Lessons, Farriers, All Horse Eaters Oh My!

Yesterday we had a lesson with our dressage trainer.  I had her work him in lines to see just how much we had accomplished in 2 weeks.  Except he was so afraid of her that he just wanted to super trot around blindly for the first 10 mins.  At one point he ended up with the bit under his tongue, when she slowed him to fix it, he reared up to get away from her.  *sigh*

Today I again worked him in lines, W/T/C both directions.  He's very sticky going to the right, but he'll be seeing a Magnawave/Body Work therapist on Tuesday. Other than some ear pinning and being a little uncomfortable going to the right, he was great.  We did several transisitions from walk to trot, trot to canter, and back down.  He tried each time.  I was very happy with him.  Cooled him down and stuck him on the cross ties while I picked poop. ( I know this seems like information you dont need, howevere it will make more sense in a few minutes why I stress that he was fine standing tied here.)

So I can hear the farrier's truck coming up, and as soon as Loki realizes it, he panics. At the time I tried not to react, but he makes it almost impossible to pretend that everything is ok when is head is as high as possible, eyes white, and trying to pull the barn down.
Uncrosstie him.  Walk him out to the gate so he can see the farrier approach him.  Make him stand there, head lowered, and then walk him back to the barn.

I didnt put him back on the crossties, frankly because I'm tired of him breaking them when he panics. Poor choice? Eh, maybe, but I do what I think is right. 

Farrier gets to work and we're all fine and dandy until Loki's pasturemates start making noise on the other side of the barn wall. Loki loses it. Rears up, Farrier hangs on, Loki fights, farrier keeps leg, after maybe 30-45 seconds (seriously it felt like a lifetime, embarrassed horse mom hates these moments) Loki stops attempting to rear, farrier releases leg.  But now he wont straighten out on the mat, and wont approach the farrier.  After trying to sidepass him several times back towards the middle of the mat and towards the farrier, he started trying to pin me against the stall walls.  I'd had enough and (I call it angry backing, because it usually happens when I'm pissed) angry backed him out of the barn and off through the pasture.  He diagonally backed half way through the pasture before I allowed him to quit. 

Brought him back to the barn, farrier finished him up, no problems. 

This horse will stand on crossties all day if its just me and him.  Whether the other horses are close by, far off, whatever.  He also stands quietly at the trailer fine.  I say that just so its understood that it isnt a standing problem.  Its a true fearful, "this farrier is a horse eater" moment. 

He makes me feel so inadequate as a horsewoman.  But, tomorrow is another day.

Introduction to My Silly Pony

I hate blogging.  I feel like one of those people who feels like their lives are important and interesting, but in reality... its not. 

I've created this blog to keep track of the progress of my Friesian X Quarter Pony cross.  And maybe, there is someone out in blogger land that has the same issues with their horse.

Loki is 8 years old, 14h, unconfirmed but assumed IR pony.  He is fed plain grass hay only.
I balk at calling him a genuine "rescue" case, but after what we can assume was a pretty rough few years of his life...whatevs.  I've owned him since October 2014. We're currently training/schooling in dressage.  We also ride trails, ride through town, and eventually he will become a member of our volunteer search and rescue team, that is when he's no longer crazy.

So begins the purpose of this blog.

Loki is terrified of people.  If you're not me, you're a horse eater.

At first we thought it was mostly men.  But, nope, Loki isn't sexist.  He believes in equality.  All humans are equally evil.

Why did I buy a crazy horse?  Well, I didn't intend to.  My best answer to this question is, Loki must have been in a shutdown, checked out, elevator stopped at the basement, lights on but nobody's home state of mind when I tried him. Twice.  He was quiet, nervous maybe, but quiet.  Saddled fine, rode fine, felt good... I fell in love.  I HAD to have him.  It was like fate couldn't let me walk away.
I now believe that at the time I was looking at him, he had been so bullied, beaten, harassed, whatever, that he just chose to shutdown instead of show anything.

Brought him home, started basic groundwork with him.  Quickly realized there was a very intelligent pony in there somewhere. (Found out later, that indeed his first trainer at done A LOT with him.  She and I figured out that he had gone through 4 'homes' (hell holes?) between her and I.) 

Out comes the farrier.  Loki loses his ish.  That was an interesting eye opening day.  Something is very wrong here... (a year and half later, and Loki is STILL afraid of the farrier.  He gets his feet done, but the poor guy is tense, stiff, and borderline suicidal the entire time.) 
But again, with me, he was happy.  Calm. An easy ride.

Took him to a friends barn not long after we got him.  Knew he was nervous, looked and felt like a bomb ready to explode, got on anyways. 
Loki graciously dismounted me.  Got back on.  Went home.

Fast forward with a bunch of riding alone down the rode... riding with friends.... riding in an arena... etc etc.  Loki still flinches, eyes white, the minute another person goes to approach or touch him.

So here we are.  6 months into our dressage training.  I have a lesson with our trainer every other week.
I cant even begin to explain how frustrating it is to go two weeks working him, getting some amazing moments of real work, and really trying, real stretches, etc.... to lesson day where the horse is terrified of my trainer to even approach him.

I'm interested in your opinions, ideas, whatever you think would help.