Mare threw couple of tantrums today!

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showpony

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Ok so things have been going so so well I knew a dip was around the corner... we were doing some canter work on large circles with 2 poles either side of circle try to hit same amount of strides on both sides of the circle if that makes sence ( not the best at explaining exercises... sorry)!
Trying to work on rhythm as a basis for judging stride etc when we move on with jumping...
All was going ok & bam she catleaped over one of the poles threw couple of bucks & tried to P*** it off with me - did the wrong thing & pulled her up but it happened in a split second ..

2nd time no catleap over pole just the same " Im not wanting to work attitude " couple bucks & tried to run off managed to turn her & drive her on with my leg & complete 2 further circles until I decided when it was time for her to stop..

Its very out of character for her ( shes had teeth & back done - no issues ) - Instructor thinks she is just now starting to test boundaries & be a brat if she doesn't want to do something...

Anyone elses youngster go through these temper tantrums?? also know this is a numpty question but how can you tell when a Mare is in heat??? - she was a bit starey eyed and a tiny bit jumpy but nothing that would stand out if you didn't know her.... there was also a bit of wind but nothing like galeforce etc..
 
my mare has done similar this week, her work has upped slightly and 2 days ago she was working lovely in walk but as soon as i asked for trot we got a buck pushed her on and she bucked again. she then planted and everytime i asked her to walk on she bucked, we then got a rear, nothing big. this went on for about 3 mins, but with the help of my yo i kept my leg on and pushed through it and she settled and walked forward eventually.
The following day i lunged her, she did one complete circle and then bucked and cow kicked, she settled after 2 mins and worked well. changed the rein and i got rears, again after approx 2 mins she settled. Rode her today in just walk and she threatened a couple of times but i kicked her on and told her to behave and she settled nicely.
My yo and ym who is my instructor have both said she is a typical chestnut mare and is objecting to having to work more. her back and teeth were done last week. she is just being stubborn. So lots of transition work for us for a while until she settles and realises i am in charge.
:)
 
IMO horses don't throw tantrums or try to take the proverbial. They live in the moment. So it is up to the human to find the reason - soreness, boredom, fear, lack of understanding......
 
Alyth, understand where you are coming from and having a good think over things today she was finding new work challenging, she is only 4 though, and imo was trying to see if she could get out of doing it!
 
my 8 year old did the same with me today. 5 seperate bucking/broncking fits!!! luckly i didnt come off! shes coming back from tendon rehab and had to have 6 days in her stable due to flooded field and gales...so no chance of riding or turnout
it was a fun 45 mins!!! ...... mares are 'cleverer' than geldings and i think realise this so try and use it!
i got the feeing it was a situation of 'i dont want to do what you want to do' tonite... 'so ill try and do my own thing'...so funny..... adrenalined filled rider 1, irritated and tired horse 0
 
My little one is just as unpredictable, somedays she does a lovely schooling session (we are literally just working on balancing in walk and trot and encouraging her to carry herself properly and forward as we discovered from her dentist visit she is around a year younger than the 4 and half we thought she was so its just 2 20mins schooling sessions a week and 3 hacks) She had/has a sharp napping habit when she feels she can't do something and completely ignores my leg on the two corners furthest away from the gate and will always try to cut them.
Wednesday we had an awful session where we didn't get anywhere at all and spent half an hour just trying to do one lap of the school with no napping or corner cutting, while yesterday morning we had a few glitches at the beginning but after that she did some lovely circles, serpentines and figures of 8s that felt a lot more balanced in walk and trot.
Its so repetitive at the moment because we can't move forwards until we have the balance but have started to introduce poles which she perks up at and I have also bought some speakers for the school so we can have some music to make it a bit more interesting! Basically we both love the hacking haha and she always goes beautifully when we school while hacking but we need to apply that ethic to the school because they don't do dressage tests in the woods :(
Saying all that though we have years yet haha I just have an awful habit of comparing my horses abilities to others even though everyone else on my yard has mostly older more mature and advanced horses. Need to not do that!!!
 
Sounds like the EXACT same schooling session I had today, circles, poles, mare, bucking, beggaring off... It's not fun, but that's a mare for you. Brilliant one minute, little bitc.... The next. :D
 
Showpony.....if she is only 4 you need to be very patient and show her exactly what you want. She is at kindagarten remember, not high school or university!!! Take her back a notch and build gradually!!! IMO she's not trying to get out of it, she's telling you she isn't sure of what you want. Like giving a - what is it now - used to be "O" levels in my day! problem to a primary school kid!! Try and see the problem from her point of view!! Good luck!!
 
Also it's amazing how much "schooling" you can do when out on a hack, and it's much more fun for the pony!!! It makes sense serpenting around a row of trees for example!! Or half circles and go back towards home!! And obtaining a regular circle in a nice flat area on the beach....or out in a paddock!! Arenas can be SO BORING - just like school was most of the time!! Remember the few teachers who made classes interesting? What did they do? Went outside the square most of the time!!
 
Alyth , @ the risk of this sounding rude you don't know my horse and you don't know me! Everything has been done very slowly with her, in fact I've been given out to for not being firm enough with her! She had an off day and everyone has them! She is been taken out hacking by a friend today so she will enjoy a good canter in the fields
 
I think sometimes with young horses, they are like a child, if they can't do it, they panic.... ie if your youngster couldn't work out her feet she may just sod off. Our youngster used to buck in canter until he was balanced, hope this helps xx
ps perhaps try something not quite so complicated and see if you get the same reaction XX
 
Thanks for your reply, have just put it down to an off day, incident just took me by surprise as so unlike her! Went back yesterday and no issues completing same exercise! Don't think wind helped at all the other day:)
 
She's a baby. They will test boundaries. There will be days that you can't believe you have the same horse in front of you. We have a truly lovely 4 year old mare at the yard who has been there for 2 years. She has been so foot perfect (and I mean foot perfect) through all her training. Now she is throwing her toys out of the pram and testing her boundaries. Its like looking at a completely different horse!. There is no pain issues, mare checked regularly for back, saddle etc, just a little flexing of her muscles so she has gone back to boot camp for a bit till she remembers her manners. The YO has reviewed the entire way she was keeping the mare though as well, not just work so she has changed fields (was becoming very much the alpha mare with her group), as well. Mare has always had a varied schedule, with lots of breaks as she is a much heavier horse being a WB x and growing still. Horses often seem to undergo a bit of a sea change character wise when they move from 4 to 5 year olds.
 
Guys remember, right now some mares are cycling down for the winter. Their hormones are a little whacky and they can be a little grumpy.

I know how hard it is to balance my mare with regards to tantrums. She's only 6, but considering that she really works well the rest of the year and I deal with this malarky usually only in November I give her the benefit of doubt. I do more hacking and things she likes as opposed to constant schooling. Mine has been tantrumy as well this week. It's a fine line to keep her ticking over and working well. But since its the same every year for about 3 weeks I do tend to not be so hard on her.

Terri
 
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