help with difficult mare

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hellojess

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Hi, i bought a mare at the beginning of the summer, and she was perfect. my dream horse. she was snaffle mouth, hacked alone or in company, jumped a course of fences beautifully and won at brit nov. but now, as the summer has gotten on, she has gone backwards. we have had her back and teeth done, and was all ok. she was ridden in a snaffle mouth, but now we have no chance in that so put her in a french link dutch gag, we have more control in this, not LOADS, but enough, and im fine with this, but she has started to launch into fences and back out of them, sticking her head right up, trying to take contact and hold of me, she never did this, that bad before, now its a nightmare! im 17 and thought i had a found a horse finally, that will take me far. i have tried grids, poles; we dont over jump her, say we competed once every 2 weeks as we was tight for cash, we hacked, lunged schooled, and once or twice a week be naughty and pop her over a fence, i have no idea why she is playing up like this, and its really getting to me.
any ideas help and advice?!
thanks.​
 
hi there, sorry you are having problems. When you say 'we' who does this include? Is someone other than you riding her.
perhaps her previous jockey was more experienced and knew exsctly what to do if she tried it on and therefore she didn't try anything with her.
With her backing off fences sounds like she lacks confidence in the rider. You have only had her a few months and they take time to adapt and trust us.
If she was used to someone riding her in a snaffle and was competing in this shows that se doesn't need anything stronger. maybe she is fighting a heavier hand. She is maybe confused with what you are asking of her.
Have you had any lessons with her. That would be the first thing I would do.

This wee mare is trying to tell you that she is not happy with something. an instructor on the ground will see immediately what the problem is i would think.
Could you call her previous owner to ask if she could help you as she obviously was successful with her.
I am not having a go at you as everyone rides differently. If you ride in a different way from her previous jockey then she is going to be upset.
I ride my mare in a french link and am careful with her mouth. If someone got on with 'heavier' hands she would react badly and if they put her in a gag of any type she would launch them.
 
Agree with others, get a good instructor to take a look. My friend has a gelding who started playing up and was classed as awkward and bolshy. Turned out he had suspensory problems and needed surgery. You may benefit from a vet doing a lameness work up to see if there are any underlying problems.
 
I think its more often a partnership with a mare, and you have to gain their trust. Definately get some lessons, forget the show for a while, take more time to get to know her (its only a few months afterall). You're still young, so I'm guessing that you're fairly new to horses (after ponies I mean). Its a larning curve that takes time. She probably still will be a wonderful horse for you, but shes not "going to take you far", you have to do it together..
 
Thanks everyone! Well, I'm not new, but I lack knowledge, I have people up the yard who are insructors and so on, and theyt have helped a lot. Over the past week, she has calmed a lot more, so maybe the season was a little to do with it, I have not competed in a few months as its pointless ! The vet is coming out to check her out for insurance, so ill ask then, our back lady has been called just to see if there is something there, I have forgotten jumping, and got back to the basics to build my ttrust, :) I sound like such an idiot haha,
 
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