how to get our horse to go consistantly

Question
We havae just bought a standard bred mare 4yrs old
for our daughter (11 yrs old) to learn english riding on. This horse won't consistantly go. She will just stop. The crop doesn't seem to work. She was a buggy horse for minonites before we got her.
We don't know if it's the bit or if we should put her on the lunge line or what to do. Any advice you could give us would be great. Wer'e just learning. We hate to give up on her. It's only been a month.

Answer
Sorry for the delay in answering.  We've recently relocated from one ranch to another and the days tend to get away from us very quickly as we move from one project to another.

You must acknowledge that your mare was bred and has the pedigree to trot or pace and to pull things.  She pulled a sulky when and if she was raced and then later on a buggy for the Mennonites..  she is not really broken to ride and hence a "beginner".  Your daughter is a beginner and you by your own admission - that you're just learning.  This is not a good combination.

You didn't say even what type of bit you're using but anything over a snaffle has the mare confused...guaranteed as she is not what we call a "finished" horse - meaning the horse understands proper cues and commands because it has years of training.   Then ANY bit can confuse a horse if it has not been properly trained for what you're trying to do with it (riding astride).  Your horse has been a buggy horse and taught to pull on the bit basically and trot along..

It takes YEARS to train a horse properly usually two --- to do it without crowding its mind and causing unsoundness issues to its legs..

You would be ahead of the game to find a new home for this mare again pulling a buggy for a Mennonite somewhere since she did that well... not set the mare and your daughter up for failure and frustration and possibly your daughter being injured or worse.

I'm sorry if you don't like this response but its an honest one based on over 40 years in the horse industry.  

Please try to find your daughter an older ex-show horse to learn on --- so when she gives a proper cue the horse responds appropriately.  

Better yet -- take a knowledgeable horse person with you when you try out a horse.  If they are a good one - they will try to confuse and anger the horse to see if it accepts this without question.  If it does -- it has been properly trained and has the personality to accept a younger novice rider..  If it becomes fractious and upset - your daughter does not need this horse...

To answer your question, longe line will not teach your horse what it needs to learn other than it will teach her to longe..

There are old "retired" show horses out there that need your daughter and she will benefit from "learning" from one of these old war horses...

If you have more questions I may be reached at 940-873-4555 (leave message and I will call back if you get our answering machine) or email privately at txreiners@aol.com.  Our website is www.texasreininghorses.com

Hope this helps you and good luck...

Dee