Getting really disheartened, what am I doing wrong?

[NicandLiv]

I have had my horse since November last year, so not a great deal. She is a 14 year old Irish Cob Mare, was allowed to get away with everything under the sun from previous owner. Previous owner was scared of her, so didn't ride her for a year, didn't school her, she'd never been cantered under saddle and didn't know how to lunge.

Fast forward until today, she lunges well, she loves the forrest - fantastic breaks, can hack alone and in company, been schooling well, no fighting - generally behaving really well.

Until.... now.

Past two weeks she's been a **** to catch, walking away - not a great deal only lasts about 2 minutes and then she gives up. However today she decided to gallop up and down the field, which she has never done with me before. Kicking away throwing her head in the air. I was about to lose my temper with her and getting really frustrated, so I went home to calm down, mistake number 1, as she'll be even more harder to catch tomorrow when we have a lesson.

Past two weeks she's been horrid in the school, fighting with me all the time, won't go past a corner in the school (no reason, there's nothing there to scare her), forcing a change of rein and refusing to go into the corner. Down one side of the school the jump wings and poles are stored on the outside of the school, so of course now they are going to eat her so she skips dramatically to the side to avoid walking near them. She's tense, and she isn't enjoying the schooling at all.

I have one person telling me to feed her in the field, no offense to anyone but this would be a last resort. I want her to come to me because she wants to, I don't want to bribe her or trick her into being caught. I have another person telling me I need to ride her more, say 4 times a week, 2 hacking 2 schooling. I have another person saying I need to exercise her 6 days a week, I have another telling me I should exercise her less because she doesn't like it. One saying I need to school her more to get her used to it, another one saying I need to hack more to take the pressure off a bit.

Just at the point now where I'm confused about how to go about changing this behaviour, and need some advice from people on the outside.

I find schooling boring, I don't mind lunging at all, I enjoy hacking but I hate hacking by myself it's so boring.

 

[NicandLiv]

Oh, she's had a physio, and had her teeth checked, also had her saddle checked. Everything is fine.

 

[lelly]

I always catch and treat. Just one mint but it teaches them to come. It sounds as if you're finding everything a bit boring, could this be passing on to the horse? You need to be doing more interesting things for both of you. Variation could be the answer. Schooling can be boring if you just do the same things over and over. The same with hacking if you go around the same route all the time. Try to do something different.

 

[Adopter]

It is hard when animals can not tell us what is wrong, but a change as big as you describe has to have a reason, and you need to find out what it is. Are you certain it is not pain related, I would be catching with a bucket if that is what it takes and having her checked by the vet if necessary.
Mine have been more lively than usual last few days I think there has been some fresh grass growth.

If what you like doing is hacking, then there is nothing wrong with just doing that you can still ask your horse to go correctly whilst hacking.

Seems to me too many people are giving advice, talk to one knowledgeable instructor who you trust and ask for their help.

 

[ljohnsonsj]

Such drastic change in behaviour sounds like something is wrong. Maybe get the vet to scope for ulcers and also have her overies looked at, make sure everything is okay there and they aren't swollen

 

[eggs]

Were the checks done recently? It could be that a problem has arisen since the last checks. However it does sound as though she may be getting her hooves under the table and trying you on.

The best person to advise you in the short term will be your instructor when you have your lesson tomorrow. If you find schooling boring it is a penny to a pound that your mare will not find it so enjoyable. I don't know your standard of riding but riding shoulder in past the spooky objects should help.

Is there any chance she could be in foal?

 

[cundlegreen]

Golden rule, feed according to work done. If you aren't riding her much, and she is a cob type, she won't need any feed at all. Sounds like she is just too well.

 

[Equi]

I know a few people with cobs and they have to be worked more, they are considered plods but they are really full of energy and too much energy in a horse = behaviour that you may not want.

When you catch her are you automatically riding? If you are she may not want to ride so every few days catch her and just bring her in for grooming and feeding then put out again

 

[be positive]

You seem to be finding riding boring, this probably transmits to her, lunging will be hard work and boring for her so if you have increased that recently it may be partly why she is being more difficult, I see no reason to expect her to come to you in the field if there is nothing in it for her other than being worked, giving a treat or two to get her onside is not going to hurt.
I think you are going through a rough patch and need to do something before it all falls apart, mares are sensitive and you sound completely fed up.
As for how much to ride, 4 days a week is not much but should be enough, any less at this time of year may be a sign you really are not enjoying it, I like to have an aim with mine, a competition or something I need to achieve with them in order to be more focussed, is your instructor stimulating you enough, it may be time for a change to motivate you both.

 

[webble]

Such drastic change in behaviour sounds like something is wrong. Maybe get the vet to scope for ulcers and also have her overies looked at, make sure everything is okay there and they aren't swollen

^^ this. Is she in season?

 

[[59668]]

How often do you ride and for how long? Doesn't sound like you ride enough. You're not even riding 4 times a week but you're feeding her? Sounds like she is feeling too well and taking the mick.

 

[NicandLiv]

How often do you ride and for how long? Doesn't sound like you ride enough. You're not even riding 4 times a week but you're feeding her? Sounds like she is feeling too well and taking the mick.

Sorry must have been some confusion. I am not feeding her she is out 24/7 so just has grass.


I am at the moment finding it boring, which I can see how it can transmit to her. I went up again this afternoon and I took her out on her own to the new forest, had a bit of a gallop, and came home. Nothing dramatic happened, I didn't fall off, though she wasn't totally comfortable - she was a tad anxious and we had a few arguments along the way but all in all, she did really well considering we've been hacking out in company for the past 4 months (with a friend as she is pregnant and didn't want to hack out alone).

At the moment I ride about twice a week, which I've been led to believe will be enough - but obviously not! Lol. Will get up and ride her more, I can't get up to see her every day because the yard is 20 minutes away and it's killing me in diesel so it's not possible to go up there everyday.

Most of the time when I catch her I groom her, then ride, or lunge, or sometimes I just groom her, stroke her, check her feet etc. Then turn her back out, thing is with her is that she isn't really in anything for attention. She stands well to be groomed, but it isn't her favourite thing to do - ears back all the time with a face like a wet fish. So where I've been bringing her in and not riding her all the time I catch it, it doesn't make much of a difference because she doesn't like being fussed either!


She may be in season. I haven't noticed her being in season since I bought her.

 

[NicandLiv]

I think it would be easier for me if I had something to work towards. I'm not into dressage, and she has never been jumped before. I have been looking into Le Trec, and perhaps doing something over the winter to train her for it. We'd do well on 2 of the phases, not so well on the control of gaits because she point blank refuses to canter in a school. So practicing now will be very difficult for that.

 

[Marydoll]

I think it would be easier for me if I had something to work towards. I'm not into dressage, and she has never been jumped before. I have been looking into Le Trec, and perhaps doing something over the winter to train her for it. We'd do well on 2 of the phases, not so well on the control of gaits because she point blank refuses to canter in a school. So practicing now will be very difficult for that.

I think you need to get a decent instructor out to help with her education, why wont she canter in the school? Have you did any pole work with her, are you developing any lateral work ?

 

[NicandLiv]

We're not too sure, we're assuming it's because she isn't that well balanced due to being very green so she is perhaps finding it too much hard work and therefore not willing to try.

We do pole work with her, she lunges over jumps every now and again when we get bored with lunging over poles. I've had instructors ride her and other people at the yard ride her, and on a good day she'd do 3 maybe 4 canter paces but as soon as she comes to a corner she can't maintain and she slows down to a trot.
I have a new instructor coming out to me tomorrow morning so hopefully she can help, and I don't feel like I'm doing everything on my own. I'm a social creature, don't like doing things on my own.

 

[hihosilver]

yes I think she sounds in season-can be very painful. Try a supplement and forget schooling for a while hack her out and give her some fun!

 

[NicandLiv]

With pole work we have trotting poles, we've done raised trotting poles, we've done reinback through L shape poles and we're practicing going through S poles as that's what they'd have in Le Trec.

She is a funny one, if you say do pole work with her one day and you don't do it for the rest of the week, next time you do them she'll spook and refuse to go over them. Likewise if for example I want to start with raised trotting poles, again she refuses, tries to back away, puts up a bit of a fight, spooks around them - but she'll be fine if you start on the ground first a few times and then raise them up.

I haven't had a lesson for a couple of months, so whether she's doing it because I'm allowing her to do it, or whether she is doing it because she is naturally unsure of them and doesn't want to, perhaps I might need to be a bit more assertive with her and insist she does it more often to keep it fresh in her mind.

I've heard good things about this new instructor coming out so hopefully she can give me some hints and tips, and I'll make sure I'm riding her at least 4 times a week as well.

Took her here this afternoon.

 

[Dave's Mam]

In season?

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I have had my horse since November last year, so not a great deal. She is a 14 year old Irish Cob Mare, was allowed to get away with everything under the sun from previous owner. Previous owner was scared of her, so didn't ride her for a year, didn't school her, she'd never been cantered under saddle and didn't know how to lunge.

Fast forward until today, she lunges well, she loves the forrest - fantastic breaks, can hack alone and in company, been schooling well, no fighting - generally behaving really well.

Until.... now.

Past two weeks she's been a **** to catch, walking away - not a great deal only lasts about 2 minutes and then she gives up. However today she decided to gallop up and down the field, which she has never done with me before. Kicking away throwing her head in the air. I was about to lose my temper with her and getting really frustrated, so I went home to calm down, mistake number 1, as she'll be even more harder to catch tomorrow when we have a lesson.

Past two weeks she's been horrid in the school, fighting with me all the time, won't go past a corner in the school (no reason, there's nothing there to scare her), forcing a change of rein and refusing to go into the corner. Down one side of the school the jump wings and poles are stored on the outside of the school, so of course now they are going to eat her so she skips dramatically to the side to avoid walking near them. She's tense, and she isn't enjoying the schooling at all.

I have one person telling me to feed her in the field, no offense to anyone but this would be a last resort. I want her to come to me because she wants to, I don't want to bribe her or trick her into being caught. I have another person telling me I need to ride her more, say 4 times a week, 2 hacking 2 schooling. I have another person saying I need to exercise her 6 days a week, I have another telling me I should exercise her less because she doesn't like it. One saying I need to school her more to get her used to it, another one saying I need to hack more to take the pressure off a bit.

Just at the point now where I'm confused about how to go about changing this behaviour, and need some advice from people on the outside.

I find schooling boring, I don't mind lunging at all, I enjoy hacking but I hate hacking by myself it's so boring.

I haven't read all my replies but here's my thoughts. All the things mentioned in your post seem contradictory and confusing but most are good advice and there is no reason you can't do them all.

I would start by catching the horse using a titbit and leaving a headcollar on in the field. It will make your life easier and improve both your attitudes to the catching process enabling it to be a pleasant experience for both of you. It's not a failure. The romantic notion of wanting the horse to come to you and be ridden happily by you just because it wants to is a dream. You may love your job but I'm sure you have days when you don't want to go to work either! Forget romantic notions, you dont live in a film, just focus on having pleasant interactions with your horse.

I don't know what you feed, how much grass etc but horse sounds as if plenty of energy and some spare for playing up. So, consider cutting feed down (but I don't mean keeping horse underweight as a method of being able to manage her) or increasing workload. I'd go with the latter, you bought a horse to ride, so ride! Ride daily, maybe organize some fun rides or competitions at weekends just for a change of scene rather than to compete. No pressure just fun.

Do more schooling but for shorter periods of time, perhaps preceded by some lungeing or followed by a short hack. The horse will be picking up on your attitude of boredom and therefore won't enjoy the work either. If you're bored, you're doing it wrong! At home, make a plan for the ridden session before you even go to the yard. Plan exercises for the warm up, the "work" section with a 5min break on a long rein in the middle of it and a plan for the cooling down part at the end. Buy a good book or have some lessons to help you find ideas and inspiration.

Focus on quality of work at all times. Eg. it matters not whether your good transitions are achieved whilst hacking or in the arena, it matters not whether your accurate circles are achieved at the "scary" end of the arena or the other end. If the horse is working well both muscles and respect will grow. Be flexible and prepared to adapt your plan based on how things are going that day. The aim is always to have a good, relaxed session and achieve *something*. Always end on a good note, by going back to some easier work if necessary. Remember riding is supposed to be a fun hobby not a massive chore. Improvements in the horse may come so slowly that you don't really notice them happening. Have a reflection every 3mths on what's changed and celebrate your achievements.

 

[NicandLiv]

Thanks for all your replies.

I had a lesson this morning, went in the field to catch her - she walked away once then stopped, looked at me and walked towards me putting her in the head collar. During the lesson she was brilliant, well behaved, there was no fighting no prancing about like an idiot, no spooking at invisible things. I really like my new instructor, so have another lesson planned for next week.

She is out 24/7 and is being stripped grazed so she gets a bit of grass every 4 or 5 days.

Physio was at the yard when I finished the lesson, she gave her a quick check over and said there's pressure on her right hand side of the back which is where I've been finding the saddle to be slipping, I'm looking for a new saddle at the moment anyway as my current one is slightly too big for me and I hate it.

Feeling positive, onwards and upwards. However, my next horse is going to be a gelding.

 

[annhemming]

Have you done much bonding/groundwork with her? I mean interesting stuff like intelligent horsemanship. Lunging is boring for horses, but doing 'games', mazes, narrow spaces, poles, bridges etc is stimulating for the horse and builds trust and obedience. It worked miracles for me and adds variety to your horses work week.

 

[AmyMay]

Sounds like she's feeling well.

Yes, I'd ride her more (take advantage of the summer evenings for some lovely hacks, where you can do all the schooling you like, but just also have fun). 2 days a week is simply not enough.

She doesn't sound ill - just cheeky. Nothing wrong with offering a treat from your hand when you catch her. And as for the galloping around to avoid being caught, a pain in the butt - but what fun to watch. Take joy in it.

Presumably you see her twice a day, and she doesn't pee off from you at the morning check....?

 

[Inthesticks]

I would say you need to bond with her more, if she is new and you dont get to see her at least once a day, which you said you dont, then it can take a while to bond. Who goes up to check her on the days you dont go? Does she do the same with them?

I would say the length of time this lasted for it was most likely a season and you need to get up there every day for a while, you catching her every day will make a difference IMO.

 

[AmyMay]

Ah, just read you don't see your horse every day. That may well be the cause of many of your issues -she has no Iidea who you are.

On a welfare front, though, this is a massive concern, surely? Unless of course the horse is on full livery?

 

[Feival]

How old are you? Tbh it sounds like you have lost interest and she has picked up on it. If you cant be bothered to do more with her, make more effort, sell her on to someone who will

 

[Meowy Catkin]

However, my next horse is going to be a gelding.

From the Horses4homes thread it seems that you are very new to riding and owning?

I'm glad that you are feeling more positive and that your new instructor is good. I hope you find a better saddle soon, but please note that saddles that slip to the side have been linked to hind leg lameness. Who checks her when you don't go down?

Just to make you feel better, having a gelding doesn't automatically make horse ownership easier, my mares are far more more straight forwards and easy than my gelding. Horses are individuals.

 

[Janee]

I think it would be easier for me if I had something to work towards. I'm not into dressage, and she has never been jumped before. I have been looking into Le Trec, and perhaps doing something over the winter to train her for it. We'd do well on 2 of the phases, not so well on the control of gaits because she point blank refuses to canter in a school. So practicing now will be very difficult for that.

our ponies love Trec, dont worry about canter, you can give it a try or miss it out, no one minds

 

[Ali27]

My mare started being hard to catch a few months before she had a tendon injury. When vet operated, they found that her manica flexoria had torn too. I think that her manica flexoria had torn prior to the tendon injury so was in pain so didn't obviously want to be caught. Our pony reacts to clover which makes her spooky so needs to be fed salt and pro balance supplement to balance her minerals and vitamins.

 

[cptrayes]

If you only want to work her twice a week, and you don't see her every day, and you are a very social animal yourself, and you are short of money for diesel to go more often, have you considered that you might be better off with a part loan of someone else's horse in a busy livery yard?