restarting my horse?

Question
I'm riding a 5 yr old Quarter Horse mare. She is fully broken, mellow and doesn't have a mean bone in her body. Her owner would like her to be my guide horses but she has some vices. If she gets frustrated, say on the trail I ask her to turn around to get a dropped hat, she rears. She has reared over on other riders twice. Never with me. I can anticipate when she is going to rear but she can't be a guide horse if she rears every time she resists me. Also, she bucks every time she picks up the canter. She usually only does it a couple times but the problem is that she does the back arching, all four legs off the ground bucks. I get unseated every time and although I'm yet to fall I'd really like to avoid it. :) Her tack fits fine and I've tried her in a hackamore and a snaffle. She does it when longing and no matter how tired she is. She likes to canter (she tries to pick it up at the trot all the time) and she doesn't mind working. She opens her mouth for the bit and runs to me in pasture. I've tried being more aggressive but it just frustrates her. The soft approach hasn't been effective either. I've tried stopping her on a dime when she does it or simply slowing to a walk, I've also tried pushing her through it. I'm almost positive it's just happy bucks unless you have another theory? How do I break these vices? Thanks -Rachael

Answer
Hi Rachael!

Well, it doesn't sound like your mare is very well educated.  Trained implies a level of force that the rider always has to use in order to achieve the desired behavior.  Trained does not mean partnership or education.  

A horse that rears is dangerous, period.  It means you have not gotten to her feet and that her hind feet are stuck.  Your partnership has some pretty big holes.  A horse that bucks is troubled, and something has been missed here also.  Five is still young.  She is just now finishing up growing.  There is a lot that has been missed with her.

I sure would go back and re-start her.  Back to the round pen, start hooking her on, do your lass rope work, then a layer in the rope halter.  Rope up her feet, get her leading by the front feet, get her stopping on a hind foot.  Rope up her belly and flanks.  I'll bet you see some bucking and trouble here.  Check this out until she can pack the rope and listen to it without trouble no matter where it ends up.  Flag her every day before every ride.  Make this good.  NEVER make her stand while you are flagging her.  Let her offer to stand, this is critical.  If she needs to leave, allow it only keep rolling her over her hinds.  Support her and see if you can get her to stay by rubbing her soft while exposing her to the flag.  Also use your flag while she is moving.  They can get pretty good about the flag/tarp/slicker while standing and have a little trouble when it's moving, so do it both ways.  I eventually want you to ride with your flag and expose your mare to the flag while riding.  When you can do this with quality, she is well on her way to be your guide horse.  Also, do a lot of work dragging your lass rope, then drag a log, barrel, tarp etc.  Start by keeping your rope at a 45 degree angle from your horse and walking around the object, then start moving it backing away and then dragging it behind.  NEVER allow your rope to rim-fire your horse.  When you dally, make sure what you are dragging stays off your horses hind quarters and you pull your load respectfully.  Never CREATE trouble for your horse.  When you can do this, you will see a huge change in her confidence.  

Really  there is so much to do here and I'm not sure how familiar you are with this style of ground work.  If you need to get the "Ground Work" DVD by Buck Brannaman.  It is 2 hours long and packed with all of the things you mare must know in order to be a great performance horse.  Go through Buck's "Ground Work" book also.  It it small, clear and concise.  I'm pretty sure when you go through this information with your mare, the holes in her education will become very, VERY clear!

If I have used terms on concepts you do not quite understand, let me know and I will clarify.  Work on these things, use Bucks book and DVD as support tools.  Give me a shout and let me know how thing are shaping up.  This is going to be great for the both of you!

Smiles, Denise