Need a bit of advice.

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gemmagallagher

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Hello everyone i'm Gemma and quite new to the forum. Sorry this post may go on a bit! I have been riding for about 14 years now and have done the voluntary work and been to college (Equine studies). After having a break for almost 6 years (i met my partner, fell madly in love and sort of put horses on the back burner) i am now riding again! For some strange reason, my riding is at its best in years and i want to do absolutely everything!! Anyway, on to the main reason for the post.....
....... I have been riding a beautiful black 4 yr old welsh cob mare and she is for sale for a very nice price imo. She was backed last year and there hasnt been anyone to ride her since then. The first time i rode her i just walked her and she was terrified, poor thing, but well behaved. I have ridden her a few times since and we are now trotting and doing a bit of cantering. I have started to take her outside of her familiar surroundings(We now go across the common and near to the roads to introduce her to new things) and although she has her spooky moments, she has been an angel for me. Since i cant afford to buy her and pay for her entire keep my friend and i are keen to go halves. We are good friends and she has her own horse already which i sometimes ride and we are really not likely to fall out so this is perfect for both of us. I am more experienced than my friend and when she rode this mare at the beggining of the week she was like a rocking horse!! In the end my friend got bolted with and then thrown off. This mare has also reared with her on a seperate occasion, she was spooked by huge pheseant and it did make even the experienced horses in the group jump a bit. My friend told me that the mare is now in season and she thinks thats why she had her little fit because she has never been that crazy before. I am going to ride the mare tonight and see if it just her being very naughty (Dont worry i never ride her without lvl 3 body protector and hat!) Sorry i've really waffled on haven't i! Anyways i was thinking that the bucking and rearing episode may be down to sensitive ovaries and that she wanted my friend off her back to relieve them. I havent had a lot of experience with mares and i dont really want to buy a dangerous horse, if she is that. Like i said, she has been an angel for me, only minor things which i rode through confidently. What does everyone else think? Shall i ride her tonight and if so how will i know if she is just being marish or naughty.
Thanks in advance, sorry for the waffle
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it could be because of her ovaries. but it could also be because you have been the only one riding her so therfore she has adjusted to the way you ride etc. so getting to know another rider will take time. sounds like a lovely mare. good luck x
 
Some people just don't get on with some horses. Maybe your friend was feeling a little nervous and this went through to the mare. Ride her tonight and see what she does. If it happens with again it might be wise to get the vet out.
 
I don't know very much about mares I am afraid but I would urge you to tread with caution purchasing with a friend, especially if the friend doesn't get on with the horse as well as you do.

My mum purchased a horse with a friend many years ago - they saw him at the sales and pooled their money to buy him on the spot. But when they got home and got to know him, my mum's friend just wasn't suited to him so she wanted out. Luckily my mum could afford to buy her half out but if she hadn't have been able to he would have been sold.

It may be worth puttign a contract in place as if you buy this horse and form a bond then your friend wants out of her half it could be very upsetting for all.

Good luck though with whatever you do x
 
Sounds more like rider error than anything medical to me. Maybe your friend takes a closer contact than you and is setting up a bit of resistance..ride her yourself again but make allowances for the possibility that the horse has had its confidence shaken by what has happened recently.
 
it may be ovaries or just in season even if nothing really wrong when they are new to being ridden things are very strange for them and she may feel a little more sensitive than normal
on the other had if your friend lacks experiance oit could be that or again could be that the mare is used to you and felt frieghtened and insecure with a new rider on top we have just broken a little sec d with same issues fine with the rider she is used to and then anyone else she appears unbroken almost , rid her quietley and then if shes ok let your friend try again maybe in a school and watch the mares body language and see if she looks troubled and at what point good luck
 
has the mare had people other than you ride her? only because my youngster who was being a complete star with me went a bit loopy when my sister rode him, and she really didnt get on with him, I got back on and he was fine, think it was just confusion.

Good luck, she does sound lovely
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I have noticed she doesnt like standing still if we have to wait for others, she will paw at the ground and last time that was warning for a rear. when she paws with me i make her walk forward and then wait again and i keep doing this until she waits patiently. Is this right or do u think i'll wind her up? she is such a fast learner and with her paces and looks i think she'll go far. i want to do everything right for her and give her the best possible start.
 
I am leaning more to the rider error - perhaps tension that upset the mare causing her to bolt and your friend to fall off etc rather then her ovaries hurting. And possibly because you are the only person who has ridden her recently and your friends different style (and perhaps tension) that upset her.

Not standing still is a sign of impatientness. And from the sounds of it you are handling that ok.

If I were you I would ride tonight, see how she is and if she is the same with you then go down the route of having things like back, ovaries etc checked
 
I am sooo gutted it absolutely rained cats and dogs so i couldnt ride afterall. I went to catch the mare to make a fuss of her but she had other ideas. Her ears were back and she was swinging her hindquarters at another horse. i left her for a bit and then went back to her and she came up for a fuss. If this rain stops i'll get on her and see if she is any happier. Thanks for all the great advice, i'll keep u all posted!
 
I would suggest that only you ride her for the next 6 months and get all the little issues sorted out. A nervous person riding her is bad news and both the horse and your friend will loose confidence in each other causing some serious issues.
 
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