Rude, nappy, headstrong mare.

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Chanoiaz

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Hi;

I've had my mare for just over a year now, and location circumstances have meant that I've only just been able to bring her into proper work.
She isn't as fit as she could be right now, but isn't terrible either (we're getting there!).

The yard I have recently moved to doesn't have a manage but has a good sized jumping field and xc field which are both situated in the middle of the land with all the fields and stables surrounding it.
I've never had problems with my mare napping at my other yards, however she was ridden in enclosed spaces there (manage, small fields ect.)
In both the sj and xc fields she's constantly pulling me out of the boundaries towards the exits, or the nearest weak fence or escape route when going between jumps and it's tough her being so big and me being so weak. I don't have any experience with napping so any advice would be great?

Also, she is extremely rude.. I believe her previous owners let her get away with murder! Out on hacks she constantly jogs on the spot.. I've tried half halting, full halting, small squeezes on the reins.. But she just shakes her head and jogs on again.. Its very tiring and has caused me to lose interest in taking her out because it's really not enjoyable.

My last problem is the most infuriating..
She's a 15 year old 16hh Danish warmblood so her build is well designed for jumping.. However even if I trot her up to the smallest of fences she acts like its a monster trying to eat her.
It's extremely annoying considering one day she'll jump 1.05m without even looking, and the next she refuses the smallest of cross poles.
It took me 40 minutes, a lot of encouragement and a bit of whip action today just to get her over the tiniest of fences.

I've had her back, saddle, teeth and feet checked and she's in perfect health so I'm at wits end.
I'm sorry I've written so much, but I've asked advice from everywhere I know and people seem to be so useless.

To anyone who reads this all the way through, thank you! And any advice would be taken on board and much appreciated!

Abbey x
 
Regarsing the jogging on hacks... my mare used to do this and I felt the exact same as you until a friend told me about an article explaining a good excercise to eliminate it for good.

You basically bring the horse to a halt immediately as soon as it starts to jog. Then back it up a few steps. My mare detests rein back so found it difficult initially but do persevere. You then walk on with a soft/light contact and repeat as soon as he starts to jog again. The idea being that the horse gets bored of this and walks politely and in a natural rhythm. Be sure to let the horse walk forwards as soon as you have corrected and let him fall into his natual rhythm but do half halt if it starts to quicken.

Cured my mare who jogged for nearly 8yrs, she now hacks politely and enjoys them. Good luck!
 
Do you have a regular instructor? Or someone who could give you eyes on the ground at least... Sounds like she's fresh and taking the p1$$ to me - you need to be confident to ride her forward and not let her push her boundaries.

In terms of the jogging - we have a habitual jogger - after nearly 5 years of putting up with his jogging, we accidently changed his bit and now he walks everywhere - astonishing. If we had done the halting exercise mentioned above, we would still be halting (although we'd have a very cross horse and it would still be jogging!) Jogging is VERY irritating!!
 
In a nutshell, my guess is that you just don't click with her. She maybe extremely intelligent and self aware, but sensitive. The type of mare that needs a lot of commitment and direction in order to build a close working relationship and win her loyalty.
Additionally, the problem you're currently having could be partly due to the yard (my horses have disliked some yards and loved others,) and partly because you're doing more with her, that these issues have become more apparent.
 
I'm not sure why you blame the previous owners for this horse's jogging - you haven't managed to stop the habit, either!
I suggest that you find a good instructor and have regular lessons - think about what you do which makes the horse behave like this, rather than what the horse does that you don't like.
 
Re jogging, take a deep breath, exhale, relax and let her take a loose rein forward. Stop with the half halts etc, t can just wind them up even more. Try to control the pace through your seat, rather than hand.

Regarding the issues in the field - go in there every day, and do nothing more than walk around it for 20 minutes - mooching around generally so it's really boring.

It may be that this horse is actually too much for you, but if you can give her a chance, and simply don't rush anything. And don't jump until you have more control, and she's generally calmer.
 
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Although you have had her a year, how long have you actually been working with this mare? I only ask because I bought my first mare 2 years ago and found it a real change to the geldings I have had previously! My mare is very strong willed and is happy to have an argument when it is something that she is not sure of. I broke her in as a 5 year old and she napped something chronic when we were out hacking, rearing and trying to come home. I spent a few weeks in the school just reaffirming that I was boss! I put a lot of emphasis on transitions, making sure that when I asked she went straight away, lots of changes of direction and worked on getting her really listening to my seat and my legs. This built our relationship and now that she respects my decisions, the napping has gone!
I can't help with the jogging but with the jumping, do you get on and think 'We are going to jump today'? I set up a step-over fence in the school, very small and just work around it, incorporating it into the canter every now and again and then build it up for there when she is popping that consistently.
I hope you find a way to work with her, because I am sure she will come good eventually. Keeping your calm and persevering is key!
 
She sounds nervous and lacking in confidence to me. Are you patient with her? If she's been out of work for awhile and has now moved yards where she is being asked to work outside her safe 'enclosed areas' she might be feeling too overwhelmed and unsettled to work well. I would take things slowly and calmly with her, work on building up her confidence at a pace she can deal with. It can take a good while for a horse to settle into a new environment, especially if she is a sensitive mare.
 
Without sounding overly fluffy it sounds like you need to do some bonding with her and try to do something you know will be easy for you both for a while. You seem resentful of her attitude (I know the feeling) and she sounds insecure. My mare will try just about every trick in the book to get out of working the way I would like some days. If it's not napping it's running off, if she's not yanking her head down to eat she'll throw her head up to run off, she'll decide she doesn't want her bridle on or that I'm not getting on today, or she'll just spend the whole time gawking at the neighbouring horses/walkers/hedges. I just keep on plugging away and say it doesn't matter when it happens, but we're going to get this. At the moment we have been having issues with being very strong in trot and absolutely ignoring everything I do (especially hacking in company) don't even mention canter right now. Yesterday we had some great improvement, it's been weeks of trying but we're finally getting there. It was depressing to feel like I needed to hold on for dear life in trot!

Strong willed mares are not for everyone but I have faith that it will be worth the effort, at least we are going forward now instead of the chronic napping for 45 mins to get past the gate!
 
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