5 steps forwards 7 steps back with young mare

L

lady lou

Member
Joined
21 December 2010
Messages
11
Visit site
Hi guys, hope someone can help me!

I've bought my welsh sec D at 2 half years old doing lots of ground work with her I broke her at 3 yo. She has just turned 4 and now introducing some more work. She was fairly easy to break and is very brave but now I am having problems. It seems we are now going backwards instead of forwards. She is slowly becoming more & more hard work. Hacking is ok once I'm on! Sometimes it takes me several attempts to mount. She has become very joggy and spooky, (never like this before). It does seem she is impatient and raring to go?

Schooling - she has learnt the art of bucking, and is trying to tank. spooking at every little thing. She does seems to love her work, and has gone over poles and a few jumps fairly confidently back a few months ago, but today we had snaking in to the poles, she hit the last pole with her back leg and decided it was the most scariest thing in the world and try to bolt. She has become heavy in the hand and trys to nap at the gate or others in the field, bending is a bit of an issue and now cantering is becoming a bit hairy. I can't give her an inch at the mo.

Back to hacking... we do fairly decent rides, canters etc, she behaves but on the way home when we are both chilled and tired she'll leap in the air and buck on the roads for no reason.

Is this the teenage phase, feeling well? not getting enough work.. I'm dreading winter as i will only be able to ride at weekends. what do i do? I don't want to loose confidence in her or myself..

Any answers would be great...

Thanks in advance
 
Sounds like a typical baby...

You sound like a really good mum and she's lucky to have you, don't sweat it, you have years and years to get it right. She's only little and you sound like you have a great bond so just go with it

xx
 
may be she is due a break to think about what she has learnt? she is only just 4 shame about learning the bucking! why is she heavy in the hand? sounds like a break is in order then back to basics insisting in good manners ie like standing still to get on. good luck. no i wouldnt increase the workload, but would try to increase the quality of it.
 
hi, have you had all the usual checks done? ie saddle, back, teeth. Obviously your horse is still growing and changing shape so its a possibilty your saddle no longer fits as well as it has? If you have had all the usual tests etc then it does sound like shes pushing her boundries and having a teenage moment. i would try doing some more ground work to re-establish the whole respect/ trust thing as if she doesnt respect you on the ground shes just gonna take the pee under saddle, i know its going backwards but a wee reminder as to who's boss wouldnt hurt.

sorry if you know all this already ...:p
 
It could be many things as she is only a baby.

Have you checked her back/saddle and had her teeth done all these are changing at this age.

Has she had a break since she was first backed,if not she could maybe benefit from a month or two turned away.

I would go back to basics for a while reestablish the standing to mount,get someone to assist.

Go quietly hacking with another horse, walking all the way getting her to relax.

She sounds a fairly strong minded girl,as Ds often are and may need plenty to occupy her brain,with young ones I often work them for a few weeks then give them a week off.I find this can help stop them getting too fit and then needing more to keep them calm .
 
Even if you have had your tack etc checked recently, I'd check it all again. When horses are growing as she will be, they change shape very quickly.
I remember my 4 yr old welshDxTB started head-shaking on the way home from hacks. I thought it was because she was tired, until I realised that actually her browband was now too tight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top