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05-12-2008, 05:18 PM
| #1 | |
| Senior Member+  | I want a foward, willing, relaxed horse...
But instead I get a tense ball of nerves... I rode my 30 something old mare the other day... .... How to do you reteach a horse that has been ridden like she is an exploding firecracker for close to those 30 years? She is hard mouthed, tense, doesnt move forward-unless that means she can gallop. I tried asking nicely for her to give, I tried not so nicely... She doesnt seem to know what a half-halt is.... If at any time, she would *give* or relax or slow down during our it would last all of 5 seconds... Should I just expect the 5 seconds for now and hope that with quiet consistant riding it will improve?
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05-12-2008, 06:05 PM
| #2 |
| Senior Member+ |
She's 30 and you want her to change?/  My first horse was like this, and no matter what anyone did, he just wanted to GO!!Good luck! Sorry I know, no help whatsoever.
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05-12-2008, 06:06 PM
| #3 | ||
| Senior Member+ | Quote:
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05-12-2008, 06:10 PM
| #4 |
| Senior Member+  |
When working with ex racehorses I tried to lunge before I rode so I wasn't going to die, and then ride with very long, very loose reins and little leg. I would try starting your mare out in as different a way as you can, so she learns that one way of starting = gallop, etc and another means slow and relax. I don't think 30 is too late to relearn it- but it will take a lot of work on your part!! Just make sure as many things as possible are different so things are really clear for her... hope that helps!!
__________________ ~Ikelos- 2003 Oldenburg by Ideal~ My last and greatest gift from my mother. What's best and easiest isn't to put down other people, but to prepare oneself to be the best one can. |
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05-12-2008, 06:15 PM
| #5 | ||
| Senior Member+ | Quote:
__________________ Quote:
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05-13-2008, 04:50 AM
| #6 | |
| Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Down East NC
Posts: 5
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First you have to realize that at 30 (and that's probably comparable to an 80-90 y/o adult) you aren't going to be able to retrain her. You'll have to accept that she is what she is. But you can ride her in a way that she might be a little more relaxed. But first you have a responsibility. You must make sure that her feet are balanced. Don't assume just b/c the farrier does her regularly that they are. Actually look at them. What do you see? Are the inside and outside edges of the hoof the same height? Does she have heel? Are her toes long? Any cracks, grown out abcesses? Then you have to assess her body. At 30 she's bound to have arthritis. Does she need some bute before riding? Massage and chiro work would be nice. Not always affordable, but you can learn to do some very gentle type stretches along the lines of carrot stretches, belly lifts. Then you have to make sure your tack fits? Are her teeth getting done regularly? Does the bit truly fit? Now time to get on. Does the nervousness appear on the ground or only when she's under saddle. Does your saddle fit? Make sure you are breathing so your muscles stay soft. If she's a sensitive horse keep your legs out of her side (probably doesn't need spurs) and your hands low and quiet. Start at the walk and then whoa. If she whaos, lots and lots of praise. Do a couple times and get off. Let her go back to pasture and think about that. If she refuses to walk and you know you are sitting balanced with shoulders back then you have to assume that she either has pain issues or past training. Some older horses simply don't care to work any more and you might have to face that possibility. Horses aren't born knowing about half halts. They must be taught. It's not fair to get on this old mare and suddenly expect her to know what you want. It's your job to lead her gently. But realistically at 30 it's probably not gonna happen and it's not truly fair to her to get upset. Her body isn't going to let her do but so much. It's tough. Do you have another horse you could ride? | |
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05-13-2008, 04:55 AM
| #7 |
| Senior Member+  |
Are YOU tense at all when your riding her, expecting her to "explode" or whatever? If so, that is a great deal of the problem right there.
__________________ Say ya to da U.P., eh?  HGS's official Birdbrain  |
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05-13-2008, 05:33 AM
| #8 |
| Senior Member  | My daughter's senior QH...we don't know his age for sure but somewhere in his upper 20's by now, used to do the exact same thing. He was a barrel racer in his younger days. All he wanted to do was run off with his rider, or constantly sidepass at a fast pace. At that point we didn't know if it was his training or something else. Come to find out it was a pain issue. We had the vet do a lameness exam, and he had arthritis in his shoulders & in his legs. All that running & sidepassing was his way of telling us to GET OFF. For a while he went dead lame, and the vet had him on bute indefinitely. I wasn't comfortable leaving him on bute any longer so I did some research & found the B-L pellets & a Animed joint supplement. It made a world of difference & he was walking & turning like a youngin'. He was again mobile & eating normally again, and we were so happy. We no longer even try to ride him and now he is simply a pasture potato & company for our yearling, Your girl may be telling you she's tired & wants to rest quietly 
__________________  Horses of a different color - Shiloh, Desert Ghost, Valentino & Rusty  |
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05-13-2008, 06:27 AM
| #10 |
| Full Member  |
I'd check to be sure she's truly sound and healthy, like many people have suggested. Then, if she is healthy and truly wants to run and that's not what you want to do.. I'd look into starting with ground work and establishing some better communication. If you can get her to move forward at a relaxed pace, and stop in a round pen it will be A LOT easier to do it under saddle. ~Emily~ |
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