A bad habit? Or something else...?

[Darkprincessh]

Hi all,

Positive note - great bit of schooling today. Only one bolt and corrected immeditately by being halted and made to stand until I was ready to go. Rode her on a longer reign and gave her more head, which I felt she appreciated and returned the trust with some good word and response to the bit....

Not so positive note and the reason for the thread...

When out hacking the mare I ride can be a little "joggy". She is very forward going but nothing I cant handle, even as a novice, however on the way home and always when we get to the final field, she starts pulling her head forward tearing the reigns through my fingers. She is in season at the moment so stopped at the gate to the field yesterday and wouldnt move at all. After some gentle coaxing and some stern words she trot/walked sideways up the field, but all the times ripping the reigns out of my hands.

Is this a bad habbit or is she uncomfortable?

Thanking you in advance for your wise words...

 

[jeeve]

sounds like it could become a habit, is this the first time that she has done this?

Can you hack out with others, it may help. Just sounds like she is not listening to you and has other priorities, so would work on calm relaxed responsive and listening to you, do you get a good result working at home?

 

[babymare]

my first thoughts here is "is this a place she would normally gallop/canter up"- horses know and creatures of habit esp when going home horse phsycoligy here needed - ok she pulls so turn away walk back down to field till relaxes pulling ( some one on floor if ness for added confidence) when relaxes pulling turn back to home repeat till walks quiet up home but refrain from a canter or gallop up there till she learns to walk. dont try to halt her or slow her as this could cause probs always forward going either home or away from home - perservere hun honest xxxx

 

[Darkprincessh]

Not the first time shes done it, and always at the same spot. I try not to halt her, because I find she gets aggitated if I stop her, but do try and keep her going forward at a steady pace. Not always the easiest of things when she is so head strong!

I will try walking her back down the field at a steady pace, I am just wary that she likes to jump like a frog and plant herself on all fours repeatedly when she is asked assertively to do something she doesnt want to.

Working at home is fine, she listens (most of the time) and I am learning to trust her and she to trust me, its just out and about. She used to be used for endurance riding, so has a lot of energy to burn.

I am going to take her in the school for half an hour next time I ride out, try burn some energy off i a safer environment.

The place she was misvehaving - I am unsure as to whether this is the cantering/galloping spot, but would suggest it could be as it is the last stretch of land where she could have a good stretch before we get home.

I wont give up on her, just needed a little guidance as to how to turn her from devil animal into mildly better behaved animal! ha!

Thank you!