My Mare wont move at all!!!

[charliecrisps]

I was wondering on any advice - my mare wont move. Whether hacking out alone or in company or in the school, she literally plants her feet and refuses to go. No spooking, no common areas, I’ve had tack, feet and back checked, changed her diet to something that may give her more energy and put her on hormone supplement. I paid an instructor to ride as I thought it was just me, but she still wouldn’t go. I’m at my wits end how to get her going.

If you smack her she bucks and still refuses to move. If you turn her in a circle she still stops when you face her in the right direction still. If you squeeze and use your voice, its like you do not even exist. She sometimes starts the hack well and finishes with plenty of stops or vice versa.. Typically stopping 8 times in half hour for as long as she likes! Sometimes I can’t get her out the yard at all or to move even one step when she is in the school. I suspect she has learnt that no-one can make her walk now! I don’t have any more ideas to try…

 

[Salcey]

My mare used to do this not long after she was broken. I just used to play the waiting game as turning/hitting had no effect whatosever and she just used to shutdown.
We ended up going back to long reining her and then very short walks out under the saddle so as not to give the the opportunity to stop.
Looking back now I think lack of fittness played a part and I pushed her too far too soon.

 

[NeilM]

My wife and a friend of hers bought horses that had both belonged to the same person and who did exactly the same and worse (the person used to beat the horses in a rage any time things did not go right).

The cure was long and took a huge amount of patience, but short walks out in hand and under saddle, just easing things further and further forward each time. Lots of praise, a few treats and generally getting the horse to understand that going out was something to enjoy not to fear.

I am not suggesting for a minute that your horse refuses because of abuse, I used that as an extreme example, as my wifes horse is now bomb proof (although still a bit difficult to load into a trailer) and her friends horse is a real character and also rides out well.

You have to build up your horses confidence and get it to associate going out as being something enjoyable and something it wants to do (as opposed to something you want it to do).

It is going to take some time and a lot of patience, but it can be done.

 

[LizGooch1]

You really have to ask yourself at what point did this all start? Has she been inadvertently punished for doing something when she was actually trying so she now shuts down to any request?

Will she long rein or walk with someone at her head?
Asking them to go backwards (if she will) so you are moving their leg/s can work too and reward instantly by taking pressure off. Start this on the ground and give huge pats when she even thinks about moving any direction!
It sounds like you need to get a trainer in to help but I'd go down the behavioural route, dont get someone who will just bully her as she'll shut down again as you have learnt. Kelly Marks website/Richard Maxwell/Lewis Blackburn are all excellent and wil give you another angle to see this from

Good luck and let us know how you get on...

 

[Dolcé]

because you mentioned hormone supplement you made me think of our mare when she first came. She used to plant in the school and just not move, she would stand and stare into the distance as though we were invisible - she was far worse when in season. How did we cure it.........with a wipwop rope! My daughter has always refused to carry a whip and to be honest I think we could have knocked hell out of her anyway with no effect. She responded to the rope being tickled against her shoulder, it seemed to 'bring her back to earth'. Sami only had to use it for a few weeks and the problem has never come back

 

[vicm2509]

Has your mare always been like this or is it something that has just started?

My horse does exactly the same if I ask him to hack alone, he has major confidence issues. Only if I smak him he has a massive tantrum. He does not trust a person on his back to make sure he is safe - something has obviously broken his trust in the past. I have tried everything, although we have improved he is far from being cured. I am not taking the Narural Horsemanship approach to try and build a better bond and build up his self confidence. I am only starting this at the weekend, but so far ground work is what has improved him the most rather than the ridden work.

 

[Cop-Pop]

My mare was like this after she was broken in - in the end YO used to lead me on the linge line until she got the idea and we came off it.

 

[charliecrisps]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I have taken to going back to basics and lunging with two lines and she goes like an angel, i wish she was like that when i get on! She free schools fine too, walks and stands when asked no problems... and no lunge whip or lines needed. Amazing. Get on her and try and school during the same session and she stops dead... i need someone to school her whilst i lunge i think!

This has been going on for about 2 years now... She was professionally backed but then didnt have much else doing to her really for a while and was purely a companion (she suits this role very well!) She was on loan (a free loan i may add.. you would think people would be more dedicated) to someone for about a summer, she started to stop with her and the lady got fed up and left.... so someone else took her on, then she got fed up, so someone else took her on, and she got fed up too.. and so on and so on... and now misty is ten, I cant find anyone dedicated enough to take her on to help me out... and the more people i have up the yard to try out.. the more confusing for misty. But I dont have enough time for both my horses really but refuse to keep my other horse by himself as i dont think its fair, and wont sell Misty as i know someone will get bored with her and sell her on straight away and she will spend her whole life getting moved on in markets :-(

Thats why i thought i would pay somone qualified to come in and give me a hand. The riding instructor was the one who decided to try and beat it out of her... so i just had to stay quiet and accept her advice as being good advice. Misty bronco bucked her off nearly though (i think the spurs and two whips was too much for her one day) and the riding instructor said she was a 'tart' and sell her?! Poor Misty. I dont even ride my other horse with a whip... was all a shock to the system for me as well as Misty.
I have invested in parelli 7 games... and recommended wip wop rope, carrot stick etc... I think that may work on her better. She is a funny girl, she flips out if you try and clip her when she is tied up, but let her go free minus the headcollar and she is an angel.
Unfortuantly, when somone is on her, there is no getting her to move but in contrast she is such a joy to be around on the ground.
The instructor proved the 'mean way' doesnt work! Just sitting there doesnt work, if you turn her head to try make her go in a circle, she just turns her head and her body stays stationary, and she definately wont walk backwards! I need an extra hand i think. I have two horses... and Misty is such hard work! I am going to invest in the help of a natural horsemanship trainer/behaviourist and try and get her moving for the summer! I bought the parelli my horse wont move DVD and it has given me some new things to try at least for the spring. Funny thing is, i am a happy hacker and she doesnt even need to get out of walk if she doesnt want to.. but a walk would be nice

Thanks to all.. any more advice would be good also.. im trying everything this spring to break this bad habit! My other horse is 18 now.. so when he is too old to plod out, it would be nice if Misty could replace him.