Do Horses Get Upset?

We have been very blessed today with 10mls of rain overnight. Just enough to carry on from the lot we have had over the last few weeks. There is plenty of new growth in the paddocks, the dams are still to the brim and the contours are still full of water. It certainly brought a smile to our face when we went Flyveil Hunting this morning. We seem to have a few "Harry" and "Harriet" Houdinis who are very adept in taking off their fly veil and leaving them in the remotest parts of the paddock (deliberately one would suspect if you knew the personalities of the horses!).

Do Horses Get Upset and show signs of depression? I believe so. Vicky our 3yo Vettori filly who although tried her heart out, was sacked by our trainer cause she was not fast enough (a very good reason i would suspect). Came home to us 3 weeks ago and was promptly sent off to Polo School to see if she would be suitable there.

I might add at this stage that Vicky did not have a mark, a cut or a hair out of place on her.

To start this story back at the beginning of this ill fated trip might be a good idea.

It was about 5 days after the last rain deluge and our house paddocks were very very slushy and yukky. The paddock (opposite our bedroom) has a crush at one end of it and this was where Vick was to get onto the truck. No problems, like a good girl she walked up the crush into the truck, was tied up and then was to be on her way to Polo School (PS for short).

Out of all the places this bloke could have taken the truck, he decided the muddy, slushy yukky spot was where he would drive the truck and indeed he got bogged.

To cut a long and boring part of the story short, an hour or so later, he was on his way with Vick who stood in the truck like a trooper to PS.

Friday I hear back from the prospective new owner that Miss Vick has "suddenly" become a windsucker. This was news to me as according to the trainer she was a good gal in the stables and never did anything silly like windsuck, roar, weave etc etc. Also that she was difficult and threw herself down on the ground and behaved like a mad girl. This was also news to me as I had also been told by the trainer that while Vick was a little bit of a fidget on the ground, to ride her was to be given a ride on an angel.

I got the feeling that the prospective owner really didnt like Vick from the start, so there were now two good reasons why they couldnt take her on. So, Miss Vicky was coming back in the same truck that took her away. I nearly died when i saw her on her return.

Vicky had a huge scar down the front of her face in the shape of a meat hook, it was the length of her nose. She also had had a run in on her near front and took some hair off there. Not to mention a stiff motion when she walked eminating from her hind quarters.

I nearly died.

I let Vicky alone the first day, gave her some dinner and thought i would take a closer look the next day (Saturday).

Come Saturday I was sitting in the study and looked out to the left to see a poor forlorn figure standing very still with her head down, looking very very sad. I got up from my chair and went out to see her.

On hearing my voice she came up to me and put her head into my chest for a cuddle and stood there for what seemed like hours.... I gave her a big cuddle and reassured her that nothing WOULD EVER hurt her, like her experience at PS, again.

Today (Sunday) both Evan and I went "flyveil hunting" which took us around the property and an opportunity to give each horse a cuddle. When we got to Vick, Evan was shocked at how upset she was within herself. Once a vibrant, happy-go-lucky filly now very very sad indeed.

I dont know what happened to Vicky at PS and Iam sure that i would be horrified if I found out what transpired but one thing I do know is that Vicky aint going anywhere soon and we will be keeping a very close eye on how she is, emotionally, over the next few weeks.

Helen.

I know, I know we dont need another broodie or another horse and she would present a couple of thousand to us, which is most wanted... but at what price???