Help please! Groaning and napping mare!

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Bens_Mum

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My mare has decided that she no longer likes hacking out alone. She has had everything checked and a new saddle/ teeth done etc. Talked to old owners who said she likes to 'try people out..' On day one she was tentative but went forwards, second hack spun in front of on coming traffic and today won't actually go off the yard drive. I have tried to encourage her forwards, tried a stick and tried waiting her out but all she does is flys backwards, rears up or if you try and wait bolt for home.

I am sure that she is taking the mickey out of me as she seems to only do it when it suits her. She can be a lovely hack one day and quite scary the next for no apparent reason. This can also be the case in company.
On the 'naughty days' she starts to make a groaning noise before acting up. I am now getting a bit scared of her in that she is not looking where she is going when doing these antic's and I don't know what to do next as she has already done it infront of an oncoming car.
Was thinking of getting someone else in (paid) to try and sort it out but if she is taking the mickey out of me would this work? Any recommendations of anyone in Derby area for this would be apreciated or any ideas ...
 
Tbh it doesnt sound like she's taking the mickey, just sounds like she doesnt hack alone, as many horses dont. Best way to get them going is to hack in comapny lots until a route is familiar, then put her in front the whole way and then brave going it alone when you know she knows the route inside out.
If she was sold to you as good to hack alone (did you hack her alone when you tried her?) then you have reason to be irritated!
 
Have you tried someone coming on foot with you? Monty used to be a total pleb to hack alone but since we didn't have anyone to hack with..........I had to persevere. My OH used to come on foot and it really made a difference, at first OH would lead then we got Monty to lead and eventually he was much more confident.

Could be just a confidence issue, it is with Monty and I wouldn't take him on a new route alone. He needs to know the hack before he will settle.
 
Yes sold as good to hack alone or in company. She isn't bothered by any traffic, oe noise and is generally a very confident soul tied up alone on yard etc. The confusing thing is that she can be the same in company- great one day and then awful the next with similar behaviors. She is also napping badly in the school and doesn't want to do anything except go for the gate.
 
She may be in season.How long have you had her?? She may just be hormonal and still settling in if she is in a new home. They do have a tendency to elaborate their behaviour if they are in season or unsettled. Failing that, you could always go backwards!! lol
 
I don't know how old your mare is, but would suggest two ideas - firstly she is taking the pi55 out of you.
If that's the case try getting someone else to ride her out, or lead her round the hack route in hand, or long rein her. Sometimes if you get scared, getting off, then leading her half the hack route, then getting on to go home can help.
Second idea - she could be having painful seasons - so perhaps regumate could help, or low doses of NSAIDs.
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Would agree with other posts, my mare was the same when I got her 3 yrs ago. Now hacks out alone, we went down the on foot company route, going in front with company. Eventually she got better and better and I could feel her confidence grow, we actually bonded for a couple of months when she was out of work. After that I felt we knew eachother more and she became more trustworthy of me. We started with small hacks and built up to longer rides over time. Theres an old saying, "whats in the brain goes down the rein" , make sure your not tense and she will sense it. I always ride in spurs and take a schooling whip just in case I have to tell her move and do it now, eg when a car is comng and she decides she wants to spook.

Good luck!
 
The trainer who backed Angel for me had a "problem" horse in for re-schooling. The horse had started off being nappy but at the end he refused even to leave the yard. Now his owners were lovely gentle NH people and the height of their attempts to correct this was - wait for it - they gently squirted behind him with a couple of sprays from an indoor plant sprayer! They were at their wits end what to do.

The trainer got on him, he did his usual "I'm not leaving the yard" thing, she gave him one good smack on his backside and he shot off out of the yard and down the lane. Never ever did it again while he was there and she used to take him out every day. God only knows what happened when he went back home. Moral of this story? Once you've checked the obvious back, tack, teeth stuff, have a long hard look at your leadership skills!
 
I totally agree she is taking the pis5! The problem is that I brought her as a confidence giver and although I can ride really didn't want anything that was going to be anymore than schooling (she had only ever been a hack). I had a bad accident last year which has definately knocked my confidence hence buying this mare.
I am sure that she is testing me out and unfortunately she is notching up victories! I have given a sharp smack but she goes flying backwards without looking (today into a wall). I think painful seasons may be a part of it so will contact vet. All other things have been checked and are fine. Old owners are now saying she can try it on so now calling in instructor to see if they get on any better! No doubt she will be an angel for them!
Thanks for the advice..
 
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