Advice for bringing back to work

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Bluesparks

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I have recently taken on a 16yr old 16.2 warmblood mare who has been used as a brood mare for the last 6-7 years, she is used to living out and not really being handled at all, she takes a whole to settle in the stable and can be awkward to tack up and do in the stable, however I have ridden her 3 times (once a hack out with a friend) and she hasn't put a foot wrong, she won't stand to get on and rushes off as soon as you get on but soon settles, she walks very fast and forward but doesn't shy spook or anything she's just really on a mission, just wanted some advice on getting her settled and calm and happier with me and what I want to do which is basically to hack out a few times a week and just maybe a bit of dressage as she seems like at some point she has been educated well. Thanks!
 
If she's used to living out and not particularly happy stabled, can she not live out with you?

If she was mine, I'd be starting from scratch with her. Before hacking out, I'd spend time with her, getting her used to grooming, to a leadrope with me on the end of it, to being tied up, basic voice commands, mounting and dismounting etc. She may or may not know all this already but a) you won't necessarily know what she does and doesn't know until you try them out and (more importantly) b) it will build up her trust in you and your relationship with her.

Just my thoughts...I'm sure plenty would do things differently :)
 
pookie said:
Just my thoughts...I'm sure plenty would do things differently :)
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I think that's all super advice :D I too would go back to basics, re-back and bring on as I would for a youngster (although you can usually progress a little quicker if you judge they are happy and confident at each step).

Time and patience and I'm sure you'll have a lovely riding horse by the end of the summer :)
 
Thank you very much makes perfect sense, have now hacked her out 3 times and so far so good!! Does need more groundwork though and time spent handling her I agree, when it stops raining and the howling wind goes away I will be doing so!!
 
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