Help needed - horse rearing & refusing (sorry, long)

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The trailblazer is the first weekend of August, so do you think I should carry on competing her until then?



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No - I don't think this is a good idea - get the napping sorted out as a priority - school her so that she is responsive to your leg so add some lateral movements & really get her working from behind so you can start working on shortening & lengthening her strides, that way if you are on a bad stride you can adjust to make it a good stride which should help her confidence if you always put her in the right place. Get some lessons from a GOOD instructor & if things are going well you could try a small show in a months time (personally I'd only do 1 class!)

Personally I would forget about the trailblazers champs this year - it's far too much pressure to put on a horse that is going through all of these issues - I don't see that there is enough time. Even if you do manage to sort her issues out over the next few weeks, taking her to a big & busy show like that could make her revert back to napping/rearing & you'll have lost it all again. Is it really worth it? I think it would be better to aim for that kind of thing next year or to wait & see if you can qualify for say the amateur BSJA champs or similar which will give you more time!
 
dont turn her away

calm down on the jumping totally or you will put her off for life.

Take her on some fun rides and jump her out in company, make it all fun, maybe some flatwork schooling max of once a week.

Give her a good break from the jumping but not a total break, then bring her back in few months very slowly.

take it from me, I have a habitual stopper! (charlie76 knows him well), when he lets me know, then I let him chill out for a while, then he comes back perfect, he is older and wiser than yours but essentially its the same mindset!

Bear in mind your horse is not that old and experienced, the last thing you want to do is go to trailblazers, beat her up round there for a ribbon and end up with a horse that is not confident jumping or simply just hates it.

Dont accept nappiness but dont include jumping, then you will not make jumping or not jumping an issue at all, concentrate on letting her have some fun, it sounds like she is 50% taking the mickey and 50% bored stupid of working, make it FUN!!!
 
Also about the bit - it can't be a loose ring eggbutt - an eggbut is a fixed cheek, a loose ring has... well... loose rings.

Do you mean single jointed loose ring? Maybe she doesn't like the nutcracker - have you tried a mullen mouth snaffle or a french link? I had a cob mare that hated any joints - mullen eggbutt snaffle did the trick with her.

Has she always been in this bit?
 
DD - Sorry I thought eggbutt was the single joint -is thick- xD I have a french link which I can try her in, though she was in this bit since I bought her. I've only taken her out of it to up it to a gag for XC because I didn't fancy dieing, but it's only for xc.

I'll bear it in mind about trailblazers (not gonna make any major decisions right now cos I can't get my entry fees back either way so I think I'll decide a little later) because like you've said, there is always next year.
 
QR.

Ive not had a chance to read through all the replies so excuse me if i repeat what others have said.

I think the overall problem here is that although you are keen and can certainly stick in the saddle, you need time to improve your aids and to better maintain your balance. This will give lacey more confidence.

Looking at the video she seems thoroughly fed up and I wonder if you have pushed her to do too much too soon and this behaviour is her finally saying enough is enough.

You have had all the right things checked and i certainly wouldnt turn her away. Instead go right back to basics with her, knowck the jumping on the head for a while and have some flatwork lessons with a good instructor who can help both of you become more of a partnership.
 
Well I've got some good news.

I spent a long time grooming Lacey today, checking everywhere incase of sores. And I can't believe I hafn't noticed, right where her noseband goes, under the strap, the hair had been rubbed off. I must have been putting it on too tight, and it must have been very uncomfortable as she has a pretty thick beard to rub through and it was on her skin!

I took off her noseband and she was lovely. Felt a bit 'backward' leaving the yard so I gave her a couple of smacks, then she was fine. She was gorgeous in the school, really nicely on the bit, didn't even pull in canter which amazed me. Then cos I usually jump on thursdays, I used the idea someone said of 1 fence a week to wet her appetite but not make her sour, and she flew at it.

So very pleased.
 
Oh well done you! If they are sensitive a little rub can just set them off and pleased you told her off for *thinking* about napping. Onward and upward and personally, I don't think the way you were riding was causing her to do this - think she was just trying it on!! Congrats!
 
Well done I'm pleased for both of you and I think that the 1 fence as a 'reward' was good and if she flew at it ears pricked then she's not completely gone off jumping.

I'd say next step is find yourself a really good instructor - don't worry about whether they are qualified or not - it's more important that they can help you both, get an assesment and a plan that will give you different things to work on and goals for each week/month. I can't stress enough the importance of flatwork - you've got to get that right first.

Good luck to both of you - please keep us posted.
 
Completely agree with all that CSHS has written. You have got to be disciplined with yourself to discipline her and not let her get away with anything. I would also recommend lunging. A, to help with her rhytym and balance, and B to establish that you are in fact the boss. Whenever my boy starts to think he is boss, he goes back on the lunge for a few days, until he remembers that I'm in charge.

You have got to nip this in the bud asap, otherwise it will start becoming dangerous. Don't give up, be firm and don't be afraid to get help. Best of luck.
 
Just seen the video. I think one of the problems is that you had your reins quite short and not allowing her to have her head. My friend rode with her reins very short one day in a showing class and her horse reared up on her and fell back because she was holding onto his head and he had 'nowhere to go'.
 
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