kirstie
Well-Known Member
Hi Everyone, I am a longtime lurker of this area of the forum and occasionally post. I am at a loss with my horse/ seriously starting to run out of patience.
She is a 10yr old Trakehner, I have had her since she was rising 4. I backed and started her myself which was easy, she was a delight until she hit her 5th year. She is a dominant and bossy mare and has always been like this. If I give her 1/2 an inch she will take 10 miles, I've always had to be very consistent, firm and fair with her and on the ground 99.9% of the time she is lovely.
Ridden wise she is a different kettle of fish. She is dominant and bossy, constantly questioning me, finding clever little evasions that are difficult to notice and generally has the answer 'no' ready for me most of the time. She has bundles of talent, is more than able and actually finds the work physically easy most of the time, however whenever I try and progress, start taking the work up a level she protests. She will initally co operate with what I ask, maybe a few small evasions and then grasp it easily and find it physically easy. Then next session that we work on that particular movement, she will 'up the ante' evasion wise and will sometimes abjectly refuse to do what I ask. At this point I have tried many tactics including changing the subject and coming back to it, gradually building up to it, keep consistently and calmly working through it in the hope she will eventually co operate and tackling it head on, resulting in a battle. Once she decides that actually what I am asking is not so unreasonable (normally after a battle) we can move forward- this can sometimes take up to a month or more to happen. For example, it took me just over 6 weeks to be able to ride forwards into a halt and her remain soft. Or pick up the rein in halt and ask her to soften. She literally just said NO everytime. It's also worth mentioning that when she says no to something new, she will then pretty much down tools to everything and will refuse to anything- even if it's very basic. Once she has decided to co operate there are rarely further issues, she just gets on with it.
I really try and have relaxing stretchy sessions with her but it is so difficult- I end up having to pick her up and really work her as she just messes about so much.
This is how it has always gone and to be honest I am starting to get fed up. We have had many set backs, including a bad injury to me, a year off and another year trying to get my confidence back, so are behind in our training anyway.
I am having lessons with an excellent trainer and will chat with him about it tomorrow but am just looking for opinions and other experiences. I am happy that there is nothing physically wrong I really think it her down to her temperment and willingness to work. Or maybe personality clash.
I really want to get out and competing with her this year- aiming to be scoring decently at Elementry by the end of this year and medium next year. I want to get out monthly through the summer at novice- I just want to enjoy my horse.
If anyone has any suggestions, experiences or anything, I'd be really willing to listen.
I've looked at her feed, work management, teeth & saddle done regularly, turnout... Please help!
She is a 10yr old Trakehner, I have had her since she was rising 4. I backed and started her myself which was easy, she was a delight until she hit her 5th year. She is a dominant and bossy mare and has always been like this. If I give her 1/2 an inch she will take 10 miles, I've always had to be very consistent, firm and fair with her and on the ground 99.9% of the time she is lovely.
Ridden wise she is a different kettle of fish. She is dominant and bossy, constantly questioning me, finding clever little evasions that are difficult to notice and generally has the answer 'no' ready for me most of the time. She has bundles of talent, is more than able and actually finds the work physically easy most of the time, however whenever I try and progress, start taking the work up a level she protests. She will initally co operate with what I ask, maybe a few small evasions and then grasp it easily and find it physically easy. Then next session that we work on that particular movement, she will 'up the ante' evasion wise and will sometimes abjectly refuse to do what I ask. At this point I have tried many tactics including changing the subject and coming back to it, gradually building up to it, keep consistently and calmly working through it in the hope she will eventually co operate and tackling it head on, resulting in a battle. Once she decides that actually what I am asking is not so unreasonable (normally after a battle) we can move forward- this can sometimes take up to a month or more to happen. For example, it took me just over 6 weeks to be able to ride forwards into a halt and her remain soft. Or pick up the rein in halt and ask her to soften. She literally just said NO everytime. It's also worth mentioning that when she says no to something new, she will then pretty much down tools to everything and will refuse to anything- even if it's very basic. Once she has decided to co operate there are rarely further issues, she just gets on with it.
I really try and have relaxing stretchy sessions with her but it is so difficult- I end up having to pick her up and really work her as she just messes about so much.
This is how it has always gone and to be honest I am starting to get fed up. We have had many set backs, including a bad injury to me, a year off and another year trying to get my confidence back, so are behind in our training anyway.
I am having lessons with an excellent trainer and will chat with him about it tomorrow but am just looking for opinions and other experiences. I am happy that there is nothing physically wrong I really think it her down to her temperment and willingness to work. Or maybe personality clash.
I really want to get out and competing with her this year- aiming to be scoring decently at Elementry by the end of this year and medium next year. I want to get out monthly through the summer at novice- I just want to enjoy my horse.
If anyone has any suggestions, experiences or anything, I'd be really willing to listen.
I've looked at her feed, work management, teeth & saddle done regularly, turnout... Please help!
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