Re: Panic Attack - Long

["Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@cruzio.com>]

I have a 7 year old who is "cinchy", too.  It's worse when he's cold (early
AM on rides).  I have to be extremely careful how I girth him, and I never
leave him tied when I do up the girth.  I let him walk around me in circles.
It's a nuisance, but it seems to keep him level-headed.  Once I'm on him,
he's OK, but I have to girth him tight enough to get on, then I can take up
two notches, after I ride him a bit.  I've had him rear back, flip upside
down on top of the saddle, and lie there in a catatonic state until I loosen
the girth,  Then he gets up.  Some people have suggested claustrophobia,
caused by the girth tightening around his belly.  Haven't a clue, just have
to deal with it.  You might think of this as you are working with the mare,
maybe lunge her some before getting on.  The ability to move seems to relax
their anxieties.

Barbara


----- Original Message -----
From: <guest@endurance.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 7:12 AM
Subject: RC: Panic Attack - Long


> Sallie Sullivan mateef@aol.com
> I've got a BIG problem. Lastnight I was going to go on a moonlight ride
> with a friend. Trailered over to friend's house and saddled up my 5yo
> mare. I spent time tightening the saddle one notch at a time, but I'm
> thinking not enough time now.  She stood perfectly still while I got on
> but I could tell (hindsight being 20/20) that she wasn't comfortable as
> soon as I settled my butt in the saddle. Should have gotten off right then
> (that 20/20 hindsight again). After I tried to relax her by bending her
> head a couple of times, she completely exploded.  To make
> a long story short, she flipped over on me, paused, got up and
> flipped over again. She either hit her head when she fell the second time
> and passed out or passed out from hyperventilating and therefore fell.  It
> seemed a very long time before we could get her up.
> Completely stripped her tack, I had to physically unlock her jaw to get
> her to release the bit to get the bridle off. Once we finally did get her
> up, she had a couple of places where hair was missing, but no apparent
> lasting ill effects from all this.
> Here's my problem. I'm convinced this was a panic attack arising from
> (a) the saddle being too snug too quick and (b) I just had her shoes
> pulled and she was standing on rough gravel and her feet hurt.  I'm
> planning on changing the rigging on my saddle to be able to use a girth
> with elastic in it to aleviate that claustrophic feeling she must have had
> and of course I'll be more cognizant of her footing.  I really feel that
> she's just immature and needs me to help her through this. My husband
> feels she's downright dangerous and wants me to get rid of her. I'm fairly
> banged up and bruised from her landing on me,
> but it could have been worse.  What should I do?
> Thanks for any insights or suggestions.
> Sallie from NE Ohio
>
>
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