help please I cant get my stroppy mare in to arena

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nikkinoo

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I am having a nightmare getting my horse in to a showjumping ring she refuses point blankly to go anywhere near the entrance, I am reluctant so smack her as she is likely to kick out in temper, she will go backwards rather than forwards, if someone grabs hold of the reins and leads her in she is absolutly fine but I dont want to get in to this habbit,

I considerd using spurs on her as she totally ignores my leg aids to go forwards, it is so frustrating as once in the arena and the bell goes she is a totally different horse and dont have the need for spurs once in there.

has anybody else been in this situatuon or should I just carry on allowing someone to lead her in.
 
To get her into the arena, book a couple of different jumping arenas for schooling sessions. When you get there, turn your stick upside down, and make her trot into the arena. As soon as she's in, pat her, give her a lot of praise, and walk her out again. You'll have to repeat this over and over until she's fine with going in. If she goes backwards, swishing the stick should work, but you may have to smack her.

That method should work, but to be honest you need to get to the root of the problem. She may be napping due to discomfort, she may have lost her confidence jumping, or indeed have been over jumped. Perhaps talk to your instructor? There's not much I can say without knowing or having seen the horse.
 
Ye i wouldnt be leaving it until you have a comp. Find any arena and insist she goes in through any method possible. If you can stop her going back, just make her NOT go back, and then just wait it out until she goes forwards.

She may just need a smack though (just make sure people arent behind you!). Trotting her in is a good idea also.

Or is it just shows that shes bad at? Do you have an arena at home?
 
thanks snickers,
im thinking now after what you have said about getting to the route of the problem that maybe it is leaving the other horses at the ring side she doesnt nap back to them once in arena and jumps fab (we only do 2'6)

I was having a jumping lesson once a week for about two months with an instructor and we varied the venues and she was fine, we did have a joint lesson a couple of times and was a bit sluggish to leave the other horses to take our turn so maybe that is what the problem is ..... leaving other horses ummmm what to do now then??
 
Cant you hire an arena with a friend and get your horse to follow the other horse in, or get off and lead her in if you are hiring.
Is it just indoor arenas she is not used to.
I know with my horse if you hit him to do something his nervous of then he wont do it for a good few months afterwards , so a really hard smacking session with a mare may make things worse!!
 
its indoor and outdoor arenas, she only does it at shows,and when there are other horses about, she wont follow a horse in will only go in if she is lead.

because she is 16.2I dont really want to get off her and lead her in myself and then have to get back on ( i wasnt sure if you were allowed to do that anyway)
as someone said if she has a good smack it can put her in a really unco-operative mood, you have to know her to know what i mean and dont get me wrong i do give her a smack.
 
Ah, it does sound like it's napping then, not wanting to leave the other horses! If I were you, I would get her back and teeth checked (just because it would be awful to be harsh with her, only to find out afterwards that she was in pain) but to me it does sound like stubborness.

Is it only going into a jumping arena that she does this? Or do you have problems leaving the yard, leaving other horses on a hack, leaving the warm up ring ect?

To be honest, the only thing that cures napping is very strict and consistant training... She must literally not be allowed to go backwards, even if this means having someone behind you with a lunge whip! (though please be careful :p) and to be honest you want it at the stage where she will trot into an arena with no hint of resistance, which may take a couple of months. Definately practice, and also take her into the arena, and let her stand around for a bit, before walking back out again, so that she learns that arenas don't necessarily mean a long time away from other horses. Praise her a lot if she's good, mares are perculiar creatures :rolleyes:
 
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