Difficult pony - how would you tackle this problem?

[sfward]

I'm helping a girl at the moment who has a 7 year old Connemara mare. She's a sweet mare, totally bombproof and fun, but has had no real flatwork training and is very stiff. She also has a very thick neck and jaw with quite a lot of muscle on the underside of her neck which she uses to set against her rider. She is lovely and relaxed in walk but as soon as you ask her to trot the problems start - she basically goes all inverted and tense and the rider just can't do anything with her so she just trots round with her nose in the air. It's not helped by the fact that the rider broke her back about a year ago and is therefore quite weak in terms of core strength, and struggles to keep her hands still, her position solid and maintain a consistent contact. I've ridden her myself and I can get a tune out of her but it's very hard work and even I can't do anything with her in canter! She just wants to arge with you the whole time, it's exhausting!
How can I help her to get the pony working better, in a more relaxed, round way rather than fighting with her head up all the time? Long reining seems to help (but I have to do this as the girl isn't confident doing it herself) and I've suggested lunging in a chambon to get the horse working over her back and developing the right muscles, but I need some more ideas for ridden work. I've introduced her to lots of serpentines and bending, flexion, basic lateral work etc though at the moment it's only possible to do any of this in walk. Any ideas greatly appreciated! Part of me thinks she might benefit from some lessons on her position, eg. lunge lessons etc but I'm not sure I would feel confident doing this and wouldn't know who to suggest...

 

[AmyMay]

First thing I'd do is put a standing martingale on her. She probably argues in canter because she finds it very difficult, so I just wouldn't attempt it until she is less stif and listening better in trot.

I think that lunging in a chambon is a great idea - no mixed messages there from an unstable rider - and she'll find it much easier without the aditional weight of a rider too I'd imagine.

It's never easy undoing years of ingrained habit. What happens out hacking???

 

[seabiscuit]

Rider could do some more work in they gym to increase her general fitness, and suppleness and flexibility as well as core strength. So lots of pilates and yoga. If she really does want to improve her riding it shouldnt be too long before an improvement is seen.
Meanwhile the pony could have lots of lunging in a chambon and long reining, and schooling sessions with you.

 

[*hic*]

I'd try the pony myself ridden in a de Gogue. If you find her much better to ride then get your friend to use it. The awkward monster I tried it on just gave up as soon as he realised that what he was doing was gaining him nothing, then he was able to build correct muscle and of course began to find it all much easier. I'd get her some lessons on her position and core balance, although you should find that she looks a lot better once the pony isn't arguing and unbalancing her the whole time.

Once the pony is beginning to build muscle in the right places and the rider has gained strength and confidence then the de Gogue should obviously come off. I found it helped so much right at the beginning, it was just miraculous NOT to have an argumentative pony!

*prepares to be shot down in flames for "quick fix" suggestion*

 

[Foxfolly]

Lungeing in a pessoa would really help. You can get some cheap imitation ones on ebay, also I actually made my own from sailing rope and pulleys!!

Rider could definitely do with some gym work, pilates / yoga etc.

But also for ridden work use draw reins or if the rider is inexperienced how about a market harborough instead!
This would help to get the horse in a better shape ... but just make sure you don't get the horse overbent and still leaning on her hands!! Light hands are very important!!

 

[no_no_nanette]

Before trying out any aids I would be very, very keen to start with the basics - it sounds as though this mare could well be physically uncomfortable - has the owner had her back checked, teeth checked, and is the saddle well fitted? I think that I'd be really unwilling to go any further with attempts to get her working more softly and in an outline until I'd had these checks done, and was absolutely sure that she was not in any physical discomfort. Once you are sure that she's OK, then you can start to work her through her back with more confidence ..... Good luck!

 

[sfward]

Hi, thanks everyone.

To answer some questions, the pony is absolutely fine out hacking, I imagine she's the same but obviously loves hacking and I think gets a bit fed up in the school, and to be honest I shouldn't imagine the rider worries so much about it's way of going when hacking! I have said all the things I'm teaching her can be done out hacking but don't know if she actually does!

The owner is very conscientious in terms of making sure everything's fine physically, her saddle is made to measure and she has her back and teeth done regularly, apparently with no problems.

I've suggested some work on her own strength would help and she agrees. Re draw reins I would be a bit worried about her riding in them as I don't think she would have the necessary finesse and I think the pony would just end up overbent and leaning on her hands, which she has a tendency to do anyway if you're not careful. I do use them a bit for longreining as I can then use the reins to play with her mouth a bit without having the argument with her enormous thick neck, and it's surprising how quickly she relaxes and her whole way of going changes.

The de Gogue is definitely an option, I have been a bit wary suggesting something like this up to now, partly because I've never used one myself, and partly because the yard is a NH yard and very anti gadgets, and I think I would get a lot of flak for 'teaching' a girl to ride her horse in gadgets 'because she can't any other way' - I'm just a bit cautious as to whether I really want this hassle!!!! But if it would help then maybe I'll talk to her about it. I know myself that the pony needs suppling work and to work more from behind, but the thing is how can you achieve either when the pony sets herself against you and just argues in her mouth?! it's just not possible!

I did suggest to her at one point that perhaps instead of lessons maybe I could school her for her for a couple of weeks or however long it took, until the penny dropped and then hopefully she would find her easier, but I don't think she was that keen, she wants to learn to ride her herself which is fair enough. Plus I've just found out I'm having a baby so I'm a bit more cautious about jumping on other people's horses (or even my own come to that!) at the moment.