advice on backing

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smellsofhorse

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I have a 7 year old tb mare.

She was lightly backed as a 2 year old but was too slow to race so she was used as a companion for about five years.

Now 7 i have taken her on to back and bring on.

I am experience and have done this lots of times before.
Including my tb x who i bought as an untouched stallion, he was very challenging!

In the last couple of years after having my daughter i have mainly re schooled ex race horses.

Now i think i have more fear than before and am finding her challenging!
She lunges and long reins well, after the initial spooking of the saddle!

I can lean over her from the mounting block and she will stand, she has taken all my weight.

If doing this from a block in the school she doesnt want to stand next to it though!
Getting any further than this though is the problem.
She spooks when she sees anything on the other side of her.

I know its alot about repetition and desensitizing her to is.

I have also though of giving her a calmer supplement to rid her of the nerves.
In general life she is a laid back mare but with the unknown is very nervy.

Any advice would be great, i feel i am letting her down if i cant progress any more.
 
I know this sounds a bit strange but you could try fixing a doll or teddy (with a stiff back) to the saddle so she gets used to the idea of seeing something on her back. This way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of the weight of something on her back and can focus on seeing something back there and realise that its not actually so scary after all!
 
And again from me, a boiler suit stuffed with straw, works well just tie to saddle, so its upright and arms move around. Have also seen bells and bags added too

Good luck
 
cliodhna said:
I know this sounds a bit strange but you could try fixing a doll or teddy (with a stiff back) to the saddle so she gets used to the idea of seeing something on her back. This way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of the weight of something on her back and can focus on seeing something back there and realise that its not actually so scary after all!
Click to expand...

Yeah i thought of that, am going to make one!
 
I hate using anything like a straw man & think they can make the horse buck & freak, they also don't react like a person does. I would only use one with a horse which was consistently trying to dislodge the rider.

If your mare is just spooked because she sees you places she doesn't expect to, can't you repeat the backing stuff on her other side? I also think you should get them used to having someone above them, so standing on the mounting block lots and letting her get used to you being above & behind her.
 
All of my horses are backed in their stables, albeit large stables. I would suggest you do this or I would get on her in a school or lunge ring. Have someone at her head when you get on and get them to walk with you. If she's fine then have a trot - person can stand in the middle here!! Start off in sitting trot and then go into rising. If you have someone who's REALLY proficent at lunging you can do this on the lunge. If she was in training she'd have been broken in and ridden for a period of time so should be fine after getting over the initial shock of having someone on her back again. Contrary to belief racehorses are not broken in, galloped and then it's decided they are too slow!!!
 
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