Balky horses

Question
QUESTION: Hi! I have a 5 year old mare that I am training and we are having some problems.  She is super balky, so if I ask her to do more than walk, she stops dead and pins her ears. I have to kick kick kick to get her to go, and alot of times that results on getting bucked off. She has no back soreness issues and she is completely healthy.  She is not moddy on the ground or anything, just being ridden.  This has slowed down her training from w/t/c and small cross rails to w/t work.  Any suggestions on how to fix this?
Thanks!

ANSWER: Hello Abby,

I need a little more information to give you an informed decision.
5 years old is still pretty much of a baby. What has been her training before? Did this problem happen gradually or "overnight".

How do you know it is not physical and that her saddle fits really well?  Have you had a chiropractor or horse massage person look at her? How expert is the saddle fitter? What do you have in her mouth? What kind of bit? Is her mouth all right....no ulcers or spurs on the bars of her mouth?

Let me know these things,and we will continue from there. You have to be as positive as possible that there is not a pain reason for a horse's behavior before starting the reschooing program.

www.MitziSummers.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Before I got her she was w/t/c and doing cavaletti work.  Her owner told me she got "tired" easily and if the horse were to start shutting down she would call it quits.  So my horse has been taught to get away with alot and we're still trying to work her out of it.  The balkyness happened gradually, it just kept getting worse.  
We haven't had a chiropracter look at her but the vet has and didn't notice anything wrong.  We have tried many different saddles on her with many different half pads, riser pads, gel pads, etc.  She's the same no matter what.
We're just using a simple D ring snaffle in her mouth.  Her teeth and everything are up to date.  Her mouth is not sensitive as far as we are concerned.

Thanks so much!

Answer
Hello Abby,

From what you are telling me, if there are no physical reasons, I would start reschooling her.You want to try to change her behavior patterns without, hopefully,having any "battles".

I would still want a reputable chiropractor look at her.
If she lunges well, and this is definitely a learned skill aand is very beneficial if done correctly, then I would have a good ground person lunge you on her. That way she will have two people establishing "forward"  to her. I tell people that I expect a trained horse to go forward from what I call a "3" pressure from their leg.

This is difficult to demonstrate without being able to demonstrate, but it would just be a firm squeeze. If the horse is well trained and the rider is using their other aids correctly, then the horse should willingly go forward from the "3". If not, then the rider may use first their leg again, then the voice aid, then a dressage whip or crop but NOT HARD as a punishment....just a tap. The person lungeing can also use their voice, show the horse the lunge whip, and lastly  lightly also tap the horse with the lunge whip. This can only be light use of the whip....nothing that would hurt the horse. You are looking to establish a willing attitude.Timing is of the utmost importance. Have the rider try the trot or walk transition before the ground person uses their voice, shows the whip to the horse, or LIGHTLY touches the horse with the whip.

Do only short sessions with your horse for a while---maybe 20 minutes at the most. You do not want the horse to have any excuse not to be positive-fatigue or soreness, for example.

Let me know how this goes.

Mitzi

www.Mitzisummers.com