Horse broncs and rears if you pull her up XC HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Flipper

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I have a mare who is 18, has evented to BE Novice most of her life and is superb most of the time BUT.....

She is calm in dressage, and gets good marks (26% last time out!) always goes clear SJ then goes at the Xc like a bat out of hell.

I ride her in a neck strap that I use to pull her back. Last week the heavens opened just before we went XC. The grass was lush and very slippery. She was fine over the ist 8 jumps then she took off up a hill that had a barbed wire fence at the top. I tried to ease her up and she did a bronc rodeo act, then I got control, trotted her in a forward going trot so she napped and reared, nearly coming over.

She has done this before at XC training.

Last time out we won our event, and at Tewseldown where I let her go she was fast but fantastic.

She has a wide mouth loose ring snaffle in her mouth. I think a stronger bit will be worse. Her teeth, and back have been checked and are fine.
Any suggestions??????
 
In my humble opinion a lot of talented horses have quirks like this and we put up with them because of their talent, at 18 Im not sure that you can rectify such a habit.

What did your trainer say at your training, if he was able to see it 1st hand?
 
I'd do some schooling XC - jumping fences and flatwork on the course, in between. Try and teach her to listen and she's not necessarily going to tank round - she may be asked to do something different. Sounds like it could be a confidence issue as well - maybe she has been ragged round the XC before and worries about it. I agree that changing for a stronger bit prob won't help, but I think building her trust and more schooling will help. How long have you had her?
 
maybe try taking her xc schooling and keep stopping her, ride her through the 'sticky' moments and keep repeating until she finally gets the idea that you're in control, not her! sounds easy and i know its not but i suspect she's always been allowed to do a sshe pleases and needs to be told thats not how you opertae. just letting a horse run on can be v dangerous,as i'm sure you know. tell her who's boss. obviously have someone else around incase you have a fall etc.
 
We had a fast one [ on right in siggie] and the more you pulled the worse he was so tried to keep calm and BRAVE. A stronger bit was no good with him.
You could try a combination bit but get advise from a pro first maybe go to Nigel Taylor at Aston or something [he is very good]
 
Sounds exactly like my problem last wkend.
Went xc schooling in a group and my normally calm and collected horse became a broncing and rearing devil
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, napping past the horses, rearing and I fell off twice, but got back on because I am as stubborn as her and refuse to be beaten
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.
I was having a lesson with BE trainer Bill Levitt, and he said before she has the fit (you normally feel when they are about to - mine plants her feet
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)
Turn her round in a circle so she can't rear or buck (You have to be really quick.
And hit her with your whip on the shoulder whilst circling - this way she should learn that if she plants her feet, I will turn her in a circle and make it unpleasant for her.
However if she goes forward everything will be nice and calm
grin.gif

Hope this helps, mine is a five year old, so I suppose its stopping something before it turns into a habit, an 18 yr old may be harder to crack...
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big question, has she always done it? - did she do it with last owners??? If so I guess at 18 she isnt going to change much...if not done it before then she should have a reason for doing it which you need to find out...
 
i have had her for 4 months. My trainer knows the horse well -and she has never done this before although she has always chucked in a buck. I think your approach to school between fences may help. I'll try. She doesn't seem nervous - she feels like she's loving it, almost like its her domeain and she does not brook any interference! At 18 though she may feel she has to get her blood up to get round.

Thanks for your reply
 
her old wners and my trainer who has known her for years say she has always chucked in a buck, and my trainer has seen her do something similar once. I think I have to make sure I don't hang on her. I think I may try to interfer with her too much. When she has been good, i have left her alone. You can normally pull her up with the neck strap, but because she didn't respond going up the hill I pulled on the reins instead.

Thanks for your reply.
 
he said to keep her moving and suggested the neck strap, which usually pulls her up.

I think you might be right - I may just have to be brave and go with her - she goes fast but is a careful jumper.
 
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