Need Help With Anxiety In 3 Yr Old Filly

[LKR]

You don't know siccum about this filly to make that comment.

[soft hearted]

Get rid of her she isnt worth the time. Shes going to hurt someone.

I don't get it?
Where did THAT come from?!
The filly has issues, yes - but they seem to be (finally! thanks to the OWNER) being addressed. If anything, she's been cut short by a previous trainer.
How is the filly not worth the time? Hell, she could be bred out the wazoo and be showing some burning times, along with movement that would make everyone's eyes water - but we (none of us) KNOW those things. We know she's had some troubles.
My God, if every horse (let alone "silly filly") were gotten rid of because of a couple of ducks or runouts.. we wouldn't fill very many cards at all, would we?

[zinn21]

LKR, you got a start in her and that is good. The freshening at the ranch should also help her.

Sometimes a break and a return to the track will add mental maturity and some of the bad behaviors will subside. Hopefully you can find a trainer who is good with fillies-someone with horsemanship skills.

I am lucky. My trainer is Mike Larson in NorCal. He is as fine a horseman as there is.

[spex4me]

As a former member of what the he%% did I do in a past lifetime to deserve this nutso filly club...... I have to say that with time and patience(and a little herbal scoop or two in my case) and I am in the come he%% or high water, this nag and I are in it to the end club. I think if you are in a position to sit back and really evaluate your horse to find out what does and does not work , then you are doing right by it. Not everyone can do that, so it's not a plan that works for all. But if you are seeing results, then you obviously are on the right track. Hacking my fool around at the track really got her comfortable with her temporary home. I think as I rode around the backside, the other horses were either like what the heck is that chick doing or wow what a lucky horse!! Best wishes in your endeavor.

[LKR]

soex4me, what herbal scoop did you use? I think I need some of that.
Have a few fillies here at home who are a bit trying, they are only yearlings, so they have time to come around. Thanks for the reply, it helps to know that others have their "problem child" too. I believe the mental break is the key. Will know soon.

[doublete]

I started my goofy filly back at the track about 2 weeks ago (after her 5 week vacation), every day she gets her Thia Cal. I also have been training her on an ace pill just to get her going in the right direction. But, I take her with the pony and she is never given an opportunity to think about doing the things she was known to do before I got her. I did two min lick her a few days ago, with no ace, no problems.

If you think the filly is worth the time, play with different ways to get the most out of her. My friend has a filly that MUST train with the pony. She has dropped nearly every rider at the track prior to figuring her out. Since then she was a mere length from being stakes placed.

[spex4me]

I used Relaxher. http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=6

I really noticed a mental shift at around 5-7 days. She only recieved one scoop in her nightly feed. I ceased it after about 21 days. She was really sketchy and 'high' acting. I think part was immaturity and part was a teensy bit fear. She was never mean per say, more like I'm flighty b/c I won't settle and learn. Everyone suggested ace but many moons ago I used to do parades all the time and I always gave valerian root. I saw many people get dumped by the fire truck but it was never me. So a colleague suggested the supplement route. She is a late March 2 year old. But has come so far in a year people can't even fathom she is so young. Sometimes I can't either lol.

I took this horse to the track twice this year. The first time didn't last b/c she went absolutely bananas when we were loading her 'gelding' pony up to go home. She began crashing against her gate and kicking the hell out of the walls. I immediately pulled her out and slapped her on the trailer. I would rather justify missed training than a fracture. The second time we went back without the buddy and I did some preventative Relaxher. She was golden. She wasn't happy at first but there was no acting out. She mentally figured out the routine in about 5 days and the Relaxher wasn't given after that. But I also walked (grazed) and/or rode her easily 2-3 hours every day.

I also found that being too predictable did her no good. So I would vary her morning and afternoon out times by an hour or two. Some horses do well with routine others not and still others that just need some tweaking. But I have the luxury of 'knowing' my nag inside and out. I get to observe more than many owners so that was a huge help. I guess I'll find out next year if this all pays off, or if I have a really nice ring horse! I never want to see that it might appear I have asked too much too soon on any horse.

And having a buddy to mimic that is actually worth mimicing training wise is priceless also. A great pony horse is worth it's weight in gold. Not to mention the confidence it builds. A side about using supplements with valerian is that I have been advised 14-21 days is window for absolutely clearing the system. But both vets I checked with weren't 100% certain in that it could also be a little shorter or longer.

So far a few other people have borrowed some of my left over powder and have had similiar pleasant results.....even on a colt lol.

[LKR]

This filly was a jewel at the track. She did everything right. The only problem they ever had with her was if there was a bunch of horses coming at her when she was leaving the track. If everyone was going the same direction as she was, no problem. However, if they were coming at her she got nervous, which I believe stems from a terrible accident she had as a yearling. She and her paddock friend were playing, running along the fence line and crashed into each other head on, each turned the same way to avoid each other. Her friend had to eventually be put down fromher injury. That is why she is fearful in a situation where horses are coming at her on the track. When working next to horses she has no problem, every one is going the same direction.

[spex4me]

Sounds like she has one major mental obstacle to overcome. She has to become comfortable once again with the approach of other horses. That sounds like something that will take patience and repetition. Slowly introducing her to horses coming at her starting from square one of every one being on lead as opposed to saddled. Perhaps having two trustworthy (i.e. non kickers) trot slowly on lead towards her eventually and her to trot towards them on lead. She should do all sorts of variations of cutting the middle or calmly executing rounding to the outside or inside of the other pair. I am sure some people would start with riders on everyone. And that may work, but I will always track back to square one. Even if that includes a buddy someone has to lead in front of her to show she has somewhat of a barrier until she figures out she can beat her fear.

I think that if she is doing well in the other aspects you have a filly that will be capable of overcoming what she might believe is insurmountable right now. Good luck and I hope she does it for you!

[LKR]

Took her to back to the track Wednesday. She had had 6 weeks off. They took her out today and back tracked her and galloped her very easy to see how she handled it. Two horses were working while she was back-tracking and she never lifted an eye brow when they went by her. She went down the lane just fine. They didn't have blinkers or anything else on her. They remarked that she is a "cool" horse. We shall see.

[spex4me]

Awesome continued good luck with her!!

[LKR]

Had her first work out. It was a good one. 2/4 at 4f. Will work again this weekend. Legs were good the next day.

[Rez]

I have a Cahill Road filly I bought at the Winter mixed sale last year and all she does is stall walk. Put her in training got one start out of her at the fair meet and then turned her out. When she was in training it was not that bad. Now she is not in training and turned out in a huge field and all she does is walk in a circle.

[zinn21]

Rez wrote:

I have a Cahill Road filly I bought at the Winter mixed sale last year and all she does is stall walk. Put her in training got one start out of her at the fair meet and then turned her out. When she was in training it was not that bad. Now she is not in training and turned out in a huge field and all she does is walk in a circle.

Is she with other horses in turnout?

[jennywho]

Kathy I am glad to hear that your filly is doing well. Will look forward to watching her first out.

Are you and Rez going to be at the winter disaster? I mean sale?