Ziggy_
Well-Known Member
Its two months since I've moved to my new yard now. I posted a few weeks back about my mare being convinced that there was a monster living in one corner of the indoor school, and I thought we had worked through that problem. She still seemed rather 'on edge' whenever I took her in the indoor so I decided that short, positive sessions were the way forward.
I did dressage in there on Tuesday and could tell she was VERY tense and nervous, I could feel her heart beating through my boot bless her. But she contained herself for the test and was happy to walk around on a long rein afterward, seemingly relaxed. She got lots of fuss afterwards and a pleasing score, so I thought it had been a positive experience..... apparently I was wrong.
I got on her today and she was worse than ever, eyes on stalks and snorting all the way round. My initial plan was 10 mins walk work then go for a short hack but after ten mins she was no better. Then the wind blew and the window I was riding past rattled; and she shot forward so bloody fast I thought we were going to go head first into the wall. Luckily she swerved to the side and after one lap of the school, she came round to the window that had scared her and stopped dead.
Well I couldn't end on that note, so I carried on, just walking circles, serpentines, doing a little shoulder in and lots of halt transitions but by this point she'd lost it, started shooting backwards when I asked her to stand and progressed to rearing and spinning on her hind legs and trying to shoot off towards the gate. At this point, I got off, lead her once around the school on each rein and turned her out. She was very sweaty and actually physically trembling.
How the hell do I even begin to solve this problem? I don't know what has frightened her so much, she is normally the most unspooky horse going, and while she's sharp and lively she's also brave and sensible. I've ridden her in other indoor schools before no problem. I've found in the past that when she gets frightened, it can turn into aggressive/ threatening behaviour like rearing and boxing when lead. I've noticed that she has been a bit more pushy and bolshy with me lately and wondered if the two are linked somehow. She's been fine to hack out and school outdoors.
Other than that, nothing has changed, she has a stable routine and is only ridden/handled by me. She's in the process of having all her six monthly check ups ATM (back teeth saddle etc) - so far the physio and saddler have been, saddle was fine, physio noted some minor tightness here and there but nothing major anywhere. The school is large, well lit and with a good surface. We aren't allowed to lunge or turn out/free school in there but can do in hand work.
Any help appreciated.
I did dressage in there on Tuesday and could tell she was VERY tense and nervous, I could feel her heart beating through my boot bless her. But she contained herself for the test and was happy to walk around on a long rein afterward, seemingly relaxed. She got lots of fuss afterwards and a pleasing score, so I thought it had been a positive experience..... apparently I was wrong.
I got on her today and she was worse than ever, eyes on stalks and snorting all the way round. My initial plan was 10 mins walk work then go for a short hack but after ten mins she was no better. Then the wind blew and the window I was riding past rattled; and she shot forward so bloody fast I thought we were going to go head first into the wall. Luckily she swerved to the side and after one lap of the school, she came round to the window that had scared her and stopped dead.
Well I couldn't end on that note, so I carried on, just walking circles, serpentines, doing a little shoulder in and lots of halt transitions but by this point she'd lost it, started shooting backwards when I asked her to stand and progressed to rearing and spinning on her hind legs and trying to shoot off towards the gate. At this point, I got off, lead her once around the school on each rein and turned her out. She was very sweaty and actually physically trembling.
How the hell do I even begin to solve this problem? I don't know what has frightened her so much, she is normally the most unspooky horse going, and while she's sharp and lively she's also brave and sensible. I've ridden her in other indoor schools before no problem. I've found in the past that when she gets frightened, it can turn into aggressive/ threatening behaviour like rearing and boxing when lead. I've noticed that she has been a bit more pushy and bolshy with me lately and wondered if the two are linked somehow. She's been fine to hack out and school outdoors.
Other than that, nothing has changed, she has a stable routine and is only ridden/handled by me. She's in the process of having all her six monthly check ups ATM (back teeth saddle etc) - so far the physio and saddler have been, saddle was fine, physio noted some minor tightness here and there but nothing major anywhere. The school is large, well lit and with a good surface. We aren't allowed to lunge or turn out/free school in there but can do in hand work.
Any help appreciated.
