Feeling a little disheartened....vibes and tips anyone?

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Brambridge04

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So some of you may remember posts r.e. breaking my mare, well she now will walk on with me riding when asked and is generally pretty calm and good........

However i was hoping to start taking her for short hacks soon, would it be best to go with a person walking or another horse and rider?

I felt a little disheartened today and she wasnt listening really, her steering was rubbish.....and she seemed to be trying to avoid bottom half of paddock and wanted to stay up the top end where my fella was watching from, she wasnt naughty, just didnt seem to listen!

Would a hack really be a good idea with no steering??
 
probably a hack wouldn't be a good idea, but a short walk with someone on foot with a head collar and lead rope just in case.

As for her avoiding things, this is where you do need to find a nice quiet way to insist she does what you ask. If need be get some to lead you up there. lots of praise when you get there
The last thing you want so early is for her to learn she doesn't have to do what you say even little things will soon lead to big problems. But well done believe me there are lots of people that wouldn't have noticed her not wanting to go up there!


If her not listening to you is not normal for her then when she is in one of these moods I would just ask a few simple things, make it positive. Don't ask anything new of her, but once you have asked you must insist,

Then end on a good note and lots of praise.

You might only be riding 5 mins on days like this but it is better than riding 15- 20 mins and by the end of it she has either learn't something bad or undone something she learn't the day before
 
When she wouldnt go up alone, i ask my fella, to casually walk into field and wander around at the bottom end, when she saw him go down, she stood, watched, and then went down herself, but seemed desperate to get back to the top......maybe something i couldnt see or hear (squirrel? rabbit?) spooking her.....?
 
It will be that she feels safe where the other horse is, there maybe something that is adding to the scariness but not necessarily. Take her down there in hand and give her a feed a few times.

sounds like she may be a little insecure away from your other horse, this is more than normal for any horse, especially a baby even more a recently backed baby who so much is new and she is feeling a little out of her depth.

Maybe you could continue to walk her out in hand for a while to build her confidence away from him and she can get to trust you even more

You could even take her a short walk in hand, then go and ride the same short route. I wouldn't keep her away from him too long as she may just suddenly without warning panic. So build up the time away and make it a happy praise filled time. Talk to her constantly in a happy jolly rewarding way

Sounds like you are really trying to do a good job with her so keep up the good work :D

Edited cos I just realised you said where your fella was not your other horse lol In that case it is the area she associates with safety, maybe even just safety as far as with humans is concerned.

It could also be that the area means work is over. like a horse napping to the gate of an arena

As I said you do need to insist she goes there otherwise you will be teaching her to nap whcih is obviously what you are trying to avoid.

You could always put up some electric fence posts and wire and just quietly ride her inside them for a few mins
 
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Have you considered getting another rider to ride and lead you for a short hack? I think that is a nice way of getting a youngster to learn to hack out without expecting a human on the ground and would give you a bit of variety without too much pressure.
 
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