Green horse

[Delicia09]

Im not sure where to post

i havent used this forum before

I have put this in the competiton bit but i think it would go better here?

I have a belgian warmblood mare who i started breaking in November. She had been a broodmare before i took her on and because of that she was obviously a late starter (7 and a mother of 3).

She has taken everything really well and it wasnt long before her lunging was established and i was on board. However there is a bit of an issue when it comes to her accepting the leg. She will accept light leg with voice but if i need to move her on (such as when shes slowing to look at something) and more leg is applied, she will arch her back and rear. Its nothing too big or off putting at the moment but i dont want it to get worse. Her transitions are brilliant on the lunge and if i keep at it when i am on her i can get a few good transitions from walk to trot but shes not happy when the leg is on. I have not been able to achieve canter yet for this reason as every time back up from the leg is needed she argues.

Her back is getting checked as soon as the back lady can come out but she doesnt seem in pain as it is only when the leg is applied? It seems to just be her way of resisting the leg

I am tempted to try hacking her out and trying to help her enjoy going forwards more but i havent got a sane horse to go out with her and as shes very green im not sure its overly sensible taking her out on her own

Any advice would be greatly appretiated

 

[eggs]

Will she go on with a voice command when you are lunging her? It is very important to me that my youngsters go forwards as soon as they are asked. Until they will do this I don't worry about their outline (as long as their head is not between their knees for a buck!).

What I do is ask with a quick leg aid. If I get no response I follow this up with a definite 'kick' followed by a tap from the schooling whip. Do make sure you are not hanging on to her mouth so that she can go forward and do not ride with your leg constantly against her side.

 

[Delicia09]

She does go on voice command when lunging. Im not worryiing about her outline atm as she does need to be going forward first but i mean she is soft

Thanks for the advice

 

[millitiger]

how are you applying the leg?

lots of youngsters tense up and worry about the leg if you apply it as you would to an older, more established horse.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

My Daughter had an youing ex racing TB who did this, not sure if it was because she had been previously schooled with spurs, the fact that she had been ridden in an ill fitting sadle or just the way she was.

We were advised to use the leg gently backed up with lots of voice, tickling her side with a schooling whip or a rope, or to try using reins on her neck gymkhana style, just until she got the idea to move forwards. Once she got the idea the additional aids were reduced until she was just being given traditional aids. We also found doing different things such as pole work, riding out in the field and on hacks helped to get her forward thinking, however not always possible if you have a green rearing horse!

The big danger with this scenario is that you may inadvertantly be holding her back with your body, legs and arms because you are anticipating the problem. We had some help in to our TB and I think being ridden a few times by a very experiened person helped break the cycle for both horse and rider. Good luck