Worrying behaviour...help! (also in CR)

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Koda

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I was at a Hunter Trails yesterday and my mare and I went clear. She's brilliant xc and very brave. But something happened yesterday that worried me on the non-jumping part of the course. We landed off fence 4 and I went to turn right to fence 5. Without warning she darted left towards the horse boxes, I lost my stirrup, managed to get it back. Turned towards fence 5. She was totally distracted, one eye on boxes, and I had to smack repeatedly to get her over it. We land and she stops dead and wheels around towards horse boxes again. We got in an argument, I was determined and we went on....jumped into another field away from horse boxes and flew round the rest of the course.
I've noticed at a few shows in the last 7 months that she can keeps one eye on 'home' (horsebox), but normally a bit of outside leg and a giddy-up gets her focussed again. This is the first she's been so obnoxious and pretty much napped.
I'm worried as she nearly had me off twice with the sudden stopping or changing directing, it's dangerous, and I've enough to worry about with the fences without worrying about getting from a to b on the flat!
Any suggestions on how I address/fix this behaviour?? Help!!!

Thanks for reading
 
sounds like you handled it perfectly. Problem really arises when she gets her own way and gets back to or nearer the lorry. Had this with 2 of mine, its just a phase they go through.

You also need to make sure she doesn't show little signs of it at home or hacking. It maybe much more subtle at home, a slow down here or hesitation there etc, treat it all as napping and you will be fine

Well done!! it is scary I know!!
 
Same as above. My mare started napping a bit at a show wanting to be with the horse she travelled there with. Then she started stopping dead on a hack and when I sent her foreward she would rear. I got through it with a mixture of a good smack and a Grrr, or if it looked like we were about to back into a ditch I would jump off and lead her foreward and remount (not ideal as I know she could have legged it but you get to know your horse). It's scary at the time but a great feeling when you know that you followed through and got past it. Perservere, it really is just a phase. ;)
 
Thanks guys. Having it in my head that 'it's just a phase, persevere and it'll pass' will definitely make it easier.
I fell at a fence on a HT course last week and she galloped full tilt straight back to the box, so from her perspective she got her way last week, which is prob why she was so obnoxious about it this week. Who says elephants have the best memories?! More like horses...
That's great advise about hacking, she tends to be spooky and slow going away from home and perfectly confident on the way back. I've take no nonsense with it, but I'll be sure to be extra vigilant from now on.
Thanks again :)
 
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Perhaps when you walk the xc you can look ahead at where you may need to ride her stronger to anticipate the potential napping. Perhaps a smack on the shoulder as you go round that bit to remind that you are in control before the napping starts.
 
If your mare was previously fine out and about then something has changed.

- is she uncomfortable somewhere? Consider all the usual things tack/back/teeth/feet (maybe try to find a pattern - e.g. does it happen after you land?)
- has she had a bad/scary experience xc?
- has she got used to a certain length/shape of course so when she sees the boxes she thinks that is where you're supposed to be going? (e.g. do you school a shorter distance/circular route to boxes)
 
Is she truly galloping between leg and hand, if she isnt then this could be why she is able to "get away" from you as much as she does when she deems it necessary:)
 
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