schooling problem, lazy mare

madhector

madhector

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 December 2006
Messages
12,679
Location
soon to be up north!
www.darlingdressage.co.uk
ok, took my mare over to local yard to use the school today, she is living in at the moment cos of an allergy, so she has been a complete nut to ride lead etc.. so thought a good hour in the school would calm things down, was all ready for explosions and all sorts when i asked her to trot, but instead i got nothing, not even a trot! she just plodded round, eventually got trot, which was very nice and calm and very very slow! this is not like her, normally i have to slow everything down and be ultra calm with her as shes so sharp, attemped canter managed a few strides till she broke into trot, after alot of effort and very tired legs we got a decent walk trot and canter, it was like riding a completly different horse, she completly switched off, have no idea why, has never been like it before, esp not when shes in all the time, taking her back tommorrow to see if any improvement, any suggestions if there isnt? im hopeless with lazy horses, normally i have an electric bum, but definatly wasnt working today, help guys!
 
Schooling whip has worked wonders on the big lazy lump I ride! If your mare will tolerate it that is! Good luck.
 
thats what i was thinking for tomorrow, it just if she is her normal self, a smack with the schooling whip would usually end with back legs in the air, and she can really buck
grin.gif
 
I have been encouraged by my trainer to do lots and lots of transitions with my mare (she is not lazy but needs to be more in front of the leg) and they are really working. She is now learning to keep her trot constant without me having to nag her with my legs, and as soon as you put the leg on she's off like a shot!
 
The other thing to try is to let your leg hang in walk, trot and canter, then when she slows down apply it. Therefore you are only using it when she drops off the contact, it is a way of making them carry you rather than the other way around. If you don't get a reaction then a schooling whip is a useful device...

Once you have used the whip (if you have to) repeat the transition you were doing to ensure that she understands what you have told her off for, andf repeat if necessary (I sound like a recipe book
smile.gif
)
 
If this is a one off you might want to check incase she is in pain or unwell... My mare was the same for about a week last year and I think she might have had a virus or something because she went very lethargic, even in a big field with jumps and that's just not like her.
I gave her a few days off and she was right as rain the next time I rode.

Otherwise she might just be being lazy and yes take a schooling whip.

You will know her best and will be able to tell if she's just having you on lol
 
she seems her self on the ground (in fact more than herself, can barely hold her at times she is so full of it!) but if it is same tomorow and schooling doesnt help etc.. then will try giving her a rest, its just she becomes unbareable to handle when not in work
 
Yeah I did the same and tried to school her through it but she nearly had me off in protest! So I knew to jump off and leave it for a few days.

Hope it goes ok xx
 
Echoing Arwen - ours went suddenly very lazy a few weeks back - embarrassing as he was booked in for a lesson with a decent instructor and looked and acted as though he was bursting out of his skin - until my daughter tried to get him to work properly - it was as though he just couldn't be bothered, totally unlike him. He was off colour for a couple of weeks and is only now coming back to being his usual enthusiastic self.

Give it a go and see how she feels tomorrow!
 
Could she be unwell/in pain as you say she's normally sharp? Maybe the saddle is hurting or the allergy is making her feel 'down'?
I would investigate these before resorting to a schooling whip.
hope you get it sorted soon
 
Obviously I don't completely know your situation - so, this is just an idea.

My horse is actually quite similar - he is completely over the top when I'm on the ground and when I hack out - and he was when I was schooling him. But recently all the energy has gone in the school - but exactly the same as normal in all other situations. I have come to the conclusion that he is bored of schooling - I just don't think he likes it. Because as soon as a jump goes up in the school - he's off again.

Do you think she might just be not in the mood for schooling when you rode her?
 
is a possiblity, although she normally loves it, but she is an odd one so you neverknow
grin.gif


her allergy is to the trees round our fields, hence her being in all the time, cant ride her when she has an allergic reaction as covered in bumps and itchy scratchy!
saddle been checked recently so not that and back done too, she didnt feel uncomfortable, can usually tell when she is as she bucks straight away and her back goes right up, as it is she feels very relaxed, just maybe too relaxed

will try again and judge whether or not the schooling whip is nessessary, will try giving her a jump maybe as might cheer her up if she is fed up with schooling (is her fav thing!)
 
road her today and she was back to normal, was all prepared with my schooling whip and energetic vibes, oh well suppose she was just having an off day, thanks for all the advice guys, will be well prepared next time she changes personality again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top