EquiGirl1
Well-Known Member
I recently bought a youngster mare about 3 months ago who was a little 'poor' in her condition. I didnt intend to get a youngster but she found me so to speak and has been fantastic really for a 4yo.. hacks out beautifully in company and is wasnt too bad on her own. We ride partially in the school and partially in the field. In the school to start with (first month) she was good as gold, albeit a bit lazy, I started carrying a whip (which I havent had to use) and she knew I had it and was a lot more forward going. The problem I am having now she is up to weight we now do MASSIVE spooks. It is a spooky school in general with various "things" to look at but she was compleatly non fussed by them to start with, somethings like when something blows are a little more understandable but most of the time it really is at nothing. I tried in hand stuff, feeding her in the really scary corners, putting plastic sheeting out and making her walk over it and she honestly could not have cared less which made me realise it is just an evasion technique. In the field she works just as hard (if not harder) with her schooling but is good as gold. Its not like she does it when I first get on, or if I'm asking her to work harder, if anything as soon as I relax a little or let my guard down thats when she spins and goes. She stops normally within a few strides but I am at a loss as to how to stop this behaviour. She has been lunged and long reined in there with no problem. I have been lunged on her in there and she is better but still has a "would if I could" glint in her eye. I started with the benefit of the doubt approach "there there its okay nothing is going to eat you", then started to see spooks before they happened and kicked through letting her know it really is not acceptable, and she has been smacked a couple times now after a spook, but she is still continually trying it on and if anything I think she is getting worse.
My instructor rides her and she is better behaved as doesnt really have a chance to take the p***, instructor is a lot stronger than me in the leg and gets her working harder, concentrating more and less mental capacity to think about spooking. I try but am obviously not as experienced as instructor and she still catches me.
Back has been checked, teeth and saddle have recently been done and she is ridden in a plain french link. She is mostly TB but since getting up to weight in record time just lives off grass and a handful of chaff with vits. Feed will only be increased if I see her losing weight.
What would you do? What approach would you take? Would you try and ignore the behaviour and carry on as if nothing had happened and not acknowledge it so she see's she doesnt get a reaction. Or would you punish it? I am not so much scared as I am becoming increasinly frustrated (which I know is not good for my riding).
There are only so many I can sit to and I am surprised I have stayed on thus far. I know if I fall off on a regular basis I will start to lose confidence so would like to nip this as soon as poss.
Thank you in advance
My instructor rides her and she is better behaved as doesnt really have a chance to take the p***, instructor is a lot stronger than me in the leg and gets her working harder, concentrating more and less mental capacity to think about spooking. I try but am obviously not as experienced as instructor and she still catches me.
Back has been checked, teeth and saddle have recently been done and she is ridden in a plain french link. She is mostly TB but since getting up to weight in record time just lives off grass and a handful of chaff with vits. Feed will only be increased if I see her losing weight.
What would you do? What approach would you take? Would you try and ignore the behaviour and carry on as if nothing had happened and not acknowledge it so she see's she doesnt get a reaction. Or would you punish it? I am not so much scared as I am becoming increasinly frustrated (which I know is not good for my riding).
There are only so many I can sit to and I am surprised I have stayed on thus far. I know if I fall off on a regular basis I will start to lose confidence so would like to nip this as soon as poss.
Thank you in advance
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