Hi, everyone!
Two years ago I bought a mare called Tara (now 12 years). We bought her with a foal (that time 2 months old). She wasn't in a very good state. She was afraid of men. And nobody knows much about her past.
I wanted her to be my moms horse. Mom rode her once before we bought her and she was very calm. When we started to ride her at our place, she became very fast and hard to stop/slow down. My mom as a beginner rider couldn't ride her. But I
(with intensive 10 years riding experience) could easily manage. I really enjoyed riding her. There isn't any arena near here so I ride only out in the "terrain". After about 6 months she started throwing her head up whenever I pulled on the bit. It was quite dangerous because she was hitting my head with hers and she had back pain afterwards. I tried to eliminate the pressure on the bit, but I just couldn't as she is a very forward horse. My friends recommend me to use an elastic chambon, which would hold hear head down. I didn't think it is a solution, but I tried it.. It made the thing even worse, she went really into pressure and wanted to fight the elastic chambon. She started rearing up the first time I put it on her..
I tried several bits but nothing solved the problem. I started riding her on a Dullay halter and it worked. But I had to use more strength to slow her down and after a while her nose got scratched and I couldn't put the dually on until it healed.
I decided to long-line her with a bit, she was ok with that. She got used to the bit again and everything was okay for a while.
After that we had some saddle fitting problems and she started stopping (always on the same places). Now I bought a Barefoot treeless saddle, which fits her great. But she is still stopping at the same places and won't go forward. When I want to move her with my legs she goes into pressure and starts to back up or just freezes and wouldn't move at all. She usually stops at cross roads or places where are more directions available and would go to any direction except the one I want her to go. If there is another horse, she walks after him with no problems.
I watched "Walter won't go forward" lessons, but I somehow feel that this is a different problem. I have that feeling that she is absolutely unmotivated to do anything. When I work with her with the dually she always makes the same mistakes even if I school her, she just doesn't want to change anything. If I ask her to do something new, I feel she isn't trying to do it (in comparison with my other horse who always tries to work it out somehow, she just stand and stares and wouldn't do anything). I think the main problem is that she is unmotivated.
I believe it's all my fault...
I just ran out of ideas, don't know what to do..
thanks for any tips..
Anna
(my english is not the best - forgive me)
But when she sees a big open space she chases the wind...... and than at a different place suddenly stops..
Hi Anna. Your English is great - infinitely better than my grasp of any other language. I think you need to rethink with this mare. Are you positive she has no current pain? Mind you, they can be just as reactive to remembered discomfort. Putting a sheepskin cover on the dually soft ropes & remembering that unless the rider balances both hands the ropes will slide over the nose which will get sore - especially if the horse has a white face. I suggest you create an area, perhaps in your turnout area, where you can work this mare from the ground. It's going to be a long journey. You need to achieve 'Join up'. Then work on one rein stopping, on the dually. I get the feeling & this is no critisisum of you, that reverting to greater & greater pressure shows your skills will improve the more you study, & revisit continually, the lessons on the Uni. We are all constantly learning, even Monty, so no shame there. As you say, no one can tell you what this mare has been put through before you got her so remember the golden rules. Always be calm, consistent & fair. There is no place for any form of violence in training horses, it's counter productive. If a procedure isn't working, stop & consider how to cause the mare to want to try it - make the other options less attractive & don't be mean with praise when she does co operate. We, on the forum, will support you. You just need to keep us updated. Good luck. Cheers, Jo.
Hi Anna
Agree with Jo and feel you need to go back first to Join up and slowly and steadily progress. Following through on the lessons in the order they are set out in will help both of you progress.
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A few things I picked up on your explanation that I think you need to be aware of with your mare, she might be shutting down because of the many different things you are trying with her, different bits and gadgets to try and control her, more and more pressure will eventually switch the horse down that she will not respond in the way you want her too. A bit is not natural to a horse and a strong bit once they start to fight it, it can only get worse as they know that pain is going to be inflicted.
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The methods Monty teaches is speaking to the horse in their language so there is no misunderstanding as to what is being asked. The dually halter removes the pain side of teaching and applies pressure that the horse can learn to come off of. To teach a one reign stop on the dually is quite simple but must be first taught on the ground to create a sweet spot that is a safe place for her to go to.
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Creating a sweet spot for a one reign stop... standing on the ground at the shoulder using your hand on her nose gently ask for a bend, but only go as far as she'll let you without resistance, reward for achieving then do the same on the other side. Wait for a lick and chew. Now request the same with the use of the dually, but only as far as there is no resistance. Do on both sides then wait for the lick and chew. End the lesson.
Repeat the lesson over several days with the dually on the ground until the head can come all the way around to where your foot would be sitting in the stirrup. Always wait for the lick and chew after so you know she's got what you're trying to do.
Once she's achieved this on the ground do exactly the same in the saddle at stand still. If she won't stand still, then refer to Monty's lesson on helping your horse to stand still before you start the one stop rein lesson.
Once both she and you are comfortable at the stand practice, take it onto a walk and practice, then to a trot, canter and gallop.
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Always after each one rein stop praise her and wait for the lick and chew.
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Make sure you practice the stop on both side for all walk, trot, canter and gallops.
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Be patient, she's only 12 you have many years ahead of you, the slow time you take now will be a blessing to you both over the coming years.
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Please keep posting how you get on!
Mel
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Hi Anna
Both Mel and Jo have the right of it.
I'm not up there yet with the lessons as they are but I can sympathise with you. Firstly take a breath and try not to get frustrated at her or yourself. Not easy when you feel lost. I was on the very of giving up a few months ago as I couldn't see a way forward and didn't know what to do with my boy, but we are getting there.
I won't delve too deep into my story but I was getting frustrated with him easily when he freaked or did/didn't do something he had been ok to do in the past, and even though I tried not to show it he knew and would start to panic. ( I know he'd been beaten in the past) and we just spiralled. Sometimes I knew why he did it but I didn't know how to help him or sometimes I was just on edge. I got diagnosed with depression and sever anxiety and it wasn't until then I realised that we were both very similar. Sometimes he or I will just be on edge - horses remember, they think, in slide shows so if something sparks off clips of negative memories it must be really scary for them.
So just take a break. Take a walk round with her in a circle and chill out if you feel her getting freaky ( or you getting frustrated) . Then go back to something easy and build up slowly from there.
It may seem like your going backwards but go back to basics. Don't worry about riding for a while, do the ground work. And do short sessions and end on a good note. If what you had planned to do seems too much for her that day, even though she did it the day before, do the simplest thing and stop there. Go at her pace and don't worry if it's 5 mins of just standing there, having a cuddle. She'll remember that was a good thing last time. You want to overlay all the bad with as much good as possible.
And build up to things slowly. Maybe get her walking past the places she stops with you leading her. If she doesn't want to, see if you can get her to back up a few paces, then take a step forward towards it, then back and repeat and see if she does it. But stay chilled, like it doesn't matter.
Your trying for her and that is what is going to count. Good luck!