Changing riders?

[BigGingerMare]

Firstly hi - been hanging around but never registered before!
Secondly, any advice? I have 9yr old mare with a slightly chequered history. Sent away to be backed at 4 and, apparently, a nightmare - bucking, bronc-ing, exploding .... Eventually got to basic walk/trot/canter and returned to owner. Then regressed, ditched a couple of riders, and was turned out into a field. Where she stayed for the next 4 years.... Handled & looked after, but did *nothing*.
I acquired her 18 months ago, and we went right back to basics, slowly - groundwork (lots!), gradually working up to riding. We've had some issues but she's now coming to being a really nice riding horse - (I'm even planning to take her on a couple of quiet days hunting this season, but that's another story!).
Anyway, here's the question - i don't really want her to be a horse that only i can ride. Her size and temperament mean that she'll never be for everyone, but it would be nice/useful if (selected!) others could use her sometimes. My lovely friend, who has done all the groundwork with me, so she knows him well & respects him, has sat on her three times and each time she has been so tense I've been worried she'll do something stupid. Any ideas how i can help her relax with another rider?

 

[be positive]

As long as the friend is of a similar weight/ height to you or smaller then I would continue to pop her on for a short time on a regular basis, ideally after you have ridden so the horse is already relaxed, possibly with you on the ground giving support as if you were doing groundwork, if the friend is significantly heavier/ taller I would probably find a decent pro instead to come in and help until she is more settled, it is definitely a good idea to have any horse capable of being ridden by different people as you never know what the future holds.

 

[BigGingerMare]

Thanks. Yes, should have said, friend is taller & heavier. I thought she'd be better off with someone she knows and trusts, but maybe the weight/height difference is more of a problem?

 

[be positive]

To be totally honest I would be concerned she has an underlying issue, the most obvious being KS, that was the cause of her behaviour years ago, if the person backing was competent, which as they did get her started I assume they were, I am surprised she was so difficult and the fact she reverted once home would be a red flag to me.

Of the numerous ones I have started/ schooled all have usually behaved pretty well from day 1 if properly prepared, a few have had minor issues that were already established or had missed a few steps before they came here but they all came right without exploding, apart from 1 that I sent elsewhere as I thought she had something majorly wrong physically, it took the next trainer many months to get her going and he said she was like a timebomb even when she appeared relaxed.
You have obviously got her going but it may be the extra weight is too much for her, even if she is 100% physically the weight difference may just feel wrong and uncomfortable, I would find a good pro and have them out to assess her, it may be they can think outside the box and pick up on something you and your friend have missed which could just make the difference and allow her to gain confidence with someone else on her.

It may well be that she was just a difficult youngster, hopefully she is now more mature and will continue to make progress.