Help

[CharBella]

I'm looking for some advice. I got my 11yr old cob mare 4/5months ago, and we are at a good stage in our relationship. She has carted all her life but when I got her I was told she was a ride and drive, I'm having trouble with her out hacking I feel I have no control over her she listens but panics...
Should I use a driving bridal and blinkers on her as that's what she is use to.??? Iv shod her and iv got the bit lady and saddler coming out just want to know.what people think I could try in the mean time.. x

 

[Cortez]

Lessons. For you, and for the horse.

 

[CharBella]

Is it worth using her driving bridal? She listens to me on the ground. She walks beside me when I turn her out with a lead rope and won't leave my side her stable manners are on point and she has a brilliant routine. It's just when I tack her up for a hack or a ride in the school she acts up and goes into panic mode.

 

[AmyMay]

Do you have an instructor?

 

[CharBella]

Do you have an instructor?

No im looking at getting one in the new year. Il do or try anything. She's my best friend and our bond is great its just she freaks out in her tack. But don't want to use blinkers (although she has always used them) and carting bridal if it's no good for hacking. X

 

[EllenJay]

No - don’t use a driving bridle. You need to address the issues. Get a good instructor, a d take small steps to encourage her to trust you.

 

[CharBella]

OK. I'm pretty sure they lied to me and iv broken her in without knowing and its messed her up. I'm worried she won't be able to ride. She is shy also of quite a lot wind, trees, bikes, and even when in stable with her and she knows I'm there if I touch her she jumps. And then comes to me for comfort. X

 

[Odyssey]

It's possible that her saddle doesn't fit and is hurting her, this often causes horses to "play up" when ridden. It might be worth getting it checked by a saddler who's recommended in your area. The right saddle can transform a horse who previously had a badly fitting saddle.

 

[millikins]

I tend to disagree about the driving bridle. If that's what she's used to and feels safe with then short term I think I'd keep it. But I wouldn't ride her in it, if she's a driving pony then she'll long rein, for now, until you have an instructor, stick to the arena or a small paddock with no other horses and get her listening to you and moving forward on long reins. If she panics you can bring her back on a circle. If it goes well work up to a little bit on the road if it's safe. I wouldn't get back on until you have more experienced help, she may not actually be properly broken to ride, just someone sat on her and she was good natured enough not to react and she may not have the faintest idea what you are asking her to do.

 

[Sandstone1]

Maybe get her checked out by a vet first before trying to ride her.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

As above, I'd be long reining her in a safe area, then once I'm happy, I'd long rein her out.
If she's not happy, then definitely get more help from a good instructor.

 

[PurBee]

It could be she hasnt actually had much work being ridden, and has mostly been used to the driving gig. With small cobs here in ireland, theyre driven-trained when fairly young, are too small for the rider normally, hence are in driven-work mostly.
Maybe you were missold the horse, on the premise the seller has driven the horse and assumes therefore it’ll be okay ridden as she’s been ‘bitted’. Maybe she had someone on her back once or twice just to de-sensitise but from what youre saying, doesnt seem like she’s that comfortable being ridden.

You sound like you really like her, so perhaps find a trainer to reback her from scratch again, therefore filling in any missing gaps she may have in her training. Then lessons will help you both get support and discipline, for her to then be great as a safe hack in the future.

For her to be great to handle, ground manners excellent etc and then get panicked as soon as tacked up suggests she’s had some undesirable riding experiences in her recent past....thats if tack fit etc has been checked.

Can you go back to seller and ask for detailed history of her 10yrs? Might be helpful. You dont have to be accusatory as it sounds like you want to keep her. It might help to say you enjoy her and want to keep her, but she’s got a few training niggles you want to help her with....so that the seller opens up the ‘whole’ truth about her training history, without fear youre going to send her back or sue them!

 

[CharBella]

It could be she hasnt actually had much work being ridden, and has mostly been used to the driving gig. With small cobs here in ireland, theyre driven-trained when fairly young, are too small for the rider normally, hence are in driven-work mostly.
Maybe you were missold the horse, on the premise the seller has driven the horse and assumes therefore it’ll be okay ridden as she’s been ‘bitted’. Maybe she had someone on her back once or twice just to de-sensitise but from what youre saying, doesnt seem like she’s that comfortable being ridden.

You sound like you really like her, so perhaps find a trainer to reback her from scratch again, therefore filling in any missing gaps she may have in her training. Then lessons will help you both get support and discipline, for her to then be great as a safe hack in the future.

For her to be great to handle, ground manners excellent etc and then get panicked as soon as tacked up suggests she’s had some undesirable riding experiences in her recent past....thats if tack fit etc has been checked.

Can you go back to seller and ask for detailed history of her 10yrs? Might be helpful. You dont have to be accusatory as it sounds like you want to keep her. It might help to say you enjoy her and want to keep her, but she’s got a few training niggles you want to help her with....so that the seller opens up the ‘whole’ truth about her training history, without fear youre going to send her back or sue them!

Yea ur right. They wasn't nice to her they locked her away in a box with a small letter box as a window. She it perfect to hack if your up from a fast trot or canter. Iv been reading and got a feeling from my videos and what iv just watched on the Internet I'm convinced she is gaited?? I when my husband rides he they trot out and she walks off the lead rein with the kids on her. Just when I try to get her to slow pace she gets nervous and I don't feel like I have breaks with her. I think k thats what I worry about id let her trot or fast pace if I know she would stop when told too.
Even when lunging she started with a trot and a canter it took me 4 days to get her to.walk on the lunge but as I said in a HC down to her field she walks beside me and won't take a step past me.
Is it wrong to use blinkers to hack? As I know she will be a lot more confident with blinkers and a new bit maybe??..

 

[CharBella]

I trust her she has never hurt me and has come a very long way she wouldn't listen to women as she has always been a man's horse and at first only my husband could handle her. But she has gained my trust and she has a strict routine now and we are the bestest of friends. She is my pride and joy and I will keep her forever. I don't want her to become a field horse. She deserves a great life and I want her to see more then just our yard and her stable x