Sitting during riding

kuba99 · 03-07-2009, 10:00 AM

I need your advice.

My filly is 3 years and 3 months old.
After one hour of riding (walking most of the time), she suddenly sit.
2 questions:

1.How to react when it happens.
2.what to do in the training.

Thanks

e_watson09 · 03-07-2009, 10:07 AM

I don't know what to do about that but be careful about that because I worked at a trainers barn a few years ago and they had a filly that would do that and she actually tried to flip over on a person. I stopped riding her after I found that out and just left her for the trainer, I never really asked how she got that to stop.

rose1081 · 03-07-2009, 12:10 PM

What does she start to do just before she sits?

an hour is a long ride. is she fit enough to be going for an hour? even if it is just walk. How long ago was she backed?

depending on what she is like just before she does this, my gut says, she is either tired and sitting is her way of saying, I've had enough and my back hurts.. or she is bored and has learnt that sitting gets her out of work.

I think we need more info before advice can be given.

kuba99 · 03-07-2009, 12:24 PM

Before she sit I feel that she tired.
I do not know how to react when it happens.
I stand her up and lead her with out riding and after a while sit on her again but I am not sure that is good idea.
You wrote that hour is a long ride,how much time is good if I ride only in weekends?

Thanks

rose1081 · 03-07-2009, 12:47 PM

I only think an hour is a long time if a horse is unfit or does not get that much exercise.

My girl Cleo is really coming back into proper work, and after about 45 mins hacking in just walk i can tell she was really tired. so i am building up her fitness, so she will reach a point when an hour is fine again. we hacked out for that long before.

how long have you been riding her for? is she unfit? if so i would work on her fitness, but i would not keep pushing her to the point where she sits down.

I am sure there are some more experienced people here who can help you with how to get her out of the habit.

The only time i have ever seen it is through boredom, and so the thing has been to work the horse, make things more interesting for them so they do not feel the need to sit down. As i have not dealt with it for tiredness i find it hard to tell you how to stop it. and i dont' know if working her harder when she is already tired as actually the best way to go about it.

alaskahorse · 03-07-2009, 01:06 PM

I would get her checked out health wise. I have rode lots of 2 and three yrs olds more much then an hour and have only experienced 2 horse in my life time sitting ( and they were doing it on their own in the pasture) Neither was from being rode. Both had internal problems and it was their way of relieving pain both were mares. One had cancer and the other was late in foal and had major problems. That said you haven't really given enough information..Is she running backward and flopping down?? If she is, I have had that happen occasionally and it is another way of simply refusing to do something, like crossing a stream, or over something like that. Is she acting like she is in pain?/ Is her attitude sulky, stubbon, submissive?? need more info I think to help you more..

kuba99 · 03-07-2009, 01:42 PM

No. she is not running backward and flopping down.I feel before she sit that she tired.
she is submissive and I have no any problem longeing her.I can't feel if she in pain.

Zanerkin177 · 03-07-2009, 03:51 PM

if my mare sat down on me, I'd do over and under pops until she stood back up

cutter123 · 03-07-2009, 05:10 PM

Sitting down and hind end weakness can be a sign of EPM. It might be good to have her checked out to make sure there is no underlying physical problem.

If all physical problems are ruled out, then it is an evasion, or she is telling you that you are pushing her too hard, riding too long, etc. I ride a lot of young horses and I have learned you have to always be vigilant about not doing too much with a young one. Make sure you keep the lessons short and sweet and keep the horse fresh.

If she is just having a work ethic problem, then you need to let her know that sitting down is unacceptable. Do what it takes to make it uncomfortable for her to do so.

kuba99 · 03-08-2009, 10:41 AM

Thank you all

03-07-2009, 10:00 AM	#1
kuba99 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Israel Posts: 9 Images: 1	Sitting during riding I need your advice. My filly is 3 years and 3 months old. After one hour of riding (walking most of the time), she suddenly sit. 2 questions: 1.How to react when it happens. 2.what to do in the training. Thanks

03-07-2009, 03:51 PM	#8
Zanerkin177 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Army :D Posts: 1,293 Images: 7	if my mare sat down on me, I'd do over and under pops until she stood back up __________________ A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

03-07-2009, 05:10 PM	#9
cutter123 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California Posts: 660 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 10	Sitting down and hind end weakness can be a sign of EPM. It might be good to have her checked out to make sure there is no underlying physical problem. If all physical problems are ruled out, then it is an evasion, or she is telling you that you are pushing her too hard, riding too long, etc. I ride a lot of young horses and I have learned you have to always be vigilant about not doing too much with a young one. Make sure you keep the lessons short and sweet and keep the horse fresh. If she is just having a work ethic problem, then you need to let her know that sitting down is unacceptable. Do what it takes to make it uncomfortable for her to do so. __________________ The Bus came by and I got on thats when it all began there was Cowboy Neal at the wheel of the bus to never never land...

03-08-2009, 10:41 AM	#10
kuba99 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Israel Posts: 9 Images: 1	Thank you all Thank you all

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03-07-2009, 10:07 AM	#2
e_watson09 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Centerville, Ohio Posts: 2,231 Images: 3	I don't know what to do about that but be careful about that because I worked at a trainers barn a few years ago and they had a filly that would do that and she actually tried to flip over on a person. I stopped riding her after I found that out and just left her for the trainer, I never really asked how she got that to stop.

03-07-2009, 12:10 PM	#3
rose1081 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 320 Images: 5 Blog Entries: 15	What does she start to do just before she sits? an hour is a long ride. is she fit enough to be going for an hour? even if it is just walk. How long ago was she backed? depending on what she is like just before she does this, my gut says, she is either tired and sitting is her way of saying, I've had enough and my back hurts.. or she is bored and has learnt that sitting gets her out of work. I think we need more info before advice can be given.

03-07-2009, 12:24 PM	#4
kuba99 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Israel Posts: 9 Images: 1	Before she sit I feel that she tired. I do not know how to react when it happens. I stand her up and lead her with out riding and after a while sit on her again but I am not sure that is good idea. You wrote that hour is a long ride,how much time is good if I ride only in weekends? Thanks

03-07-2009, 12:47 PM	#5
rose1081 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 320 Images: 5 Blog Entries: 15	I only think an hour is a long time if a horse is unfit or does not get that much exercise. My girl Cleo is really coming back into proper work, and after about 45 mins hacking in just walk i can tell she was really tired. so i am building up her fitness, so she will reach a point when an hour is fine again. we hacked out for that long before. how long have you been riding her for? is she unfit? if so i would work on her fitness, but i would not keep pushing her to the point where she sits down. I am sure there are some more experienced people here who can help you with how to get her out of the habit. The only time i have ever seen it is through boredom, and so the thing has been to work the horse, make things more interesting for them so they do not feel the need to sit down. As i have not dealt with it for tiredness i find it hard to tell you how to stop it. and i dont' know if working her harder when she is already tired as actually the best way to go about it.

03-07-2009, 01:06 PM	#6
alaskahorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Alaska, Posts: 511 Images: 22	I would get her checked out health wise. I have rode lots of 2 and three yrs olds more much then an hour and have only experienced 2 horse in my life time sitting ( and they were doing it on their own in the pasture) Neither was from being rode. Both had internal problems and it was their way of relieving pain both were mares. One had cancer and the other was late in foal and had major problems. That said you haven't really given enough information..Is she running backward and flopping down?? If she is, I have had that happen occasionally and it is another way of simply refusing to do something, like crossing a stream, or over something like that. Is she acting like she is in pain?/ Is her attitude sulky, stubbon, submissive?? need more info I think to help you more..

03-07-2009, 01:42 PM	#7
kuba99 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Israel Posts: 9 Images: 1	No. she is not running backward and flopping down.I feel before she sit that she tired. she is submissive and I have no any problem longeing her.I can't feel if she in pain.