Help Please

[Yvonne]

I have a 12 year old PRE, grey, she was originally used as a brood mare the first time she was ridden in three years was in october,
She is fine lunging, and being led, but as soon as you put the saddle on she turns into a stubborn bitch,
She will not stand still whilst trying to mount, If i mount in the lunging ring once you get on she is fine, But trying to mount in an open space is a change of pants job.
She will do anything to get me of,bucking,trying to rear, going backwards, forwards, sideways etc,, I am not an experienced rider and i need help, unfortunately i cannot afford a trainer and everyone at the stables has a different opinion and advice,
I have noticed that the inside of her lñips are very hard, due to the possible fact that she was ridden with a western bit, I am riding her with a pelham snaffle and she is very head strong,
Its getting to the point where i just want to swap her or sell her,
A guy that is here on holiday (spain) at the moment tried her out and it is the first time i have seen her stand still whilst being mounted..
So he is going to try with her,but everyone says i should do it,
I can ride with a well behaved horse, but have never been taught how to deall with a badly behaved horse,so then i dont know what to do to teach her.
Any advice appreciated.
Yvonne

 

[kerilli]

firstly, why was she used as a broodmare from 8 years (ish) onwards? was there a reason she wasn't used for riding any more?
i'd be very very suspicious of the saddle, instantly, if it's only ridden work she can't cope with. she's NOT being "a stubborn bitch" she's telling you, the only way she knows how, that she's not happy about something. those words alone tell me that you are not sympathetic to her reactions. if you want to get to the bottom of them, for both your sakes, you need to be sympathetic.
i'd try a totally different saddle, but one that fits her, obviously. this is so important and so often overlooked. if the saddle is wrong, or uncomfortable, you can't communicate effectively with your horse, and you can get sudden overreactions to things. it's like trying to type on a wrecked keyboard, you get gibberish.
if this man is competent and KIND then I would let him try, but tell him beforehand that you will not allow your mare to be abused, in case it gets to that. A lot of us have allowed things to go too far with other riders on our horses because we were dumbstruck etc...
tbh if she's that difficult, and you are a novice, you would be better selling her and getting a rideable one. lessons and/or experienced help are the answer, obviously. Could you trade favours for someone you respect, do work for them in exchange for their help with her, perhaps?

 

[Yvonne]

Thank you,
I have tried varios saddles and hoping to get a gel shock absorbing pad to go underneath the saddle to see if that helps.
Once she has been mounted and got it out of her system she is okay.
She was used as a brrod mare because she has a very good pedigree.
I love her to bits and alot are people are saying its because i spoil her to much asnd have to be harder with her,
I also am a stubborn cow, She does trust me, i can tell she does and we have bonded,
I just need some advice thats not conflicting. You know what stables are like everyone has their opinion,and being new to this i get confused as to who to listen too, Thats why i came on here as youa ll seem to give the same advice its necer conflicting..

 

[Empy&Treacle]

I would get her back checked first off and only then can you think of what to do with her. Like Kerilli said above, she's only trying to tell you something in the best and only way she knows. Horses love and trust their owners, but when they are in pain they will do their best to tell you so. even if that mean bucking their rider off!!

Please get her back checked and saddle too by qualified people. Once that is sorted you can hopefully get back on the road to recovery before that you may as well be riding into a brick wall. The other chap you said who is going to try her may sit differently and so she may be more comfortable. I would still get her checked!!