SnowPhony
Well-Known Member
Went down today to start work with the little mare, spent ages groming her and making her lovely and shiny. Gave her a chance to realise I'm not a mean person and that I'm quite nice really! She's a bit nervy with strangers but fortunately she seems to have taken to me quite nicely.
Tacked her up and took her in the field to get a feel for what she's like under saddle. I had been told that she doesn't like going out on her own. She will quite happily hack out in company but really doesn't like leaving the others and will take a few steps,stop and walk backwards with the occassional trying to turn around.
In the field she did exactly the same. She woud take a few steps, stop and then walk backwards and kept doing it. On the plus side we did get quite a nice walk on before she planted herself when one of the boys called to her! We also got right down to the end of the field, which owner tells me is the furthest she has gone on her own. It did take a while and lots of patience but we got there, and walked rather smartly back to the yard where I called it a day. Doesn't sound a lot but it's progress!
Think I may ride her with a schooling whip next time, just to give her bum a tickle and remind her she's to go forward rather than doing her best moonwalk!
There's nothing nasty about her at all, I just don't think shes done all that much ridden work and has maybe been allowed to get away with being silly in order to go back to the other horses. But we will get there!
Tacked her up and took her in the field to get a feel for what she's like under saddle. I had been told that she doesn't like going out on her own. She will quite happily hack out in company but really doesn't like leaving the others and will take a few steps,stop and walk backwards with the occassional trying to turn around.
In the field she did exactly the same. She woud take a few steps, stop and then walk backwards and kept doing it. On the plus side we did get quite a nice walk on before she planted herself when one of the boys called to her! We also got right down to the end of the field, which owner tells me is the furthest she has gone on her own. It did take a while and lots of patience but we got there, and walked rather smartly back to the yard where I called it a day. Doesn't sound a lot but it's progress!
Think I may ride her with a schooling whip next time, just to give her bum a tickle and remind her she's to go forward rather than doing her best moonwalk!
There's nothing nasty about her at all, I just don't think shes done all that much ridden work and has maybe been allowed to get away with being silly in order to go back to the other horses. But we will get there!
