arwenplusone
Well-Known Member
Some of you will know that I have been struggling with my beautiful, beautiful mare lately. I thought we were getting somewhere and then she had another in a long line of hissy fits and I got unlucky & broke my wrist.
Anyway, she's been away for 4 weeks with my instructor for some training. I have been to see her about 8 times during this period and my instructor's son has been riding her. He is very dominant & 'aggressive' and in the space of 4 weeks he has more respect from my mare than I have ever had. He is after her all the time & almost bullies her into submission. SHe seems to really like this & has settled well to work for him. My instructor (who rides dressage to a very high level) will not ride her and says it is not ability that is the challenge but 'riding attitude.'
This mare is always looking for a weakness in her rider. She WILL school to a very high level & she has a superb jump but it is so hard to get her to work with you instead of against you.
I rode her yesterday (and will again tomorrow) but I am starting to wonder whether my determination with this horse is in vein.
I cannot change the fact that I am female, (without an expensive op
) OR my natural, quiet way about horses, nor do I want to, but I really want to make it work with this mare.
Seeing her with Tom though it has really made me wonder if I ever can & I am sitting here in tears thinking I will have to sell her.
So, sorry - to try and cut a long story short - are some horses just men's rides or is there some other way around this? Has anyone got a 'man's ride' and made it work out?
Any advice/thoughts on this appreciated. thanks
Anyway, she's been away for 4 weeks with my instructor for some training. I have been to see her about 8 times during this period and my instructor's son has been riding her. He is very dominant & 'aggressive' and in the space of 4 weeks he has more respect from my mare than I have ever had. He is after her all the time & almost bullies her into submission. SHe seems to really like this & has settled well to work for him. My instructor (who rides dressage to a very high level) will not ride her and says it is not ability that is the challenge but 'riding attitude.'
This mare is always looking for a weakness in her rider. She WILL school to a very high level & she has a superb jump but it is so hard to get her to work with you instead of against you.
I rode her yesterday (and will again tomorrow) but I am starting to wonder whether my determination with this horse is in vein.
I cannot change the fact that I am female, (without an expensive op
![tongue.gif](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horseandhound.co.uk%2Fforums%2Fimages%2Fgraemlins%2Ftongue.gif&hash=99a2648c49a19ac6f2983a2f01842001)
Seeing her with Tom though it has really made me wonder if I ever can & I am sitting here in tears thinking I will have to sell her.
So, sorry - to try and cut a long story short - are some horses just men's rides or is there some other way around this? Has anyone got a 'man's ride' and made it work out?
Any advice/thoughts on this appreciated. thanks