Any advice for very bolchy-no manners-headstrong mare

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agreenhalgh

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My heavyweight cob is very difficult at times and at the moment she is completely taking over me. She leans against me in the stable,even though i tell her off... if she's not lead in a bridle she bolts off, and the big problem is she is IMPOSSIBLE to catch, tried every trick in my book, and unless you take every horse in from the field, i get her bum swung in my face then she bolts off kicking in the air.
Its getting beyond funny now when I have just spent an hour trying to catch her and she wont come in. I am wondering what i can do to install some respect in her and get her to behave herself.she gets ridden every day and is a very safe horse on board, but on the ground, shes awful
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Its embaressing to say the least and very ,very frustrating. I know, come summer, she is going to be a nightmare.
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My first thoughts are - Does she need to come in? If she doesnt want to then can't you just leave her out? Obviously don't leave her out once you have tried as she will learn that you give up but don't even attempt to catch her in?

I know this is only one point but I am illegally on the internet at work
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and therefore only answered what immediately came into my head!!
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I find that I have to work with my mare on the ground on a regular basis or she gets a bit 'feral'. So even on a day off she gets a brush, rugs straigthened, feet done etc and she HAS to be polite (she's a nipper and kicker).

You could start in the school if she is good there, and make her respect your space, leading, with lots of halts and moving her over away from you. insist that she doesn't push you around - a sharp poke with your elbow at her shoulder accompanied by 'Oi' or 'No' is better than a thousand slaps!
Then you can try the same with grooming etc - is there somewhere outside the stable where you can tie her up and move her around safely?

With the catching, can she go out in a headcollar with a short (6ins) piece of rope attached? This will make her easier to grab. You might need to enlist some help - a calm friend to help her her into a corner and maybe just turnout with one or two other horses so it is not a big hassle to get her on her own. Go and catch her when you're not planning to ride her - bring her in, make fuss of her with grooming/scratches, perhaps give her a small feed (I would avoid feeding titbits from your hand to anything pushy) so that she associates being caught with nice things rather than work.

Mares can be infuriating - you have to get them on your side while ensuring that they understand exactly who is boss!
 
shes out at the moment with a headcollar and rope but as soon as i grab it she bolts off and i end up with rope burns and mud in my face
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Thanks for your advice, i will deff be alot more aware of everything i am doing with her, shes deff get away with far too much.
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Zero tolerance is my opinion she must do what she is told when she is told no excuses, if you ask her to go back when you go in the stable she must move back etc. My mare is an angle most of the time but if i relax with her too much she starts to ignore me and needs telling.

I agree with working in the ménage with handling you need to build up a bond so that she wants to do as she is told but i wouldn’t us tip bits. Try using the end of a whip to get her to move away from you and say over at the same time and the jab. Also try a Dooley head collar and maybe get someone to work with you on how to use it, if you walk towards her she should move back and if you walk on so should she.

Also how is she in the field with others? Is she to boss of the field?

Some horse need putting in their place in the field it is a natural pecking order.

How is she on the lunge with voice commands?

Just be strong and use body language she has to submit to you and see you has head of the field not her.
 
i have worked with a very similar horse. but everything i did is way to long to put on here. pm if you want and il talk you through what i did in small chunks. it might help you. x x
 
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Also try a Dooley head collar and maybe get someone to work with you on how to use it, if you walk towards her she should move back and if you walk on so should she.

Also how is she in the field with others? Is she to boss of the field?

Some horse need putting in their place in the field it is a natural pecking order.

How is she on the lunge with voice commands?

Just be strong and use body language she has to submit to you and see you has head of the field not her.

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I was thinking about investing in a training halter...she has just moved yards, but at the last yard she was the boss in the field...on the lunge she is a pain, she turns in unless i chase and get behind her.
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sigh i have alot of time at the moment so am willing to sort this out and work with her, if onl i knew what the key was to sort it. i will do some ground work with her this afternoon if i can catch her...which is not gonna happen anytime soon
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I am being serious she sounds like a very rude lady who knows she is in control.. To put it in "modern" speak you must be the herd leader to gain any respect. She is walking all over you & pushing you around thats just an accident waiting to happen
 
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deffinatley. shes in for a wake up call tonight
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I am obviously being too soft.

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Do you have an instructor to maybe help you? It sounds to me that she lacks respect on the lunge, maybe somebody with more experience can show her and you the way to do it.
 
she lacks respect. period. dont have an instructor. i do lunge her and shes very good being long reined, but on the lunge i have to really watch it and make sure i get behind her to get her going before she turns in.
 
I can't recommend more highly using a pressure halter - I had quite a bit of trouble with my very strong coblet pony dragging me around at the end of last summer, but the pressure halter taught him he has to respect me, and meant I didn't have to get cross with him, I could just apply the pressure and wait until he worked out for himself that life is much easier if he just does as I ask.

Do some groundwork practice, getting her to move sideways, back etc when you're on the ground. If she's not moving back, don't be afraid to take a good pinch on her chest and twist it, but obviously it is hugely important that as soon as she starts to move back you release and reward her.

Mine used to do the turning in thing on the lunge, which has almost been sorted now, I had a confident, experienced friend lunge him, he threw a mega tantrum, she pushed him on, he has since decided it's not really worth fighting anymore.

You really can't be soft with cobs, they're too damn clever
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You just ahve to KNOW you've got the upper hand, which is why I like the pressure halter so much.
 
Daisy was very like this when I first got her so don't beat yourself up, it happens to lots of people. Ignore any people on your yard who suggest that you sell/shoot etc. I had to put up with alot of very hurtful comments but I now have a stunning mare who is easy to handle.

I chose to have someone out from the Monty Roberts site to train me in catching, leading and using a dually halter. Have a look on www.montyroberts.co.uk and under Recomended Associates. I had been around horses since the age of four and would have classed myself as fairly experienced at handling a wide variety of horses but I really needed expert help. There is a big difference between having someone to help you who has trained and sees problem horses all day and getting a knowledgeable friend to give you a hand. It cost me £50 to have someone out and that was money very well spent.
 
Would second what dwi said. I to have a cob mare who still after 8 years of being with me can get bolshy and try and charge off. I always use a dually headcollar on her and when she starts getting bargy (especially bad at this time of year when there is no grass and she is hungry) I do some basic groundwork that we learnt at the start to remind her of her manners and it works at treat. Get in touch with IH and get the local RA to teach you how to use the dually properly and the basic groundwork - is money well spent. As others have said you need to be confident and strong with cobs but don't take it to far as they also seem to have a strong survival instinct which will kick in (in more ways than one!) and because of their size and strength they will win. Better that you both learn together - the hardest thing to do is to stay calm and not loose it when what you really want to do is strangle the little git! A bit of patience and the right help will sort it out. Good luck - let us know how you get on.
 
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