Bambi and her new adventures!

Question
Hi Chrsitine,
Bambi is doing great and we have come a long way. We bought a 13 yr old gelding (quarter horse) for my husband to ride and we have been having a blast with them. The two horse bonded quickly (too quickly I think. Our gelding is a little herd bound to Bambi but that's ok - we would rather have them like each other than not)
Anyway,,,we have been able to ride on the weekends and have started trailering them to a new horse park to expose them to different places. We were out yesterday having a great ride when my husband decided to get way ahead of us. Well miss fussy pants got mad at me and tried to run after them. When I didn't allow to go, she bucked twice (they were small and I didn't become a lawn dart) did a little side step, crow hopped and tossed her head. I pulled her around so fast in a one-rein stop I think she got the message. I kicked her pretty hard to disengage her hind quarters, but she gave me her head and froze. I love her, but won't tolerate her acting disrespectful and that's exactly what she was doing. Testing me. She had been pretty excited most of the day and had a couple of pretty good sized spooks, but I think that was due to being on a new trail and lots of energy. We finally got to some pretty steep hills and I just let her fly - She can run like a freight train up steep hills and I think she likes it! I could feel the energy underneath me.
My question after all this, is do you think I could have done something different when she threw the little mare Diva act? Maybe something in the future if she does it again?

Answer
Hi Susan


Funny isn't it............ I  was only thinking of you and Bambi a  few days ago and wonderinghow things were ......... and now a question!

I am so happy to hear that you and little Madam are doing so well and congratulations on getting  a new horse fort the Other Half to  ride out on........... always better if you have some company.

As for the Diva  act then you did the right thing, ride her through them is  the only way she is going to understand  when she is working then she does as she is asked and not as she pleases!   My mare still tries when she cannot please herself!   My mare still does  the 'I won't do it' act with  me and plants all four feet and she is 24 now!


Its so nice to see how far you both have come, thanks   to your hard work and persistence......... enjoy the trails!