Question
Cheeky
i'm typing with a broken left hand tonite.since my recently purchased 8 year old quarterhorse mare bucked me off today. This is the second time in 3 weeks. i've owned her now for almost 3 months. Iusually ride englis, she was trained western -never in english. I don't know what to think as the first time was a little more than a month after - she did it to me in a quarry -ran back to her barn.I went and brought her back. same thing. When i got back the second time (same day) i got back on her again, no bucking yard - the thing is she does it as i'm getting on, the bucking, not when i'm riding.ever. I was alone in the quarry and thought she might be barn sour - but i had trail riden her at least 7 times, by myself to meet up with other friends and she'd never done that before when i dismounted and tried to remount.
Last saturday i took her to my towns indoor agriplex arena to ride (western saddle),and she was fine. i was with 3 other girls and their horses. Today, one week later , same place but english saddle and she started bucking the minute i had my leg over. before i could even get balanced. First she bucked. then reared and when i came off i broke half the long bones in my hand. i want to go put it up on ice now, but i'm so mad and upset i had to write. I did not hit her, she just ran off a bit to the other horses and stopped. My girlfriend nknew the girth was a little big and put her english saddle on her and held her so i could get on again - with and without mounting block. First she walked me holding th reins, then i went around a few times alone, no bucking. i really would of ridden longer, but i couldn.t hold the reins in my left hand at all for english (4 hours later in the er i know now 2 of the bones are broken, no wonder)
of courses the old owner claimed she was a great trailhorse, but she's scared of water too and it seems he barely rode her, and he was the only other owner. Saddle -teeth- bit - i don't know what to think
hint - she had rubber stoppers on the single snaffle he used and she came with a running martingale -i've never used one
i have showjumped, been a gallop girl - but i honestly don't know what to think with her. Will groundwork fix her or is she just a bitch?The honeymoon is over and i don't want to be scared of her - i never had a horse do this before. If you can help it would mean a lot - anything. -something is really whack.
Thank you
Answer
Teaching a toung horse
Hi Laura,
Thank you for writing in with your question. Sorry to hear about your mishap with your horse. I hope your hand heals fine and you can get back to riding.
So from what I understand, this is a new thing this mare has started doing. You have ridden her before without problems. Also you ride English and western. BUT it isn't clear if the horse is used to an English saddle. You don't clarify that. If the previous owner has always ridden her western and the English saddle is new, that might be the problem. I would continue to ride her in a western saddle until you can be assured she will accept an English. They both feel different to the horse. But the answer is still the same. If you have been a gallop rider and I assume have had proper training then I'm sure you know what a "one-rein-stop" is. Until this horse has proven to you that it has your respect and won't buck while mounting, I would flex her head around to your mounting side as I mounted. This will take her leverage away and make it hard for her to buck or rear with her head flexed. Once on, I would do several lateral flexes to both sides to make sure I have her attention. But make sure you flex her head to your mounting side as you get on. Very important. All she will be able to do then is move in a circle. As you ride her off, I would be on guard and be ready to do a one rein stop if she acts like she is going to act out. Then I would hustle her feet. I mean really move her feet. Not in a straight line but in tight circles and serpentine. What you will be doing is "making the wrong thing hard, and the right thing easy". She will soon learn that it is much less work to move out and behave than it is to misbehave. But once again, flex her head to the mounting side as you mount. I can't say that enough.
You also state that the previous owner says she is was "a great trail horse". But yet you say she is afraid of water. A good trail horse will cross water without hesitation. I train trail horses and none leave the stable before I know they will cross obstacles like water, bridges, logs, ditches, etc. Just something to think about.
I would also ride this horse in a snaffle bit. That way you can have full lateral control over the horse. I'm not a fan of gimmicks and quick fixes for horses such as martingales, training forks or tie-downs. Yes they have their place. I have some of those items and yes I have used them and still do on occasion. But for the most part, they stay in the tack room. If your not familiar with the use of these tools, it is best to stay away from them. Improper use can cause more problems than they fix.
So, to sum it up I would say:
(1) Flex the horses head to the mounting side as you mount.
(2) Do several lateral flexes to both sides from the saddle until you have her attention and she is soft to your hands.
(3) Be aware she has a history of this behavior now and be ready for a one rein stop if need be.
(4) If she acts out during the ride, put her feet to work in circles and serpentines to get her attention back on you and teach her that her acting out is way too much work for her.
(5) She needs 3 things to make her a good trail horse.
(a) Long rides. I mean LONG rides. Not little short 30-60 minute rides. She needs to come back to the stall tired and sweaty. I have never seen a tired, sweaty horse give it's owner trouble. But, I have seen many fresh horses give tons of trouble.
(b) Wet saddle pads. This goes along with the long rides. That saddle pad should be wet with horse sweat when you return.
(c) Concentrated training. What I mean by this is, don't just ride her in a straight line down the trail or road talking about boyfriends with your best friend. The horse will be learning nothing by this. Find things to make her thinking side of her brain work. Examples are, if you come up to a tree, bend her around and do 3-4 circles around that tree making her feet hustle doing it. Do it both ways and then move on down the trail. As your riding with your friend, do the same thing to her. Ride circles around your riding mate as she's riding down the road or trail. But make your horse hustle her feet. Do you see where I'm going with this? Don't just trail ride, but turn the trail ride into a training session for your horse. Nothing will make a good trail horse than that. Make sense?? Use your creative mind to find things for her to do. Horses love to have a reason to do something. So give it to her. It will only make her a better horse.
When I finish a trail horse they can swim a river, cross creeks, walk across a tandem bridge and pretty much go anywhere you want. I also can get off my horse, place the reins around it's neck and walk down the road without fear of my horse running off. I know that my horse is following me 4ft behind me at every step. That is a finished trail horse. All that comes from those 3 items I listed above.
I'm sorry about going on about the trail horse thing but, I thought I would just throw that in as you mentioned what the previous owner had said.
Remember to flex the horse on mounting. That is the important part.
Please take care, I hope your hand heals fine and please keep safety in mind.
If you have more you need to ask or just want to discuss your horse you can email me and I will be more than happy to respond.
blpdoc82652@yahoo.com
You can also read more about me on my website:
www.yazooequinetraining.om
Thank you again for writing me.
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