charleysummer
Well-Known Member
Tried typing this out the long way and was just too long so I shall shorten it.
Basically my mare has turned quite bolshy and headstrong (literally..) since being out in a herd and adopting the role of lead mare, which is a bit of a pain and certainly contributes but not something that is going to stop me working on the main problem.
My mare (all 14hh of her) has grown quite fiesty ! more so as she has been turned out in a large area in a herd and has gotten a lot fitter and built up more muscle. She has put on lots of topline since working through her back and it was all going well since i changed her bit to slotted kimberwick (on the bottom slot) as she got quite p*ssed off with a snaffle and would chomp and pull. I have never used harsh hands on her and she has had the standard checks regarding saddle, back etc- no signs of pain, has never reared, bucked, bolted, pulled funny faces- her ears are always up with one on me listening, she is just so bloomin fast and strong. I can walk and trot her fine but she does seem to fall in on circles unless i keep my weight to the outside which didn't used to happen- this is very obvious in canter too. She loves extending her trot but will collect fine when asked and is not so strong in trot.
When we go in to canter, I keep my hands light as possible but she just goes to gallop as if we have just left the starting gates until shes ran out of a bit energy- and then when she has ran out of energy she just tries to get faster unless I have a death hold on the reins (my absolute worst nightmare and i feel so guilty because i hate strong holds on the mouth it makes me cringe but I can't do anything else or she will hurt herself by charging about!) Transitions just wind her up more and she doesn't want to go back to trot so it takes more 'ask' each time.
ETA- hmm that turned out longer than the other one,
Just need some tips to help out really-she is on a handful of chaff and low energy mix with MSM supplement and living out . She seems to get stronger as she gets fitter- and is often seen having a canter and buck in the field as she has a lot of energy, she is a very good doer as well. I don't think it is as bad as it sounds if you saw it- compared to many strong ponies I have ridden which you seem to be pulling at a brick wall - she is always always stoppable- there is just lots of room for improvement
Basically my mare has turned quite bolshy and headstrong (literally..) since being out in a herd and adopting the role of lead mare, which is a bit of a pain and certainly contributes but not something that is going to stop me working on the main problem.
My mare (all 14hh of her) has grown quite fiesty ! more so as she has been turned out in a large area in a herd and has gotten a lot fitter and built up more muscle. She has put on lots of topline since working through her back and it was all going well since i changed her bit to slotted kimberwick (on the bottom slot) as she got quite p*ssed off with a snaffle and would chomp and pull. I have never used harsh hands on her and she has had the standard checks regarding saddle, back etc- no signs of pain, has never reared, bucked, bolted, pulled funny faces- her ears are always up with one on me listening, she is just so bloomin fast and strong. I can walk and trot her fine but she does seem to fall in on circles unless i keep my weight to the outside which didn't used to happen- this is very obvious in canter too. She loves extending her trot but will collect fine when asked and is not so strong in trot.
When we go in to canter, I keep my hands light as possible but she just goes to gallop as if we have just left the starting gates until shes ran out of a bit energy- and then when she has ran out of energy she just tries to get faster unless I have a death hold on the reins (my absolute worst nightmare and i feel so guilty because i hate strong holds on the mouth it makes me cringe but I can't do anything else or she will hurt herself by charging about!) Transitions just wind her up more and she doesn't want to go back to trot so it takes more 'ask' each time.
ETA- hmm that turned out longer than the other one,
Just need some tips to help out really-she is on a handful of chaff and low energy mix with MSM supplement and living out . She seems to get stronger as she gets fitter- and is often seen having a canter and buck in the field as she has a lot of energy, she is a very good doer as well. I don't think it is as bad as it sounds if you saw it- compared to many strong ponies I have ridden which you seem to be pulling at a brick wall - she is always always stoppable- there is just lots of room for improvement