Help! Horse behind the leg

[sjdress]

Is anyone able to offer some advice?
I've recently taken on a mare on loan. She is quite mareish and behind the leg. There is a lot of tail swishing and she can be nappy. She had improved but then reverted back. I have only had her for 3 weeks and am just concentrating on her being forward at the moment , not worrying about where the head is etc and trying to vary her workload. Any ideas for a stroppy, behind the leg horse?
All usual checks have been done.

 

[Shay]

Always difficult on a relatively short written description - a good instructor on the ground would probably be able to help massively. But some possible thoughts...

Is she in pain from her seasons? Does this get worse / better as she cycles? Might she benefit from something like oestress?
Does the saddle fit both you and her? has it been checked in the 3 weeks you have been riding in it? Or is she the same with the owner?
What happens when she is lunged? Will she go willingly forward on voice?
Will she respond to seat aids? Can you get her forward on voice / seat alone without bothering with the leg?
Could you be confusing her with your body position and / or contact? (No insult - just a possibility.)
Don't nag with the leg. One gentle nudge, one slightly firmer, back it up if you need to. (Don't hit her - I suspect she would deck you!)
Is she trying it on because she can sense you are less sure of her?

 

[SEL]

What's she like out hacking? If she'll move forward nicely when out then I would say a training issue, but if not then its likely to be physical.

 

[sjdress]

She is better hacking out but still behind the leg a bit but will go forward happier but there is still tail swishing. She has been passed around a bit and I think she has had inconsistent work so now maybe doesn't want to work properly! She is quite mareish so I wonder if it is behaviuot rather than physical.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

She is better hacking out but still behind the leg a bit but will go forward happier but there is still tail swishing. She has been passed around a bit and I think she has had inconsistent work so now maybe doesn't want to work properly! She is quite mareish so I wonder if it is behaviuot rather than physical.

Is she actually fit enough to do the work you are asking her to do? If her work has been inconsistent, I would start building her fitness as if she had been out of work and is just coming back - so hacking in walk, up and down hills if possible for a few weeks, before introducing trot.

 

[Shay]

Do you have a regular instructor? And do you know why she has been passed around? You may well be right that it is behavioural - she has learned that this is an effective way to get out of work. But I do just wonder if it is going to become more extreme either as she doesn't "win" or as she gets fitter. A loan / share horse that moves around a lot is not often a positive sign I'm afraid!

 

[Goldenstar]

I have a system for retaining these horse .
Taking it as given that the horse is physically ok and you have checked back saddle shoes etc etc .
I hack out on about five of our everyday hacks they take about 45 minutes to an hour walking I go with a companion horse and we ride side by side we it's ok to do so but I keep the horse I am riding very slightly in front .
I ride with two long whips I don't use my legs .
As so as the horse is carrying it's self forward it get strong sharp correction from the whip alone when it goes forward they get a pat and voice reward as soon as they stop marching forward I correct them again I do this until they will walk right round a hack without me ever having to correct them .
The horse must be trained to carry its self forward until its asked to do something else and then it must learn to answer the leg as well .
You do all this as much as possible on long and loose riens it really important the rider has not got the hand break on .

 

[sjdress]

I have a system for retaining these horse .
Taking it as given that the horse is physically ok and you have checked back saddle shoes etc etc .
I hack out on about five of our everyday hacks they take about 45 minutes to an hour walking I go with a companion horse and we ride side by side we it's ok to do so but I keep the horse I am riding very slightly in front .
I ride with two long whips I don't use my legs .
As so as the horse is carrying it's self forward it get strong sharp correction from the whip alone when it goes forward they get a pat and voice reward as soon as they stop marching forward I correct them again I do this until they will walk right round a hack without me ever having to correct them .
The horse must be trained to carry its self forward until its asked to do something else and then it must learn to answer the leg as well .
You do all this as much as possible on long and loose riens it really important the rider has not got the hand break on .

This is interesting as she does not walk out very well. More of a shuffle. Today I hacked her out, after an argument getting out of the yard she then led the way round the whole ride with no further arguments. I made sure she was marching on as much as possible and her gait improved massively.