Disaster at first BSJA - Limes Farm (Grrrrr!)

[randira]

Well to be completely honest my mare is 6 and hasent done that much - however, she has not been over faced or frightened. We have done a few clear rounds/trailblazers/clinics and apart from being a bit 'rude' , as in rushing, she's been fine.

We have had a lot of bitting issues in that she has no respect for them and just hauls and pulls down the rein in any bit when she gets excited. We had been working ok in a myler snaffle (still a bit strong, but I could JUST get her back enough for her to let me ride her with my seat) took her clear round - strong but O.K.

Took her to Limes at the weekend - tried to do the usual walk, trot and canter on both reins - quiet transitions etc. She was totally tanking off with me even in trot, she was raking round, I was being quite 'firm' with my seat and half halts, but she was just ignoring me, she wasnt even really 'looking' at anything - It was as though I wasnt there. Had a canter and she was totally on her forehand - had to fight to get her back. Did a couple of jumps - she was rushing - tried to check her but she was still ignoring me. Jumping o.k (still in the warm up) going away from the entrance. Jumped towards the entrance and she didnt seem to even see the jump until last minute - jackknived over it - stayed on. Next time round again she charged towards it, then changed leg to dodge out last minute but was going to fast so over we went side ways . I took a hard fall, hurt my neck. She proceded to tit off around he arena. Went home as I was soaked, in pain and humiliated. Spoke to my mother about it and she suggested a hackamore to take the 'bit' issue away as she has not respect for them. Got german hackamore and tried it last night over a snaffle on a sliphead, so had two reins. Went fine for a bit and then she realised she couldnt lean or pull and she was LIVID. I was being really quiet but not allowing her to pick up and take over and she was bouncing, ignoring my leg, sweating and generally having a paddy. We tried a few simple schooling fences but she just ploughed through them or jumped them alkwardly because I MADE her trot etc. I though it would be much more comfy to have a well padded out hackamore than a bit but I seem to have wound her up. My mum said she predicted her to be like this and just to keep at it and she will 'get over it' I am going clear round tommorow, really tiny just to try and get my point across. Feel very disheartened that she is so volatile. Sorry for anyone I cut up before the BN on Sunday x

 

[Weezy]

Firstly, I hope you are OK, have a big hug.

As I was reading your post I thought "whack a hackamore on her" then obv came to the point that you had done that! I love German hackamores, really swear by them, however, your mare may well be objecting to the poll pressure. Have you thought about trying an English, as it is far more gentle and then progress to the German? Or if you can manage it, ride in the snaffle and the hackamore, and only use the hackamore to tweak your control? Whatever you do, I do hope she improves and you have a better time x

 

[MrsMagoo]

Oh dear, hope you are ok hun? Sorry to hear your having probs with the little madam, she seemed so good that XC day that time....well dont realy know much about hackamores, but would imagine a fair few horses will throw a strop to begin with just to try it on. Maybe try what Weezy suggest and just keep practising. Sorry, hope it all picks up again

 

[Kelly1982]

Really sorry to hear this, i hate it when you go through these kind of phases

I read somewhere that it takes a horse a good 2 weeks to actually get used to a new bit so i think i would just persevere with the hackamore for a bit longer and see how she goes. If she doesn't improve then i would do what Weezy said and try and English hackamore.

Have you also tried a rubber snaffle?? You may think i am mad for een suggesting it but i had loads of trouble with my mare in the Myler, french link, pelham etc but then i put in a plain rubber snaffle and she was as good as gold. I also found out she doesn't like jointed bits. Think it might just be trial and error for a while.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

The problem you are having is a problem we had a couple of years ago with my lad. He hadn't done much when we had him & when we took him jumping he was extremely excitable, he charged at fences, jumped & charged away. He towed my daughter around, we had all sorts of issues with him. Bits were changed, he had gags etc but to no avail. It was starting to get dangerous.

We chatted with a trainer & we decided that he was doing this for several reasons. He was unbalanced, he hadn't got established paces & wasn't working correctly from behind. We decided to stop all jumping. We went back to basics & re-schooled him, working on his paces, balance, transitions, leg yielding, shoulder fore etc . It took time but now be is balanced, he workes from behind & has 3 established paces. He can has competed at prelim dressage & scored 67%. Now we have gone back to jumping & he is going well, in an outline, in a rythmical canter & under control. He is like a different horse but so much nicert to ride.

We affiliated him a few months ago & in the first 3 outings he had 2 double clears at British Novice. He's jumping Discovery & my daughter feels confident & comfortable on him. He will definately go further.

On some occasions a change of bit can work, but on may occasions the problem is with the schooling, or lack of it. Work on getting him balanced, having good paces & a rythmical canter, then you will get somewhere. My lad hacks out & schools in a snaffle & jumps in a Waterford. Good Luck.

 

[franki]

I'm sorry to hear you took a hard fall, hope you're ok. I was nodding my head all the way through your post, been there done that. Right now my boy is much more settled, at last (he's 10

). But he is still quite well able to have a hissy fit when things don't go his way. He used to do all the things your mare does - ignore me, rush around, spook, run through the bridle, charge at jumps, slam on the brakes, lean on my hands, etc etc as you describe. With much perseverance we've managed to get rid of most of those things. However, I'm now putting him under a bit more pressure to be truely connected inside leg to outside rein and carry himself in a more collected frame - hissy fit time. Because he can no longer lean or run through the bridle, he's taken to flinging his head in the air when things don't go his way. I have a large selection of bits that I change from time to time to stop him getting used to one and it works for us. Have worked through 3 ring snaffle, jointed pelham with 2 reins (worked well), Waterford - he hated and most used now are a KK ultra snaffle and a Filet Baucher. I lunge in a single jointed loose ring and jump in a running martingale which works - for the moment

Keep going but remember it takes time, your mare needs to be more balanced in canter to feel confident to listen to you and slow her pace to jump. Sounds like she might be panicing in the warm-up ? If my boy is put under pressure, at a busy show, learning something new, start of the season, back after holidays - hissy fit time. So we have to go slowly slowly, to get his confidence then we can push on.

I read an article the other read which I felt was excellent advise - the gist of it was not to be greedy. So when your horse gives you anything better than the day before, take it and be happy. Good luck

 

[harrihjc]

Don't you just love horses sometimes? Perhaps persevere for a bit with the hackamore, it can take a while for them to settle in something different. Also, as people have said rushing can be because they're unbalanced, so maybe some quiet schooling, perhaps some gridwork to make her think a bit? Worked well with my old mare who insisted on doing everything at 100 mph! Have you jumped her on the lunge or loose jumped her? Is she the same? Has she had saddle and back checked? teeth? hope you're OK after your fall!

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

What is she like flatwork schooling? I agree with T_Z i think you have to take all jumping away and concentrate on schooling schooling schooling. If you want to jump well you need to have the established paces and control which you can only achieve from flatwork.