Nappy 4 year old cob...Help!

[Beth321]

Hi Everyone!
Have been asked to ride a heavy feathery 4 year old cob mare for a friend while they are on holiday and hoping to teach it some manners and improve its way of going a bit. Its owner is 11 so its like a child teaching a child and the horse has got into a lot of bad habits and has no respect for the rider whether youre on top, tacking it up or just handling it. Just looking for some guidance from anyone that thinks they could offer some help to be honest - it naps quite a bit out on hacks e.g reversing into hedges, tanking into corn fields, going sideways and refusing to go forward etc... it is better in the school, but doesnt bend at all, is very much on the forehand and motorbikes in canter so much that the saddle slides how ever much leg i use to try to balance her. Can anyone suggest a brief plan for the next 3 weeks while i am riding it for the owner which would aim to improve her way of going?
Thanks

 

[Tammytoo]

A big ask in a small amount of time! One thing strikes me is the comment about the saddle slipping, I know you can't do anything about that but it might be worth suggesting to the owners that they have the fit checked. One method of dealing with napping is to spin him round in a small cricle the minute you feel him resist. It gets them moving and you can then send him forward in the direction you want to go.

I wouldn't concentrate too much on the schooling, he is quite young and will find it hard work to get off his forehand, I would get him out hacking briskly and moving forward, even if it means a fairly loose rein, he can't lean then!

Manners on the ground come with consistancy and clear boundaries, handle him in a bridle rather than a headcollar if he's being rude, don't ask for too much at a time but insist you get what you do ask for in a firm manner and reward him when you get what you want.

I agree, a novice on a 4 yo, talk about the blind leading the blind!

 

[Beth321]

But would it not be better to sort the behaviour and get her to listen to what i want her to do in the school before giving her a wide open space to do what ever she likes in where i will find it harder to control her (she also gets extremely strong)? Yes on a hack i could send her forward, but shes pretty unpredictable being 4 and i would rather establish the brakes whilst fenced in before venturing out into the open

Yes, I will talk to them about the saddle, others agree that it is badly fitting and she has probably grown since the saddle was last fitted!

Thanks for your advice!

 

[be positive]

If you start in the school to establish basics ie turns on forehand,simple leg yield ,lots of transitions and maybe polework , you can take this slowly and then when the pony is listening at the end of a session ,you can then go for a short walk out.
The pony will ,hopefully,start to listen to you and gradually you can go further with him,ideally in company as he is probably unsure of himself.
The owners need to continue with the work you put in and get saddle/teeth etc checked ,a pony of this age is constantly changing shape.
Good luck.

 

[Tammytoo]

Sorry - I misunderstood your post! I thought that the constant napping was the main problem. Schooling will be a good way to get him to listen to you, lots of transitions, half halts etc, keep it varied and short. As I said, he is only 4 and will be fairly stiff and unbalanced so I would do little and often.

Of course unless his owners carry on your good work your success could be short lived!

Good luck.

 

[highlandponygirl]

might be worth doing join up with him. Join up is a good way of establishing trust, especially with young horses. Once you have that bond with them it makes them more willing to learn.

 

[Beth321]

Yes, I was thinking of poles as the owner has jumped her already .. but it is not a pretty sight so hopefully this would get her to think about her feet and it would also be something more exciting than just going round and round! Not well schooled enough for leg yield or turn on the forehand yet, and it is a very chunky hairy cob! She has improved since I started riding her, and her transitions are getting a lot better now that she has started to listen to her rider... its just keeping her interested as being 4 she gets bored easily then messes around...
Thanks for your advice, glad to know im thinking along the right lines

 

[Beth321]

yes, i might try, but she does charge you when you try to catch her in her field and is very bargy so i dont know if it would be a bit dangerous?! would she ever literally run me down or will all horses stop - never experienced charging before but i dont like the idea of being flattened!

 

[be positive]

Leg yield/turn on forehand does not have to be perfect! Just making pony yield to pressure this can be done on the ground asking them to step out of your space.I would expect this of any youngster, one step at a time they soon pick it up.

 

[Maesfen]

She has improved since I started riding her, and her transitions are getting a lot better now that she has started to listen to her rider... its just keeping her interested as being 4 she gets bored easily then messes around...
Thanks for your advice, glad to know im thinking along the right lines

Half your battle will be keeping her attention as she is only a baby and it sounds like her owner is less than ideal in the discipline stakes. Short and sweet sessions will do far better than a long one and a long one at that age is only 20 minutes; they really do have the attention span and physicality of a gnat no matter what their type and build! If you can do it, two short sessions (10 min's at most) a day will pay dividends far more than longer sessions where she will tire both physically and mentally far quicker.
As to the barging either handle in a bridle or at least a rope or chain over her nose at all times and if you want stop, you mean it and get stop, don't pussy around, you won't scar it for life either mentally or physically and it might just save her life.
If you had all the time in the world I would be long reining it everywhere, roads and all, instilling discipline and obedience which should have been done before she was even backed TBH.

 

[highlandponygirl]

young horses who charge or are bolshy are usualy testing the boundaries to see how much you bare prepaired to let them get away with. (equine version of the little ones on supernanny lol) you must try and stand your ground with him, might seem a bit daunting but once youve got it he will have so much more respect for you.
The idea is to use your body language to push him away from you, keeping behind his eyeline. He must understand that he can only come into your space when you invite him in. Take lunge line/whip into 20m area. you can use this to give him small flick in hindquarter area if HE decides he wants to stop.
Hope you can get the good out of him.

 

[Beth321]

Good idea! would be good as she doesnt move out of your space when you ask either.... lol