Kicking out when cantering (videos)

NicandLiv said:
considering selling her because she does a bunny hope when cantering?
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No - because she needs a lot of work doing with her (if of course pain is eliminated as a cause). Like I say, given your level of experience, and your daughter's age and size also, I would either be sending her away for bringing on by a professional, or would consider something perhaps more suited - ie a schoolmaster which both you and your daughter can have fun and learn on safely.

I don't mean to offend at all - that is merely what I would do in your situation. And for me to suggest selling horses or passing on is almost unheard of...
 
NicandLiv said:
considering selling her because she does a bunny hope when cantering?
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Sounds like you've come a long way with her and you've both learnt a lot in the process. I think getting rid of her would be a bit over dramatic! Plus it seems like you've done most of the hard work on her already. Does she buck or kick out when / if you canter on hacks?
 
Nope, only in the school. I can canter her out on hacks and she is fine, I have had a gallop from her too and she was really good. Strangely after I have cantered her, or after that time I galloped with her she was so much more responsive to my seat and leg aids. In a very positive way. When I canter her around the school, she does the bunny hopping but if I keep her going and keep her going until she gives in and thinks "I might as well do it then" she again becomes more and more responsive to my seat and leg aids, and once I've kept her going through the kicking generally she doesn't kick again. So I am just wondering, is it kicking through frustration that she doesn't want to do the work - being unfit, perhaps it's hard for her and she is saying "no I don't think so!" or if it was just like "woohoo excitment" and after a while either the excitment goes, or she thinks "oh I'm not getting away with this, better canter on!"

Sorry Moomin. Didn't mean to get quite defensive, and I can totally understand your point of view. I am actually hoping my daughter doesn't really get into horses because I don't like sharing! I am so mean :D
 
Be very careful about putting your daughter on such a green horse. It may well be that your mare was a broodmare and was only very recently broken which would explain a lot of her behaviour. It also means she lacks experience and confidence and you should not trust her to do the right thing with your daughter in an emergency situation because she simply is not up to it (no criticism of the horse intended in this. There is a reason why children learn on schoolmasters).
 
I'll tell you what I see, and be very honest, but I will also say you've done a good job so far, considering you don't have much experience and she sounds like she was a nightmare - so you're obviously on the right track!

At this stage, I'm not sure I would let my daughter ride her off the lead-rein. She might end up learning new evasions at best, or ditching daughter at worst! Saying that, her legs don't go past the saddle flaps, so it's good to see the video because it makes me think even more that it is a 'resisting the leg' problem. (I'm not a kid person, I had no idea how small a seven year old is :p)

I will say though, that horses aren't naughty by nature. Undesirable behaviour is either caused by fear, discomfort, or misunderstanding. Discomfort can often just be lack of strength or flexibility, which is something that only time and correct work will help. So if we're ruling out fear and pain, I would say it is likely she doesn't understand the leg aids, and this is stressing her out. In theory this is quite a simple thing to correct (light leg aids, and lots of praise when she responds correctly) but because the timings are so delicate, you might want an instructor to oversee this.

At a couple of points in the video, the rider did things that would cause my older horse to try and ditch you. He is a sensitive soul so this isn't a judgement (and trust me, I do manage to get on his nerves plenty myself) but just pointing out that a sensitive horse will respond to certain things in certain ways. In the first video, when she does a small buck in canter 10 seconds in, the rider didn't set her up for the corner - so she had to make quite a dramatic turn to avoid crashing into the wall, and this threw her off balance. She bucked to correct her balance. My youngster is much more amiable - he'd have happily just cantered straight into the wall, and I know which I'd prefer! With a green horse, you have to plan every turn and transition a long way in advance!

Also once or twice the rider kicked her, I know that would make mine buck, leg aids can be very light, whilst still being effective, especially if you're dealing with a horse that's grumpy about leg. Lastly, when she sticks her head up in the air, she looks frightened of the contact, push her into trot if she does that, and make sure you're not pulling back with your hands, because that will make her fuss with her mouth.

She's a lovely pony and I'm sure you'll get there with her :)
 
my daughter has been taking lessons at a riding school at the moment, hasn't ridden dee for quite a while for that reason. just let her plod along until I found out just how inexperienced she was and then I booked her into a riding school. wouldn't want dee shatterjng her confidence (or her head!)
 
That's probably for the best :) Find yourself a good instructor, I think this is solve-able with some professional input.
 
thank you pogeon that is extremely informative. all points taken on board.

going to forget the cantering for now though and work on suppleness, and understanding the correct leg aids (with a qualified instructor)
 
NicandLiv said:
Nope, only in the school. I can canter her out on hacks and she is fine, I have had a gallop from her too and she was really good. Strangely after I have cantered her, or after that time I galloped with her she was so much more responsive to my seat and leg aids. In a very positive way. When I canter her around the school, she does the bunny hopping but if I keep her going and keep her going until she gives in and thinks "I might as well do it then" she again becomes more and more responsive to my seat and leg aids, and once I've kept her going through the kicking generally she doesn't kick again. So I am just wondering, is it kicking through frustration that she doesn't want to do the work - being unfit, perhaps it's hard for her and she is saying "no I don't think so!" or if it was just like "woohoo excitment" and after a while either the excitment goes, or she thinks "oh I'm not getting away with this, better canter on!"

Sorry Moomin. Didn't mean to get quite defensive, and I can totally understand your point of view. I am actually hoping my daughter doesn't really get into horses because I don't like sharing! I am so mean :D
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No probs :-).

I am slightly confused - earlier on you posted that you haven't learnt to canter yet, so have someone more experienced to do that?
 
sorry yes that was a bit vague. I can canter but I fsel I need to practice a bit more to get a better seat aa I dont feel I am doing it as well as I can do it. its not "clicked" just yet, struggling with it alongside dee being unbalanced its throwing me out a bit
 
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