JessTheYank
New User
Dear Horse & Hound readers, greetings from the US. I wanted to seek the advice of the readers as I'm having some trouble with one of the horses I ride. She scared the owner so I got the ride, and it's been a lot of fun, I adore her and take her everywhere. She's a dominant chestnut, old school tank of a Hanoverian. She's a spooky and bossy type to ride, has her own ideas about life - the problem this creates is that she won't stretch down and forward to the bit unless we're in her home court arena. Any other arena if you get her solidly in the outside rein and slowly give that rein to allow her to stretch her nuchal ligament down and forward, she just takes it as an opportunity to look around for danger. It's maddening. I don't feel it's right to warm up a horse without thorough down and forward stretching, and being able to let the horse go a bit in the rein is essential. I've tried carefully driving her into a very solid rein, being ever so careful not to let any little "holes" come through the contact, and she will literally take that half inch and raise her head a little to have a look around. I've tried giving her a pop with a whip behind my leg and a "no!" but she's very hell bent on having her look round. I think she genuinely believes she's helping both of us by checking for danger, she's very caring and nurturing. Her owner said she stopped riding her when she could literally no longer steer, and Ginger would just leave the arena if she noticed something in a corner. This is not a mean mare at all, she's just very alpha and I'm struggling to get her to surrender to my leadership enough to give a stretch. Anyone dealt with a boss hoss like this? I'd love to hear your success stories.