Bad Bess

B

Bessieboo

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 August 2009
Messages
303
Visit site
Hi guys

Last night I decided to do a little bit of schooling on Bess and for the first time since I bought her (about 5 months ago) she was really naughty and it completely threw me.

Bess is normally the most level headed little mare who goes when you ask her and stops when you ask her too but last night she was acting like something had her blood up. When trotting she kept trying to go faster and faster, would not even attempt to come into outline and in sitting trot constantly decided to walk. Then in canter she either trotted faster and faster or shot off like a wild banshee!

I blame me to be honest as the lady who has been given me lessons always tells me it's the riders fault but I feel so disheartened.

When I bought her she was seen just as a ploddy little cob only fit for hacking. However since I have owned her she has come on in leaps and bounds - we had won second place in jumping (when I got her she just used to run out at every jump and I had never jumped before) and we are working on our schooling and working in outline. I often get compliments on how she is now a different horse etc but after last night I feel like somehow I have gone back in time.

I think some of it is because I feel inexperienced still and question myself over what I am doing with her etc. I just want to be able to ride her well and for her to be happy.

Oh well thanks for listening guys just needed to get it off my sad little chest.

Boo x
 
First things first - back, teeth,saddle etc do they need checking ?
Second - Has she ever been schooled before ? She may just be totally confused as to what you are asking her to do
Thirdly - Not always the riders fault . She could just be having a bad day - You could be having a bad day, they do pick up on these things
Suggest you get an experienced instructor/friend who will help you through this bad patch.
Don't worry we all have bad days, just concentrate on what you have achieved so far
 
If she is acting out of character you need to find the reason why. Horses cant talk, they can ony communicte through their behaviour. Good owners are distinguished from bad because they read the behavior and try to understand it. As digger says, check everyting then get someone experienced to help you get to the bottom of it.
 
Don't blame yourself or her!! It sounds like you have done loads with her since getting her - just put it down to one of those days - they all have them!! As you say she is now fit so tanking around in trot is easy for her
laugh.gif
! My cob is the same when she gets one on her - so I just let her keep going in trot (slow it down with your seat not your hands as cobs will just pull against you) for as long as she wants and then make her trot some more.
grin.gif


Mine was like it last night to - we spent 40 minutes doing a huge trot - well it was more like stomp as he was in such a mood
wink.gif
!! - but he was worn out in the end!! It was the combines in the nearby fields that had upset him!!
blush.gif
 
We all have days like this. It doesn't mean that it was necessarily you or that you haven't made all the progress that you thought you had.

Was there anything different? Wind? Rain? Pigeons having it off in a tree? (Yes that happened to me once and D was most upset) Have you changed her feed/tack/turnout?

Its possible all the horses had been having a hoon round the field before you brought her in to ride and she was still feeling excited, sometimes you just don't know.
 
Echo the above about getting things checked..........but it could also be that she is much fitter than she was in her previous home. Zoom was turned away when I got her and the more her fitness improves......the more 'oaty' she feels.

Don't put yourself down, everybody (horses and people) have off days. Just think about all those things you have acheived with her and it will spur you on to dust yourself off and move forward.
 
We all have days like that. She might have been feeling a bit stroppy about something or tired so didn't want to work. She didn't do anything nasty so if that's as bad as her protests get, then she's obviously a good little girl! Just put it behind you and try again. I'm sure it won't, but if it keeps happening there could be a reason for it like teeth, saddle or back pain so it might be worth getting things checked.
 
Thanks for that guys.

To be totally honest I did try a different saddle with her at first, could this be the cause?

I changed back to her normal saddle but she still seemed out of sorts.

Also I think I was a little aggitated myself as I am having quite a rough time at work and feel quite stressed.

Gonna take a night off riding tonight and just relax I think.

Tomorrow I have a lesson and hopefully things will be ok, if not at least I can see what the instructor thinks.

Boo x
 
Yep as said previously - one of those days. Infact I had one of those days yesterday when my warmblood was acting like a real tit !!
 
I agree with dwi, it was probably the different saddle which upset her, so even when you put her one back on she was still a little upset. Definately get a saddle fitter out if your thinking of changing saddles, if you posted on here you would get loads of recommendations of good ones in your area.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top