Bargy mare?

[niagaraduval]

The mare at our yard [i loan her for free she's just something to keep me busy with whilst my horse is turned out etc..] is VERY bargy. She pushes me out of the way a lot.
She was ridden in a Pelham for years and went to a snaffle about 3 months ago. I was leading her out of the gate to get onto the mounting block and i tried to stop her and she just barged me out of the way. She does this a lot. I was at a junction and had to pull her back with ALL my strength to get any response what so ever. When i lead her i ask her to stop and she just carries on, i end up having to hold her back with all my might just to make her stand..
My horse isn't like this..
She's a big mare - 17hh- and quite a chunky built horse.
Help?

 

[arwenplusone]

You need to re-establish respect from this mare. Sounds like she thinks she is boss and she goes where she likes. Can you move her around in the stable, (move her over etc), will she back up or anything? I would suggest doing groundwork with her and re-inforcing the fact that YOU are in charge.

Also, if she is being ridden in a snaffle and not stopping at junctions, put a stronger bit in. You both need to be safe.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I used to have a mega bargy Haffie. Although only 14.2 he could barge at Olympic level and was potentially dangerous in gateways and doorways. I fitted a breast chain on his stable door but he was still a nightmare at gates. The ONLY time we really had a moment of "connection" was when he barged out of the gate one day, sending me flying and almost trampling a little 5 yr old girl (who, ok, shouldn't have been there but that's beside the point). I was so abso-bloody-lutely furious with his shite (pardon my French) attitude that he got the end of the lead rope with all my might right smacko down on his arse. An hour afterwards, I was standing filling the water trough and he was watching me carefully from about 25 yards away. He had a strange look in his eye and I called to him to see what he would do. He immediately came walking over straight to me, softly and politely and stopped at a respectful distance and we actually enjoyed a special moment. My action had made him see me as someone to be respected rather than a "white noise" that he tried to filter out most of the time. What I would say is don't ever be afraid, with a bargy horse, to "talk" to them in horse language. The dominant horse in a herd wouldn't take that behaviour off a subordinate horse, and nor should you. Talk to her in a language that she understands and if it means doing what another horse would do to her, then do it. She could seriously injure someone the way she is going on!

 

[niagaraduval]

[ QUOTE ]
I used to have a mega bargy Haffie. Although only 14.2 he could barge at Olympic level and was potentially dangerous in gateways and doorways. I fitted a breast chain on his stable door but he was still a nightmare at gates. The ONLY time we really had a moment of "connection" was when he barged out of the gate one day, sending me flying and almost trampling a little 5 yr old girl (who, ok, shouldn't have been there but that's beside the point). I was so abso-bloody-lutely furious with his shite (pardon my French) attitude that he got the end of the lead rope with all my might right smacko down on his arse. An hour afterwards, I was standing filling the water trough and he was watching me carefully from about 25 yards away. He had a strange look in his eye and I called to him to see what he would do. He immediately came walking over straight to me, softly and politely and stopped at a respectful distance and we actually enjoyed a special moment. My action had made him see me as someone to be respected rather than a "white noise" that he tried to filter out most of the time. What I would say is don't ever be afraid, with a bargy horse, to "talk" to them in horse language. The dominant horse in a herd wouldn't take that behaviour off a subordinate horse, and nor should you. Talk to her in a language that she understands and if it means doing what another horse would do to her, then do it. She could seriously injure someone the way she is going on!

[/ QUOTE ]

I have slapped her with the end of the rope.. didn't work, just woke her up a bit..

 

[niagaraduval]

[ QUOTE ]
You need to re-establish respect from this mare. Sounds like she thinks she is boss and she goes where she likes. Can you move her around in the stable, (move her over etc), will she back up or anything? I would suggest doing groundwork with her and re-inforcing the fact that YOU are in charge.

Also, if she is being ridden in a snaffle and not stopping at junctions, put a stronger bit in. You both need to be safe.

[/ QUOTE ]

When leading, she does back up straight away. I asked her to move over in her stable, i asked her about 4 times i ended up smacking her on the ass. She then moved over..
Should i be harder on this mare?
Like i said, she's not mine, i just free loan her to give me something to do when i'm not looking after my horse. He's not at all like this mare..