I would never intentionally hurt my horses. Somehow I had got the idea that this was easy and they just gently laid over. Brain fart I guess.
Anyway, It's one of those do you are don't you questions regarding the horses. I have only had a problem with her once and the other rider once. I know this sounds dumb (maybe not as much as rubbing her nose in poop:') but I was actually relieved she did this again. I now can expect her to get comfy in the barn and protest working a little bit if she hasn't been rode in a week or two when it's cool. Before I had no idea what happened or if I had done anything to cause it. My trainer didn't even seem to believe me. She probably thought the horse was just taking a dump and I overreacted and thought it was a buck or something. (I don't have a good track record so I could hardly blame her :')
99% of the time Sarah Lee is a sweetie. Yeah she may test me again but I have a personal trainer for me and one for her. (a year ago saving money a piece of cake:'(. I pay them good money to help me and they both think she's a good horse for me and if I sell her and get another I'm starting over with unknown baggage. I could act whiny and I know my husband would give me back Okie but that wouldn't be right either. He offered but I said no.
Anyway, they have set a program where she gets rode 6 days a week in good weather, and she now gets lunged first. My trainer working with me and saying under the right conditions any horse can and will buck and my job is to recognize behavior precipitating and not let myself get caught off guard without good rein control. She also has a stronger bit. I get watched like a hawk and really, I like it better now because instead of just "sit up etc (which I know is important) she's teaching me horse behavior too.
They all tell me this horse has bonded well with me and we work well together. She always watches me and follows me like a puppy. I think it was a delayed imprinting. I took her out of the stall and started grooming and caring for her the first day. She was brought in at night and I really had first contact. She's gone from scrawny/whipped looking to pretty and trusting. As you can tell..., I like her. She's graded and not showy but just something about her.
If I can't work this out I will sell her but I want more time with her. I hope I don't regret it, and pray about it. I've looked at the pros and cons and made an informed choice. I hope I'm not being foolish and taking unnecessary risks. I don't think I am but one of my problems (I have a few:') is recognizing and accepting that I do have limitations:')
If you have pretty positively identified when the problem comes up, I'd longe her (on a line, not in a pen) for 20 minutes before you get up and see if that helps. Some horses just have a buck in 'em when they're fresh or it's cold outside, once they get it out they're ok.