[Teddy]

Is this the way she behaves all the time or is this just an occasional thing. Horses can be sensitive to weather changes we have had very well schooled calm horses act up for no particular reason when a wind storm is coming or a temperature change. In these cases we sometimes lounge the horses before they are ridden although I can say it's a rare event. If this is a regular behavior she might be feeding off of your emotions. Think about how you are feeling just before this behavior starts are you anticipating the behavior or are you feeling nervous about what might happen unfortunately if we can't get control of our emotions the horse will mirror us. hope this gives you some insight.

[Outlaws_Gunn]

Tuck-she had her teeth floated two weeks ago. So, no pain there. And I don't believe she's in pain. Her saddle is custom fit for her. Her feet are fine, her back is in alignment, etc. This is typical Flicka behavior. She seems to go through bouts of 'dumb' every now and then. But, normally snaps out of it and always makes me feel horrid for getting angry w her.

Native winds- I'm a HUGE Lyons junkie. I have his Communicating w Cues series. No clue why I haven't used them. :/ But, currently they're packed up in a box. I'll dig them out and start using them again.

Teddy- It's normal for her to be spooky. Just not this bad. But, as stated before, she normally doesn't stay like this long.

She was first greenbroke when she was 6. She had 30 days undersaddle on her. After that, she was ridden twice, and then I bought her. I've had her for two years August 22. So, she's still green, but NOTHING like she use to be. She has come a LONG LONG way since I bought her. She has a lot of Arabian in her. So, I believe that contributes to her being a little high strung.

We don't do a lot of ground work. Less than I realised until I start thinking about it. I'll start working her again. I know she's not scared sometimes, I feel like she just does it to get out of riding.
Although, the norm when she spooks, it doesn't last long. We've worked through them some and she no longer bolts like she use to.

Thanks for the advice, everyone! Today is a new day and I'm going out to work w her some more. I'm sure today she'll make me look like a fool for getting so upset.

[horsesare1]

I hear ya, and understand where you're coming from....... I've gotten real upset with myself and my horses for various reasons, especially when I KNOW they know how to do something.
My best advice? Take a deep breath and a step back........

The only emotions you should bring to your riding and/or working with her is patience and a sense of humor. Remember, she's going to respond to your emotions.... and often that can make things worse. As it does for me when I get frustrated or mad with a horse that isn't leading correctly, acting out, kicking, bucking..... especially when that same horse has led perfectly so many time before... and the same for riding.......

I know its easier said than done...... but you will be amazed with the response and results if you just take a deep breath, let it out slow, and relax....... and be patient when showing, telling her what you would like.
You're not a failure. You're human. She's a horse. Emotions are bound to soar when we do not communicate on a fair level.

[Outlaws_Gunn]

Horsesare, this girl has taught me patience I never knew I had. As spooky and crazy as she gets, I would trust her w my life on any day in any situation. She just gets so freaked out sometimes that, yes, I get frustrated and she feeds off of that. We've been working more on 'my training' than hers, really. I've been doing just like you said, take a deep breath and relax.

I always tell myself this when I get angry, 'She'll calm down if you do.'

And YES, I more than realise she is my mirror image. Lol. It's a little creepy, sometimes, how much she seems to think like me.
We are both so pig headed and stubborn, that's why we often but heads about things. I know she can do something, she knows she can do something, but she would rather do things her way. We're working on making a peace treaty between us. Lol.

[IIIBarsV]

Ok, it's the springtime, and everybody gets a little weird in the spring- mares especially! Their hormones can fluctuate whether they're in heat or not.

However, this statement is what you need to work on:

She just flat out ignores me.

From everything you've said in the post, she's ignoring you because you're not a "leader" to her. She takes charge of herself because you don't boss her enough or don't boss her in the "right" way. She lacks confidence and she doesn't trust you enough to feel safe and secure in those situations. So she's on the alert, watching for predators, which means she's ignoring you.

You can bet, there are signs of it on the ground or in your body language that she sees. If you don't appear confident to her eyes before the ride starts, then she's going "Uh oh...". If she tests you by stepping in with her shoulder, ignoring you on the ground or in the stall/field, or leans on the halter, and you don't see it or correct it right then and there, then she's going "Yep... guess I've gotta take care of myself today and be extra watchful".

Calm, confident, quiet, firm, patient. <---- If you're missing one of these, then you need to build it. You may even be missing it in social situations with other humans.

Take a deep look at yourself before you go calling her the idiot, please.

[IIIBarsV]

I also have a saying, "Like horse, like rider."

Horses emulate us. I own dominant, intelligent, diplomatic, show-off, know-it-all, inconsistant horses. My sister's horses are middle-dominance, intelligent, consistant, pushy, domineering, tactless and know-it-alls.

It's hard for me to ride her horses and vice-versa. LOL.

But because of this little saying, nothing is set in stone. Sure, some things will always be present, but you can change them, add them, and improve them. It just often starts with you.

[horsesare1]

Originally Posted by Outlaws_Gunn

Horsesare, this girl has taught me patience I never knew I had. As spooky and crazy as she gets, I would trust her w my life on any day in any situation. She just gets so freaked out sometimes that, yes, I get frustrated and she feeds off of that. We've been working more on 'my training' than hers, really. I've been doing just like you said, take a deep breath and relax.

I always tell myself this when I get angry, 'She'll calm down if you do.'

And YES, I more than realise she is my mirror image. Lol. It's a little creepy, sometimes, how much she seems to think like me.
We are both so pig headed and stubborn, that's why we often but heads about things. I know she can do something, she knows she can do something, but she would rather do things her way. We're working on making a peace treaty between us. Lol.

awesome...... amazing what these animals can teach us! I know I've learned to take a step back and just breathe..... or even laugh at my situation.... cause my horses sure do put me in my place when I dont'!!!
You'll get thru it.....

[Outlaws_Gunn]

IIIBars, I call her an idiot only in my frustration. Not because I feel she really is.
Today, me and my b/f rode her double. She's never been ridden double and she could have cared less. And before that, an 11 year old went on an hour long ride w me. *sigh* I told you she would make me look like a fool. :/ And, not only that, but I just got in from riding her tackless, and she now decides to move off my legs like a dream.
I don't think she's and idiot at all. She's just like me, I suppose. She just had a bad day yesterday.

[Native Winds]

Some horses make you want to crown them one, ive been there and I had to walk away for a few minutes to regain myself. Horses a pretty forgiving for the most part. But they are incredibly intuitive and can read body language very well. Horses basicaly live by body language, they arent very vocal in the herd. I was helping a woman with her horse and the horse had her over a barrel, in other words the horse had her number. She was so timid around this hores that he would do one odd thing and she would bail either off of him or away from him. He would literaly drag her all over the barn, out doors and where ever else he wanted and she let him out of fear. The first thing I did was give him a lesson on dragging ppl around. He was so shocked at my more agressive behavior that he didnt know how to act. I put him to work so many times if he tried to drag me about and it took about 45 minutes for him to get the message. He was sweating and blowing a little bit and tired of the battle of the wills and he tried to be sneaky and everything else he tried he had to work and I mean work. (yes he was taken care of after the work out session. I even helped her) The owner watched as I worked him and then I brought her over to do the same thing. She was just so timid and I had to realy work with her and her timidness. A few days later I went by to see how she was doing with him and she stated that he wasnt pulling her around as much and I told her he shouldnt be pulling her around at all. I did a little tune up and he was a good boy with me. She just needed some boldness or get another horse suited for her.

I rode him one time and he was a ever living pig. I worked him for about hour and a half just getting down the basics. He tried all kinds of things from slinging his head to sidewinding to balking and etc. I tired showing the owner how to take care of some of the behavior and told her she needed to "cowboy up" some or the horse will go back to taking advantage of her. THis horse was smart.......to smart but acted like an idiot because he knew he could bowl right over the owner and get his way. I did all of this for free for her. About a month went by and I happened to be passing by the barn on my way to another engagement and I stopped by because I saw her truck in the driveway. She had sold the horse and had a QH cross mare that she stated got along with well. This mare also seemed to been ridden alot and trained well so sometimes things like this, in this case getting a hores that is well trianed and more to the level of the rider suited this woman much better. I was glad that she got something within her range of experience. Also the mare was much smaller than the gleding she had. Less intimidating.

Please dont misunderstand me for I am not telling you to sell Flicka and get another horse that is more even with your level of experience. My goal was to give you a sinerio on how being to timid or even basic lacking of experience can be a hinder and horses feed off that as well. I got on that gelding with a purpose and he knew it. I meant bussiness and once he figured that out he became more compliant. If he wanted to be a jerk I made him work. If he complied with my asking He was praised, if not I didnt stop asking until I got the right response. He tried to dump me, I could feel his back arching up and I immediatly pulled his head around and kept it while using my leg swiftly (not hard but firmly) walking in a small circle untill his back relaxed. ONce he relaxed I let hiim walk out on a semi loose rein for praise. He tried this a few more times and each time he was worked. Once he responed correctly he was praised. Did I get mad....you bet and I had to sit and take a deep breath and try to relax, I would let him walk about the arena while I collected my cool. I was about ready to crown him one. I new that if I didnt chill out nothing is going to work out right. I also knew that this horse was in dire need of a real confident rider. He scared me a few times. But I didnt let it facter in my responses or emotions. Im glad that I didnt lose my seat and fall off. There were some instances where I thought "Oh c rap, i'm going to bite the dust and its gonna hurt". This hores would have benefitted him greatly if he was ground worked alot. He needed it so badly but its hard to teach a person who is so timid to get more agressive with him on the ground. It was hard to get more agression from her when I tried to show her what to do if he begins to drag her every where. The horse just loved it.

[speedyscout]

Its okay, I've been feeling like a big ole' failure latley also. Everybody has tough times with there horses, but we will eventually get through them. This forum is a great place to learn, but people can get pretty rude also. Take all the advice into consideration.