Tricky Horse to school

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horsingsince1997

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Hi Everyone,

Ive got a bit of a tricky customer to school, shes a 5y/o mare by a really good dressage stallion, not my horse Ive been asked to school it due to my previous experience. The owners want it to do some dressage with eventually (however from what i gather the owner is a nervous rider a very rarely rides the mare)

Ive been school her for just over 3 weeks now (3x a week) and the first two weeks were incredable, showing real ability, bold paces and a fantastic forward mover with a huge canter, I knew she hadnt done a lot of schooling previously so started from scratch just doing flexing, circles and baby things to build up strength and confdence. She holds herself in a really good outline but Ive noticed more and more that shes just not seeking a contact, the first few times I put it down to lack of routine, but now if I try to push forward into the contact the nose comes up and I get a block, or she jogs or does a silly sewing machine trot. Likewise if I ask for a contact i get either a complete block, or nose up or (more recently) Ive started to get a rear!!

Today I was practicing really simple walk to trot and halt to walk transitions, again in halt the nose comes up straight away and there is no hint or hope of getting it back down, apparently I made the mistake of asking for a contact in halt and the mare went up so quickly she went straight back over herself and ontop of me, I made sure I wasnt pulling her back as this is a classic mistake, and that was all I could do to stop it as she just went up so quickly!

The owners are away for the next two weeks and im going to start lunging daily, its not what im being paid to do but i think it would benefit the horse, i knows shes been spoilt and allowed to get her own way and now ive come along shes putting up a fight, but at the end of the day the horse has got to do what the rider wants!

Just wondered if anyone had any tips to stop the rearing and contact issues as its obviously getting dangerous now! Saddle checked, teeth also checked.

Any thoughts appreciated! and thanks for taking the time to read my essay!!
 
Have you tried standing at her shoulder and asking her to relax her jaw with you on the ground? Sounds like you need to be in a place of safety if she is going to have such a violent reaction. When you say she is not seeking a contact, do you mean she is behind the bit or are you just allowing her to go along not in any outline?
 
Hi, by not seeking a contact I mean she holds herself in an outline but it makes no difference from me as to whether ive got the reins or not, she doesnt go forward into the contact to be able to track up...
Not tried from the ground..may be worth spending time bonding from the ground and see what happens
 
lol, does the sire's name start with J??? Assuming you've ruled out tooth problems, then you've got a mare with a very sensitive mouth who hasn't learnt to accept a contact and go forward.

What we do with these types - and with all breakers - is to ride with a lunge cavesson, reins attached to the outside rings, as well as reins on the bit - but the bit rein slightly looser. It really does help to get a horse going confidently forward if you can leave the mouth alone. Once they are going forward properly then you can adjust the contact so the rein is shared between the cavesson and the bit - and then to the bit only.
 
Just wanted to express my sympathy as my 4yo mare did this to me at the weekend (on the concrete) and it really blimming hurt. Hope you aren't too sore.
 
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