[Horsebrat20]

My mare Blue was really good today. Usually she rears when i'm either saddleing or putting on her surcingle. I don't know why, at first i thought she was afraid of something, now it's just a regualar thing that she does out of the blue. I don't know how to punish her, i've tryed backing her and yanking on her face, doesn't work. Someone told me to carry the whip and when she rears to drive her forward, i havn't tryed that yet just because she hasn't reared latly (partly because she's had 2 days off). Today she was really good, and she didn't rear. Wanta know why? Because i completly babyed her the whole time. I tack her up in the ring just because she has this prob, so i walked her in, lunged her like twice on way, twice the other just to get her mind on work, then i put the surcingle on. After i got it on, i say there and patted her and relaxed her because she was getting ready to rear any minute if i made one move. Once she was relaxed, i lunged like i did before. Then i put her bridle on (she has no prob with that). Then i put her side reins on (she almost reared when i did something, i can't remember what, but i gently said "eh eh eh" and pulled a tiny bit, and she didn't go up. She backs up before she rears. Then she was good for the rest of the time.

I don't like the fact that i have to "baby" her. Why can't i just tack her up like the rest of the world does? I used to be able to do that, now i can't. It seems to be a trust issue, which i don't understand at all, because i can join up with her perfectly, and she trusts me in the saddle. Is it possible that she just doesn't trust me doing this certain thing of tacking up? I'm going to get a massager out to check to see if something is hurting her, and i'm going to get the saddle checked to see if it fits. Does it sound like a trust issue? I don't know, as long as i took the time to calm her down after everything i did, she was ok, but i don't understand why i have to do this, since she's never had any bad experiences with tacking up at all.

Sorry just had to post my confusion, and wanted to see what you guys thought. Thanks for reading. If you want to find out more about her rearing, go to the training section and look at the thread "Please critique us to peaces, and a question".

[cassidy]

seems to me as though you and blue need to get an understanding again i think you should carry on babying her if this is working then when you think its the right time gradually do less an less of it an try doing it normally.

[kotyskillerkolors]

Sounds to me like your horse is trying to tell you something.. That is a common sign of back pain. you might want to check your saddle and sursingel. I had the same problem with misty untill i bought a saddle that fit her. no more problems now.. but try and rule out pain..

[MoonshineZeus22]

Have you had the saddle and stuff cheeked it might be a good idea to do so.

[spyro1]

Hey horsebrat, I am glad that you have found somthing that works with your mare My hrose goes through these phases too, I call tehm phases because he gets over them pretty fast. Have some patience and see how she comes along doing what you are doing now

[Horsebrat20]

Thanks guys! I guess i'm just gonna have to baby, even though i hate babying anything. I don't know why, it's just not my nature, but i can if i have to. I am trying to find saddle fitter people and a messager but it takes time, a lot of time. I want it done now so i can ride without worrying about hurting her with the saddle. SHould i not ride her with the saddle until i get everything checked? Cuz i have lessons i need to go to and stuff, i can ride at home bareback, but i don't think my trainer would appreciate me being limited to bareback riding while he's teaching me. Well maybe i can ride one of their school horses. If i must, i can result to using my synthetic saddle, but i don't like to but i will if i have to.

[spyro1]

Can you have your trainer check for saddle fit on Blue for you? He/she should know how to. If she is acting like this because of pain, I would hold off riding her seriously until you get a chiropractor out to check her over. ASk you vet for a reccomendation, they might know someone.