My mare hates being restricted or restrained. Something went on in her past ( she has scarring on her poll for starters) and she can be very quirky. Holding onto her headcollar to touch her ears is a big no, but don't hold on and she's fine. I can just about clip her loose in the box but not tied or even with a headcollar on. She is literally terrified and will head plant into the floor. Saddle has to be fitted a little wider as she hates being restricted and made it very clear! She's taken a long time to get use to my leg being gently on and worries if you close your knee or hand.
Schooling has been a huge work in progress, she was a child's showjump pony before and when I got her only did walk and canter, there was no trot, no left canter and lunging was at speed until shattered then stop. This has all been re taught and she now lunges nicely and can trot calmly in a rhythm.
My issue now is the sand school. before I put her rushing and head up and tongue waggling due to needing more schooling, building muscle/topline and finding her balance. However, having recently had access to a field to school in she is a different horse. The field is huge, she's warmed up the same but is free, rhythmic, soft and no issues with left canter and very balanced in all three paces. I use the same size area as the school to school in but there is no fencing. Then when we go back to the school she's tense, rushing, won't take the contact down and blindly panics.
Any suggestions for helping her over come this panic so she can work as nicely as she does in the field? The field is fine for summer but come winter I can't use it as its clay and no lights, we would also like to get out to dressage and jumping on sand at some point. She's turned out in the arena sometimes and shows no distress. Lunging is getting better but again she still panics and if she loses balance, she will then shoot off and panic more when restricted by the lunge line. I just want her to feel as ease with the school as she does in the field.
Schooling has been a huge work in progress, she was a child's showjump pony before and when I got her only did walk and canter, there was no trot, no left canter and lunging was at speed until shattered then stop. This has all been re taught and she now lunges nicely and can trot calmly in a rhythm.
My issue now is the sand school. before I put her rushing and head up and tongue waggling due to needing more schooling, building muscle/topline and finding her balance. However, having recently had access to a field to school in she is a different horse. The field is huge, she's warmed up the same but is free, rhythmic, soft and no issues with left canter and very balanced in all three paces. I use the same size area as the school to school in but there is no fencing. Then when we go back to the school she's tense, rushing, won't take the contact down and blindly panics.
Any suggestions for helping her over come this panic so she can work as nicely as she does in the field? The field is fine for summer but come winter I can't use it as its clay and no lights, we would also like to get out to dressage and jumping on sand at some point. She's turned out in the arena sometimes and shows no distress. Lunging is getting better but again she still panics and if she loses balance, she will then shoot off and panic more when restricted by the lunge line. I just want her to feel as ease with the school as she does in the field.