a tight twist =[ lol but ya im deffinitly excited!!

I hate it when people shove metal in their horses mouth without understanding what it will do there. (I'm not against bits at all, just irrisponsable bitting practices

im with ya on that one. i guess i feel bad though for both rider and horse because a lot of ppl this women included had no idea it was a bad bit, it was the only one she ever used. so i try to help people out as much as i can.

Withour ignorant people, I would be out of a job! I feel bad for the horses, but the people could easily got to clinics and such if they REALLY wanted to. But I see what you mean!

I can totally relate to your excitement! To give you hope...I took a western horse about 4 years ago that had never seen an english anything a day in his life. Started working with him early after the new year. We were showing, getting ribbons, and offers to buy as early as May or June (its been a few years and I've worked w/ several horses since then..can't remember it all ha). Anyway, I showed him all season and even qualified for the World's Championship Horse Show in August (Saddle Seat industry). I sold him for I believe triple, if not more, that what he was originally purchased for. Talk about rewarding!!!! So yes, I COMPLETELY feel your excitement! Good luck with that. Keep me updated!

what do you enjoy the most about equine. I am about to go and take a course on equine massage its not a wonderful living but it looks fun and you can really get to know a horse from head to tail! =]

i actually went to that site and it said in order for me to see the list of jobs i have to be a paid subscriber.