What the hell is wrong with me? *long*

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LadyRascasse

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ok so about a month ago i took my girl out jumping it was a complete disarster, i ended up jumping out the side door twice with her rearing like a b*atch, see the photo below

http://www.lrg-photography.co.uk/events/adrc/Eventers%20Challenge/2'-2'3part1/DSC_0150-1.html

(needless to say i have this printed and is now framed on my windsill)

nyway since this day i have hardly ridden her and for the last 3 weeks i have just lunged her, on monday i lunged her first and then got on and had a little walk and trot, did this tuesday as well. today i decided to get straight on her, i don't know why but i was sooo nervous (i'm not the nervous type i will get on anything and everything to the point where i was called crash tester down my previous yard)

i don't know why i was so scared of her, i ride my boy absolutely no problems but she must had done more to my confidenc than i realised. but anyway i got on her started walking her around nerly shaking at this point she was really good did a few laps on each rein then just went sod it and pushed her into trot still fine (at this point all my nerves just went) did a few laps on each rein and again thought sod it pushed her into canter still perfect. did a bit on each rein then walked her off. she is a total changed horse (atm) and so pleased i bit the bullet but so disappionted with myself for being so nervous.

ok sorry thats really long and waffley, take a large glass of what ever you fancy if you get this far.
 
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at that photo...I know it doesn't help but no wonder you felt a bit nervous!!
 
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at that Rear!! No wonder you were worried about getting back on her!

Had she behaved like this before you took her showjumping? How long have you had her for?
 
That must have been scary but what a fab pic!!

Well done for getting back on at all after that, I'm not sure I would have done.

Perhaps it was because she was away from home?
 
Oh my god!!

That is a big rear! Looks like you sat well to it, shame you ended out the side door a few times though !

Well done for getting back on and working with her, hope you don't have any more confidence issues
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impressive photo....
when they do stuff like this that is completely unpredictable AND right out of character then I'm not surprised you're nervous. If i were you i'd get someone to come and give you & her a really positive lesson - just covering a few basics and getting your's and hers confidence back.
And of all things don't worry about feeling nervous - you've a right to be, but use the energy you're spending worrying towards being driven to sort it out,
Maybe she was in pain from something when the photo was taken, and she needs you to inspire her again?
(((hugs))) and good luck
x

good luck

xx
 

It is understandable that you are nervous - give yourself a break! what does your instructor say?

Looking at some of the other photos she seems a bit unhappy in her mouth with that bit. I don't know any of her history but is this a new thing (the rearing)?
 
she has been out to a few shows and been out jumping 3 times (that was the last time) she is a rearer (didn't realise when i got her) but that was by far the worse rear she has ever done. i have had her 11months now. and she hasn't reared for a month now.

the funniest thing about that photo is i just said to the judges that i was going to retire as she wasn't going well and with that she went up.
 

She does look quite close to going over
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But you stayed on brilliantly & then got off her when she'd come back down! lol.
What is your response at home when she rears?
 
Well sat in that photo!!
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It is totally understandable that you are nervous after that. One thing in the photo I noticed was the bit you were using? What bit is it? If it is too strong this may be causing her to rear. It’s only a suggestion so please don’t get angry
 
mayflower, i can't find an instructor at the moment been looking but been let down a few times (fingers crossed i think i might have found one now)

rearing isn't a new thing and she will do it regardless of the bit, i have had her teeth done since that photo back and tack have been recently check too. you say about the bit but if you look at the first photo in my signiture thats her jumping with the same bit. i think they were many factors that day that made her behave like that.

i will get her out jumping again (and hopefully get her affliated in the future) but i'm quite happy just working her over the winter till i am happy with her again.
 

Ok - I do think you need to work with a professional on getting her over this though - she is quite close to being dangerous and she has obviously dented your confidence.

Good luck - I am sure you can make her come right!
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Really well sat!! Don't feel bad/annoyed with yourself that you are nervous, that would scare the life out of me for sure!!! I've lost my confidence once as a kid, was a silly fall where i knocked myself out, but for a year was terrified to ride the pony, fine on anything else!

Rearers I have no experience of (thank-god) but if it was me I'd investigate the usual possible causes (which I am sure you already have), and then maybe look at sending her off to a professional.
 
That is one SERIOUS rear!! Well done for sitting it, I would have been out the back door, and no wonder you are nervous after all that!

To be honest if you can't find a physical cause for the rearing (I would maybe ask a vet or good physio to look at her back), I would stop riding her, but I am a woose!
 
mayflower, i try and push her forward but this doesn't really work, i also try waiting until she has finished but then she won't walk on when i ask. i am at a loss with what to do with her rearing. although i jumped off i did make her jump another on foot before leaving the ring.

with regards to the bit i have try several different bits icluding mylers ect and this is the best one for jumping otherwise i have abslutely no control and she gallops off with me. at the moment i have a hanging cheek french link for the flat work and she is going nicely in it.
 
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well sat.

Whats she like ridden with 2 reins or without a curb?

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2 reins she is the same with roundings, (use roundings for jumping as i get in a mess when jumping with 2 reins) but never thought of using it without the curb, i might try that next time i jumper her (in about 20 million yrs
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There is nothing wrong with 'me' as the title to your post suggests, but i would say there is something wrong with your mare. I have clicked on teh forward and backwards buttons on the photos and its clear if you go back a few frames that this isn't the only time in your jumping round that she was 'playing' up, as there are other photos of her rearing, and napping and her trot looks very hollow which you would expect to see with a horse whose back is hurting. I wouldn't say she is making a particularly good shape over the fences either, so she is obviously not using her back properly, and I think there your answer lies. She also looks like she is rushing the fences somewhat, in order to get the pain over with maybe? Maybe I am clutching at straws and it wouldn't be right to presume that every horse that rears has a bad back, but I would certainly 'guess' that this horse most probably has. Have you had a saddle fitter, chiropractor and dentist out to her recently. If you haven't I would suggest you start with that. I certainly don't think its anything you have done wrong, riding or otherwise, I just think the mare is in considerable pain and she is trying to tell you this by trying to get you off her back. What do others think??
 
i ask about the curb rein because pain at the poll/high on the neck can be a cause of rearing.

check and recheck everything - her mouth, head and neck especialy. Are her vertebra straight? Is she ewenecked? Wolf teeth? Bit pinching? Bit too wide? Have you tried her in a hackamore? If so, did it make the problem worse/better/same?

Be honest with yourself - are you hurting her in a way that you may not have realised?

if its not pain, then go back to basics with her and re-break. she's evading.

how old was she when she was broken?
 
Does she only rear when your jumping or is it all the time?

I too would say it looks like a pain problem. How long have you had her? Do you know her history? A friend of mine recently brought a new horse and he started rearing one day. To cut a long story short they done some reasearch and discovered he had smashed his withers in an accident when he was younger!

I would rule out all pain issues first, back, tack, you said she'd had her teeth done but could it be something to do with her jaw.

If its just plain bad manners, i agree, get help from a professional.

Good luck and be careful.
 
jesus!!!! tht pic is scary but amazing at the same time!!! no wonder u were nervous, sometimes we think something thts happened hasnt knocked our confidence but it actually has.

i fell off on a rideout last year but i was positive it hadnt shaken me at all, but i got to the same spot this year and almost jumped off was soooo scared, but did it an had a brill time he he!!!

well done for being a trooper and gettin back in the saddle
 
I agree with you, I flicked through the photos many times, and I think she is in pain, and the bit looks just heavy and cumbersome. I have had a bad rearer in the past , needless to say... I didn't know it was a rearer either. But if you don't mind me saying your horse looks very uncomfortable i n the mouth. Also in pics 145 and 146 the side of the grakle is practically IN her eye, so it's not a very good fit.
 
Hi there - i totally agree with applecart - your horse looks to be in a fair bit of discomfort - and her actions seem to be screaming out ' get off my back - it hurts'! I would check her out thoroughly before you have a nasty accident. As mentioned the shape she is making over the fence is awkward and strongly suggests she cannot lift her back to make a decent shape. I hope you get this sorted - i wouldnt let your confidence get affected too much (if poss!) - horses cant speak to us this appears from the surface to be her way of telling you something is wrong.
 
she is a lovely looking horse and no wonder you are nervous.
looking at the photos she didnt look happy. she looks a bit unhappy in her mouth and looked like she was napping and using her little rears to avoid going where you wanted - sorry if this isn't the case - you can get the wrong idea from static pictures.
I'd work with your instructor. maybe a change of bit and a running martigale would help you. Its easy to say - but you need to have her accepting the bit, engaged and moving forward into your contact - esp with a rearer - as then when they feel nappy etc you can push them on through it - but this is all easier said than done.
Don't beat yourself up about it. A rearer i used to school scared the crap out of me. we got her back/saddle and teeth checked, changed her from a gag to a happy mouth snaffle and a martigale (to give me something to hold on to!) and worked on her engagement. she's fine now - occasionally you feel her maybe think about it but i just divert the issue. you'll get there!
 
Shes not a happy bunny in the photos before so I would suggest like some of the others that she is is some sort of pain?? I don't have any tips on how to stop her rearing, but my girl can put in a mean rear and the way i stop it is to pull her in tight circles, almost so her head is at a 90 degree angle, they can't rear if they are in this position.
My girl has stopped rearing now because i found this trick stopped her. I hope you get some answers, perhaps go to a physio or ask your instructor what they think the cause may be, if they don't know it may also be worth getting her teeth checked, and having a go at different kinds of bits, maybe something softer, and perhaps getting a standing martingale on the beasty so she can't give you two black eyes, as she seems to hold her head very high in some of the piccies. Good Luck, she does look like a lovely mare i hope you sort out the problem soon xx
 
1st) WELL DONE!!!! when I saw the first photo I was like Wo ok shes off, 2nd photo, o no ur still on! so you should be unbelievably chuffed with that achievement!!! Id have been sat on my ass on the floor like OW!

2nd) I agree about getting a chiro out to check all along the back starting from the head. It may also be worth getting her jaw checked..... sounds strange but a horse I rode in america, the chiro found his jaw was slightly miss aligned, he was not naughty (way too lazy) but in a mare like yours it could be causing her pain....

3rd) Just be careful! If you ahve found a new instructor GREAT! if not, keep looking or maybe consider the sending off to a pro for a few lessons in manners and behaviour etc

Still SO impressed with the seat glue you obviously use!
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as i have said numerous times i have had everything check, she had her back done 2 weeks ago and again in a weeks time. nothing wrong. teeth done, no wolf teeth. tack is also fine, if you read the post properly i said she is going really well.

she was broken at 2 as she is an exracer. i don't know much about her past but i do know she was mistreated. nothing physical wrong had the vet yesterday.

it is just habit now and needs it trained out of her. which we will do
 
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Also in pics 145 and 146 the side of the grakle is practically IN her eye, so it's not a very good fit.

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erm those 2 photos aren't of her they are of a grey pony
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