There is always a genuine reason for a horse’s behaviour, never chastise a horse for naughtiness because they don’t understand the concept of being naughty. Look for the underlying reason for their behaviour.

I was once criticised quite aggressively for putting a flash noseband on JJ because he was going through a stage where he would open his mouth and cross his jaw and I couldn’t get anything much out of him on the flat.

I was advised quite determinedly that I should look for the underlying reason why he was mouthy and deal with that rather than strap his mouth down.

Hmmm.

Well. I didn’t strap his mouth down, I added a flash noseband to his bridle because he was going through a stage where working from behind was difficult so the most natural thing for him was to evade at the front end. Not out of naughtiness, actually out of equine intelligence. He was finding something hard so found a way to avoid it.

The whole idea of “finding a reason” for a horse’s behaviour sits very comfortably with me. I have been working with JJ for years trying to figure out what makes him tick so no-one should really accuse me of being insensitive to my horse. However, I do believe there is a place for gadgets and tricks if used properly.

JJ was never going to suck it up and start the tough job of working from behind unless I closed the door on his way of avoiding it - hence the flash.

After two weeks of using it, it came off. JJ didn’t have a ridiculously tough time with the flash on, it just closed a particular door and made him concentrate on the hard bit instead of avoiding it.

I haven’t put the flash back on in over 2 years but as our canter struggles I may introduce it again for a short while to encourage JJ to work from behind into the canter, which continues to be our hardest gait given that he is so strong in front and would prefer to use those muscles.

So, to the lady with the aggressive criticism who thinks it’s ok to travel her (otherwise out of work) horse 3 hours to an amazing trainer once every 2 months - jog on (as my mate Princess Tony would say).

This bothers me a great deal.

So many have so much to say about the stage a horse and rider should be at and it makes me cross. The stage a horse and rider should be at is - get this - the stage they are at!

If a rider has chosen not to progress his/herself beyond a certain point that’s their decision. If a rider had chosen not to progress a horse beyond a certain point that is also their decision, so please let us stop putting measures on horse and rider training.

If the horse is happy and the rider is happy - leave it alone.

Looks easy doesn't it? But does everyone want to do it? And should we?

All of my achievements with Dolly over the last few years have been as a result of his confidence growing. He is not a naturally cocky or confident horse and for the first 2 or 3 years spent a lot of his ridden time tucked under the contact as if to pretend not to be there. Bringing him out of his shell has taken a great deal of time and perseverance but he is miles better than he used to be.

Out hacking, Dolly loves nothing more than to be in the middle of a group of horses, where he can switch off and not take responsibility for anything in front or behind him. We’ve done really long hacks and sponsored rides but always in company and the first time I hacked him alone at my old yard my husband walked on the opposite side of the road so that I knew he was there but J took no comfort from him - it was not an experience I wanted to repeat particularly soon! J was in a constant state of panic, spooking at everything and on high alert the whole time.

At our first yard, there was always someone to hack with and we were often called upon to think up a lovely long ride for a few of us to do together. JJ’s canter out hacking was really slow in the very beginning and he would always be miles behind everyone else if we had a canter around the farm but he is cracking now and will willingly give me really forward canters and is really up for a gallop when we are out with his mates.

Before I moved yards, I started to ride around the farm on my own and conquer the gremlins in every bush and around every corner. I got dumped at a stationery tractor on the first day (about 100 yards from his stable - yes, this was no easy thing) but continued to hack him out alone and managed to do 6 days in a row and was really on to something when I had a week off work.

The trouble is, when you want to jump, train in flatwork and conquer going out alone, there isn’t enough time to do everything when you work as well, so the 6 days work was great but I couldn’t retain the more sensible JJ hacking alone because we really needed to do it everyday. So, when we did hack out alone, we went backwards a bit first and sometimes ended the ride not much more confident than we started out.

During 2011/12 I pushed JJ much more when hacking in company, trying to make him take the lead most times and not letting him get away with anything. I was treated to some unplanned dismounts during the process but at least I was getting amongst it and not taking the easy option all the time, which of course was exactly what JJ wanted.

In 2012, I had a week off at my new yard and it was cold but sunny. I decided the hacking alone needed to be conquered so started taking JJ out in hand every day. At first he was just as nervous as if I was on board, but the more the week went on he was more confident (a bit bored too probably but that’s a good thing!) and we started out in hand and I jumped on for the ride home which suited J because at least he knew where he was going and so was more happy and a bit more chilled out.

Over the last year, with the help of Feedmark’s Steady Up (which I can confirm definitely help to manage irrational behaviour) we hacked out alone on fine, quiet days and now have 2 or 3 familiar routes that we are happy to do alone.

Just last week, I took Dolly alone on a route we have only ever done together once, and that time we were with a friend. I am delighted to report that for the whole hour and 45 mins JJ was wonderful. Worried - yes, but as we have worked so hard on “go forward at whatever speed you want but blinking well go forward” the spinning 180 degrees has abated and he knows that whatever I expect him to go past something, however long it takes.

So, the Steady Up has been stopped, and we are finally hacking alone successfully. For Dolly and I, this has been an important achievement and whilst we would both prefer to be in company, taking Dolly out of his shell and making him generally more confident relies on pushing the boundaries of his comfort zone.

So, do I think hacking alone is important? For us yes. The more I challenge him the more confident he gets and I can apply this to everything we do, from show jumping, to cross country, to sponsored rides, schooling when there are distractions present and simply more hacking.

Critically important, is never to put JJ in a situation where his fear is justified. So, I ride out alone on nice days when the roads are hopefully quiet and I don’t hack alone on busier roads or when the wind is howling as I want to avoid taking a few steps backwards.

My dream - well actually it’s not a dream, we will achieve it - is to confidently ride out with Dolly alone, anywhere we fancy. It’s something I see the lovely Cath and Gwyneth at my yard doing all the time and I take my inspiration from them. Thanks girls.

I don’t really know where I sit with this to be honest. Some people work their competition horses 4 times a week and give them 3 days off and they perform very well and others ride every day and don't seem to have any issues with energy and performance. I work Dolly 6 days out of 7 if he is lucky - often more.

What I have absolutely learned, and it has taken ages and ages is that JJ is better ridden every day than being given a few days off. If he has some days off it is much harder to get him engaged than if he keeps going. Mark’s words do resonate with me “Sarah you know after a few days off it takes some time to get him together again”.

So now I know that (and try not to forget it) I have had times when I think J must be bored of the school and want to do other stuff, but given how well I know him I must confess this isn’t completely obvious.

So, I try my best to vary Dolly’s work, we do a bit of everything so I am not doing too badly in that regard, but these days I am more focused on trying to detect tiredness versus boredom and giving him the appropriate work or time off on the basis of my diagnosis.

Therein lies a challenge that will take some time to conclude. 

I’m probably going to desert Facebook regarding anything Dolly related as it will be recorded here instead. So in honour of the good old FB, here are some previous posts.

Interestingly they are all positive, however I haven’t chosen to ignore any negative Facebook messages - rather that there aren’t any!!! :-D

Seriously, of course there are troublesome events, but human nature is such that we don’t particularly care to tweet or post our disasters and times when we hit the deck (although there are some on this website), rather to concentrate our energies on licking our wounds, wondering what we could have done better, and coming back fighting.

I do and will write about the frustrating, troublesome and “getting dumped” times - they just don’t happen to feature in the FB posts.

14/4/2013: Dolly and I had an amazing day today. He went out in the field and wallowed in mud (dirty scoundrel) and I stayed home writing stuff for his website. This afternoon we braved the wind (tried to bottle it but no luck) and hacked out alone for and hour and a half. He is nervous, I don't much like it, but it's good for Dolly's confidence and we had some challenges today which we overcame wonderfully. Going great guns..... Oh? did I say I love my Dolly?

13/4/2013: A cracking clinic with Janine today. JJ did a good job, there were moments but we held it together. Looking at the pics, we really are getting better. I've labelled the photo's "not too shabby" lol. Well done Dolly Daydream and thank you to Janine Lamy and Louisa Day xx

7/4/2013: An incredible weekend with my best friend Dolly started with a very, very long hack alone on Saturday, to work on conquering confidence (very proud of the J), followed by a jumping lesson with Janine Lamy to boost our confidence over very bright things today. Dolly did a wicked job both times and I'm very proud of him. Xxx

23/3/2013: A horse is for life: happy times, lame times, tired times, cold times, "no time" times, frustrating times, skint times, rich times, fun times, rewarding times, loving times, unconditional times and forever times. Horses need stability, routine and the benefit of the doubt. There is always a reason for their behaviour (good and not so good), we just need to work it out. Don't take a horse on unless you can accept all of this. If you do, you don't deserve your equine. There are plenty of horse loving people out there. Also, hopefully some people reading this will question themselves and their ponies will get a break.

25/2/2013: A message for the legend who is Mark Butler.... Dolly was incredible tonight all thanks to your training today, he was a perfect push button ride and I think we did the long side in about 3 strides! Will send you a lovely long list of dressage comp. dates so you can do all the working in and I'll have the rosie's :-D

16/2/2013: Well, Dolly does it again. Fantastic lesson yesterday with Andrew Day who said we were much improved, video proves we are looking quite smart these days. Today? First XC of the season with Sam Jennings at Littleton Manor Equestrian. Had an absolute ball of a time, learned loads and JJ was incredible. So proud of my strong, confident boy. 40 something (well ok, 40 lots) and riding the best I ever have. Get in xx

27/1/2013: Dolly JJ is amazing. Anyone who isn't fortunate enough to have a horse in their life is missing out. X

4/1/2013: Had an amazing time today with Emily Crockett at Lullingstone. What wonderful boys our ginger and ginger wannabe boys are. The ground was great and the ponies were up for it. It doesn't get better than that. JJ is definitely going to sleep well tonight!

18/11/2012: Oldie stressage Friday - extremely good boy, very proud - and Lullingstone today with Lauren and Benjammin' - extremely good boy, very proud, I see a theme.... Knackered now, next weekend off I think! — with Lauren Brinklow.

1/7/2012: I love JJ, JJ loves Darcy - that's just the way it is. Darcy jumps, JJ squeals and tries to tank off, Darcy canters (err blinking fast) and JJ fixates on his ginger bottom and sees nothing but his tail for a mile and a half. We had an amazing time at the Speedgate Ride For Life and jumped loads! Huge thanks to Darcy (bring on the pony love) and Mouse for a wicked day. JJ was absolutely cracking and I might be old but I've still got a bit of bottle. It doesn't get much better than that! xxx

1/9/2011: JJ is amazing as usual and smells nicely of biscuits again which makes me very smiley. I pick up my shiny new car tomorrow and am job shy for three weeks having resigned before taking a holiday and then starting a new one. Living a dream. :-D

9/6/2011: Wouldn't sell JJ if I was offered a million quid. We had an amazing weekend, he didn't put a hoof wrong, couldn't have been more honest and made me so proud, he jumped everything. He has a bit of a fetish for auto drinkers though :-/ Now he can go back to his lovely summer paddock and play. Kisses for JJ xxx

27/11/2010: Thinks Adele Ayton is a brilliant influence for getting us jumping when it was minus one! JJ was wonderful :-)

…. and the living isn’t always easy :-(

For some years now JJ has struggled in the summer months. His performance in the school has hit the skids, first manifesting itself in a lack of forward, and then in down right refusing to move.

The biggest problem with this is that horses can’t talk - no s*** Sherlock and therefore we start down the route of assessing what is causing the problem:

… back, teeth, gut, breathing, eyesight, quality of poop, tiredness, feed change, hay change, supplements, new tack, bit changes etc etc

and end up doing the following:

• putting them on an energy supplement

• putting them back on something they recently came off of (probably for good reason

• inspecting the latest hay delivery

• having a vet check

• getting the farriers advice - is he foot sore?

• asking the yard owner what they think

• asking friends what they think

• asking JJ what he thinks (he just said more carrots please)

• stopping schooling for a while in case he’s fed up

• giving time off in case he is fed up

• giving yourself time off in case you are fed up

You get the picture!

Anyway in our case because J’s nostrils can be very flared and he gets much better in his work after he has had a good few blows of his nose, I decided that his issues were not mechanical and are all about his upper airways and irritation in the nose. We took a trip to the vet for a trachia check and all was normal and was advised to try homeopathy with no joy.

Over the last few years, we have tried courses of antihistamines and also a nebuliser to administer steroids and saline and I feel sure I’ve tried every supplement on the market, although of course they are always inventing a new one as us owners are so desperate to find a solution for our steeds. I’ve had some success but nothing that I can say has provided a clear solution.

Interestingly, In winter when I was working and riding in the dark in the evenings, J was on fire. As soon as the clocks changed, literally over the actual weekend, schooling in the daylight in the ménage was difficult and completely different to 3 days before. Also I remember a time when I was riding around the edge of a field and J was fine in the shade but started violently head shaking when i moved him a metre into the sunshine.

Despite years of trying to resolve this, which also became an issue in the winter, and days and days of me being fed up because I know how well he can go and he clearly is feeling rubbish, I think I’ve found a happy place.

JJ hates nose nets and whilst they would make him blow his nose a lot and ultimately that would make him work better, the head throwing and general hate for the net was a pain to get through at the beginning of the ride.

Bear in mind this issue has been going on years and I never knew what I would get in the school. J was sometimes able to work well and other times was dreadful based on heaven knows what factors but certainly including pollen, heat, wind, dust etc. If anyone tries to suggest you keep a diary of the weather, the length of turnout, time of day ridden, heat, etc then feel free, it certainly has its place, but despite doing that there was no clear answer.

This year (2022), I came across the Shakeaze nose net. Having tried others these appealed to me because of the idea that they help to keep wind off the muzzle and stop that kind of irritation. Game changer - honestly. I thought initially that it was just one of his good days but as the schooling session went on I happily found some consistency. The headshaking and pogoing almost stopped and one time when J was wearing it and constantly rubbing his nose on his leg (not a regular trait) I removed it and he was so so much worse.

At the same time I put him back on Blood Tonic, something he started to be given some years ago. I took him off it in August last year because in desperation I decided to go back to basics and give him no supplements at all except for Cortaflex.

I believe the combination of the net, which stops the pogoing and the Blood Tonic which gives him energy have made an improvement to the point where we can enjoy schooling again. JJ isn’t back to his old normal self but he is much older now, I’m just happy to be able to work him so that I keep him as fit and strong as his age (and mine) allows.

It will be interesting to see what this winter brings.