Pushy Rude Tenn Walker Mare

Question
QUESTION: My 6 year old Tennessee Walker Mare is horrible on the ground.  She seems to think she should walk right on top of me.  I'm also having a heck of a time keeping her attention, not just other horses but anything around and she's no longer paying attention to me.  I have tried the elbow out and walking with the crop keeping distance but none of it works.  I have literally had to push into her side with a stick and still she will not move over and if she does give I praise her and she moves right over top of me again.  HELP!

ANSWER: Hi Kristina,

I would help to have a bit more background on your mare, as to how long you've had her, is she a new horse, has she always had this issue, etc. But that said, let me give you a few exercises to start wtih. I'd suggest doing alot of round pen work with her and gaining her respect on the ground. She needs to respect your space and your wishes. I'd start by working her free in a round pen and asking her to yield to your body language and voice commands. Start by letting her work off a bit of energy, then while she is at a trot, ask her to stop, tell her whoa and step into her shoulder. If she stops great, if she doesn't drive her forward and make her trot or canter more agressively than before. You want to make doing the right thing (stopping, in this instance) easy and doing the wrong thing (ignoring your request) hard and more work. Make her go around a half dozen tims and repeat again. I'd work on this at all gaits both directions, until she is in-tune and responding to your requests. Then I'd move to some line work, with a 20 foot line, ask her to walk next to you and stop, if she crowds you, send her away in a tight lunging circle or make yield or hindquarters, basically get her feet moving and make it hard work. When she does respond and walk willingly, stop her and reward her often, horses learn from the retreat and reward, not the actual less. So acknowledge her attemps quickly and keep the lessons short.

Jen

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

QUESTION: I've had her 3 moths I got her at an auction people I bought her from had her 3 months knew nothing about her she didn't even have a name.  She was very docile and loving at the sale barn and for the most part when I brought her home.  She however turns into a meanie when asked to do anything above a walk.  I'm unofrtunetly without a round pen at this time and from what I can tell she has never seen a lunge line before.  I have been making a little head way with her the last few days.  I think maybe she just is one of those head strong children that you have to stay after or she's going to walk all over you.  But atill any suggestions would be GREAT!
Thanks
So
Much
Kristina

Answer
Hi Kristina,

Do you have a large pen you could work her in and just ask her to stay on the "rail", even paddock would work. Be consistent, some horses do have more of a tendency to "try" you than others, but with consistency, they do learn to respect your space. Try working on some yielding with her, both forehand and hindquarters, sidepassing from the ground is anothe great exercise, even backing in circles or around cones. Make it exercises where there is a specific goal in mind. As an example lay a pole on the ground and ask her to stop while straddling it and then sidepass over it, or if you ask her to back, pick an object to ask her to back around, instead of just a straight line. Try to get her using the thinking side of her brain and remember to reward her often.

Jen