Headstrong mare retraining

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cobzjigg

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Hi I have a 7 Yr old mare who is a awful nappy girl. I did ride a lot back beginning of last year with friends and she was brilliant, always in front just as long as there was another horse with us she was fine.
When she was on her own she would stand still and not move, got her out of that, then it was backing up and now it's backing and going sideways and she will walk into anything. Even if I sit there and do nothing she will do it.
I have been long reining her and she is now very good. Got on her today and went sideways into some farm machinery, didn't hurt herself but its a worry. After this she did leave the yard OK and went up the forestry but got as far as the stream and its like a brick wall and she goes backwards/sideways yet again. Even got a bit stronger as if she was going to bolt when I turned the other way.

Shall I keep long reining and hold off on the riding or any other suggestions?
 
Have you tried leaving the hacking friend when you are almost back at the yard? It depends on your set-up but the motivation to get home can overcome the wanting to cling to the companion. And if you can then separate further and further back, so much the better. Another way to get over the nappiness is to lead her out in hand and just hop on when you are almost back at the yard, so that she doesn't have to walk back 'on her own' for very far, Again, you would then work further and further back stretching her comfort zone without pushing her out of it.
 
We moved back in June so my hacking buddies are gone. She loves the herd in this current yard so that's part of the issue.
She is very clever and remembers everything. Ive led her out on her own and she's fine. Can get on at any point on way back and she will ride lovely home. I think it's definitely a confidence issue. She did have a sore hip which has been rectified and had all other checks so no pain problems at present.
I just thought she would be fine to ride but probably needs more long reining.
 
When she stops just get off, lead her past and get back on, keep it as drama free as possible and don't give her a chance to put the wall up. You just have to quietly and consistently keep reinforcing the message that we always keep moving fowards, no stress, just fowards.
 
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