Headshaking loan mare. Advice please xx

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sparkle30

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Hi, i'm really hoping someone might have a bit of advice they could share with me on this matter. I've recently taken a 6 year old TB mare on a year loan. To be honest i'm now starting to kick myself. She's a lovely mare but when she goes out she's incredibly nappy to the point of running backwards into hedges and then on her toes the whole time and about 2 3rds of the way round she starts this awful headshaking which is not doing anything for my back and shoulders. The owner who unfortunately has only had the mare for a short period informed me that she was the perfect 'novice' ride. Hmmmm... I'm a reasonably experienced rider but i was expecting something i could hack around and have fun on. When i questioned her about these things she said it must be what i'm feeding her - which is exactly the same as she was having before. I thought it might be a teeth or back problem but the owner assures me that she had her teeth and tack checked 4 months ago - just before she bought her. Do i get them done anyway?
Having recently lost my beautiful pony i was just looking for something to enjoy, to be honest i'm feeling abit like i've made a rash decision and not only has this horse got a long way to go, i will be spending money - which i don't really have and lots of time and worry on someone elses horse who will have to go back in 11 months. Sorry if this sounds negative, i really don't mean it to be it's just i really don't know what to do about this and would appreciate someone elses opinion. Many thanks for reading this, Hannah :(
 
Sorry, forgot to add that she's exactly the same with or without other horses. She's been out atleast 10 times now and is exhibiting the same behaviour each time. I'm taking her out midday today so will update on how we get on. x
 
Thats probably the most sensible option but the girl has moved away and i know that the mare's just going to be shoved back in a field - where she was bullied by the other horses and left for a year. tugs on the heartstrings abit as she's very well mannered and loves fuss on the ground. Anyone else have any words of wisdom?
 
If you are really that unhappy, I would call her owner and ask her to come and pick her up. However, I feel that you just may need some time to settle in.

Don't forget that it is all very new to her too. Can you go out with someone else on a vvvv quiet horse for company. Also, have you tried schooling her or having some lessons.

Give it a bit longer and you might be amazed - TBs can be funny creatures - loose the plot and get their knickers in a right old twist but can also be the quietest old dope on a rope when you get to know them.

Good luck.
 
sparkle30 said:
Thats probably the most sensible option but the girl has moved away and i know that the mare's just going to be shoved back in a field - where she was bullied by the other horses and left for a year. tugs on the heartstrings abit as she's very well mannered and loves fuss on the ground. Anyone else have any words of wisdom?
Click to expand...

it really isn't your problem...
 
Hi. My boy did a similar headshaking thing - ok at start of ride then after a while it happened frequently. I have always had saddle checks at least annually, back, teeth etc. I now realise that it's not happening any more.....not since I changed saddle at the start of the summer. Turns out his old saddle was digging into his shoulders by the end, and if I look back, the headshaking stopped about the time his saddle was changed. Also changed his bit too - made sure it's not too low in his mouth. I know there can be many causes of headshaking and I can't go into them all here, but I went through it & spent much time thinking about it, many checks etc and finally change of saddle and making sure bit fitted correctly with comfort headpiece seems to have done it for us.

I appreciate you have a loan horse so changing saddle may not be an option -if you can't spend money, then you shouldn't feel guilty about sending her back. You're supposed to enjoy this, after all?
 
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When was the last time she had her teeth, back and saddle checked?

Also get her a nose net to wear to help with the head shaking and look at putting her on a supplement like Pollen-X from Global Herbs to help with this - the supplement smells really strong so you need to introduce it in tiny tiny amounts to start with. My mare is a headshaker and it does wonders for her.
 
She seems to be snatching then tossing the head up and down. She has supposedly had her back, teeth and tack checked 4 months ago but to be honest i'm believing less and less of what the owner is telling me. I'm going to ride out in 30mins then the dentist is coming this afternoon. x
 
she does alot of chomping / playing with the bit too - throughout the ride- i've been putting this down to anxiety. I'm really trying to keep calm, not hang onto her mouth and talking soothingly to her but being firm with the napping. Am i doing the right things?
 
What is she like in her ground work? How much do you do before you get on her? Maybe think of developing your relationship on the ground before putting her into a situation that you are both unhappy with?
And TBH, and not wanting to seem negative, should you be taking on a horse if you can't really afford it? You know what they say about gift horses!!
 
Sounds like you are doing everything right to try and help her, try and give her a little more time if you can - alot of it could be settling in issues - sending hugs because you must be feeling fed up.
 
I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like this horse sits very low in the herd pecking order and so is probably pretty lacking in any form of confidence. She also sounds like she is a worrier who lets you know her concerns physically.

Try doing plenty of groundwork and also walking her out in hand, this worked a treat with my green and nappy pony. Build her confidence in both you and in herself. It does take time, but once she trusts you and knows that you are the boss you should be able to progress.

I know it's someone else's horse and it sounds to me like she has been dumped on you to do the work that the owner will then benefit from.

Personally speaking, I would rather enjoy the challenge, but only if I had the time and only if I had agreed to work with a frightened, nappy horse.
 
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Intouch: I've had her for 5 weeks now and for the first 2 i did nothing but groundwork, she's perfectly well mannered in the field and stable, will be caught, groomed, tacked up and shod all very patiently.

Also in regards to the money issue. I mean that when i undertook this loan it was on the understanding that this was a well behaved, well schooled horse that had had it's teeth, back and tack checked. I realise (having had my original horse for over 10 years - who recently died bless her) that owning or caring for a horse has it's fair share of costs, which i can cover, but to pay for dentists, saddlers, chiropractors and schooling to overcome this behaviour was more than i bargained for. I'm not incapable of spending the money but do so reluctantly as i fear that i am spending it for someone elses benefit.

Thank you all for your kind words and suggestions, i'm going to stick wth her (atleast for the time being) and persevere. Fingers crossed we'll get there. Hannah x
 
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