I just got a horse and am struggling to ride her.

Question
QUESTION: Dear Ms. Barker,

I just bought a Morgan mare, she is 12 years old and her name is Mindy. The
owner said she was fully trained in Western pleasure. Ha! She is broke, but not
gentled! Every time I get on her she will bolt for her stall, even when I have
someone holding her down on the ground. The past few days I've been trying
to manage her by leading her while my friend rides. The bit I'm giving her is
new, but I gave her some time alone to get used to the feel of it in her mouth.
When I ride she tries to trot, and fights for her head constantly. She tries to
rear up and often pushes the person on the ground away and then spins in a
circle against the will of the person trying to ride her. She is a real pain when
trying to ride her but when grooming or anything else she is great! I ride her
in a large field, with an electric fence. I've narrowed the problem down to her
bit... I think. She doesn't have a problem with her saddle, or bridle. It seems
to her bit that bothers her. She chomps it and usually foams it up with green
lather from the grass she eats. I made sure the bridle was fitted properly and
that whoever her rider was wasn't hurting her mouth. Even when everything
is perfect for riding comfortably, she always misbehaves. How can get her to
ride better so I can get her out of the field and onto some trails of somewhere
new?
Thanks!

Emily

ANSWER: Emily,

By chance are you riding Mindy in a snaffle bit?  I ask this for several reasons, the most important being the frothy green foam that is on her lips and her chewing.

Let me begin by explaining that a wet mouth not shy about producing foaming saliva, is a VERY good sign of a VERY soft mouth that has been well taken care of.  Simply put, she has not been jerked around by her mouth, nor has she had the use of inhumane bits in her sensitive mouth.  Kudos to her for that.  Secondly, chomping the bit can mean several things.  If she is laid back, just chewing on it, that is fine.  Its distracting her, but its not dangerous.  However, if you have contact on her and she is furiously pulling against you and biting down on that bit with so much anger she could bite plum through it, thats not good.

I recommend doing as you have done with the bit.  Keep changing it up, allowing her time to get used to it.  The next thing I would do, depending on what bit you decide on is to purchase a set of draw reins.  This will give you some leverage over the direction and position of her nose and allow you to begin to put a "bend" in her body.  Once she has learned to bend, fighting you will be a lot more difficult.

I am sorry that she is not nearly trained as well as you were led to believe and yes, that happens a lot more than people realize.  Pile on top of that the Morgan "fire ball" persona and you have for an interesting ride.  

Just keep using patience, work on things that she doesnt know so well and get control over the direction of her nose.  If there is anything important about all of this, its the summation that a horse will ALWAYS follow their nose.  Same applies when she bolts, bring her head around to your knee and keep her bent.  

Its going to take some time.  Please be safe, solicit help when you know you need it and if there is anything at all I can help you with in the future, please let me know.

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

QUESTION: Hello Ms. Barker,

It's me again, but I must say Mindy is doing MUCH better! Yes, I am using a
Half Cheek Snaffle Bit. No, Mindy isn't trying to chomp right through it, it's
more like an activity for her. Thank you so much for your advise on my last
question, but now I've got a different one for you...

Mindy is a dear when my younger sister, or I ride her. But when my big
brother gets on her she instantly becomes Devil Horse. It might be his weight
that effects her, but I am not sure. I know though, for a fact, that my brother
isn't the most... er, experienced horse-man. He insists on sawing Mindy's
mouth with the reins and he pulls back so hard on the reins that Mindy is
practically choking on the bit. He won't listen to me (little sister) so I would
like if you might be able to give me some advise to calm Mindy when he
mounts. When he rides she prances and tosses her head around, often
breaking into an unexpected trot. I know that some of the fault is lying with
Mindy, but I want to identify what exactly is troubling her about my brother.
Do have any idea what it is? And how I might fix it? My brother is allergic to
horses, but insists on riding. He isn't very kind, or gentle with Mindy, or her
mouth for that matter! But I need the advise of an experienced horse person,
before trying to fix the problem. Could you help me try to figure out what
Mindy needs to accept my brother, or any other heavy person on her back?
Thank you so much!

Emily

Answer
Emily,

I am SO glad that I was able to help with your question and that she has improved!

As for the problem with your brother, if he is unwilling to be kind in his dealings with Mindy, then he is setting all of you up for failure.  Remember when we talked about that soft mouth?  By being heavy handed he is going to RUIN that for you and Mindy.  If he doesnt soften his hands he is going to get HURT as Mindy is trying to warn him by fighting him.  

He is also teaching her to fight back.  That is never something we want to make a horse do.  

Also, to be fair, some horses like females more than men and vice versa.  I had a stud colt a long time ago that would kick every time a male came into his space.  The reason for his behaviour was association of violence and pain around men, so your brother is NOT helping his case with Mindy.

I recommend your brother be made to ride with nothing in Mindy's mouth.  I would use a side pull or a halter.  If this horse is a shared horse between the three of you and your parents wont step in, try to have a discussion with them and tell them what is going on.  You dont have to be the most proficient horseman in the book to know what pain and cruelty look like.  This story almost reminds me of Black Beauty and I am not sure thats a good thing.

If this is your horse and you are just letting  your brother ride her, refuse to let him ride the horse until he begins to understand and listen.  If you have to, give him riding lessons on a lunge line.  That is where you leave your halter on Mindy, put a saddle on her and you lunge her, while teaching him to ride.  He would ride without the reins meaning he either developed and independent seat or got off.

Remember, as always be safe and dont let anyone destroy Mindy's pleasant demeanor and soft mouth.  You are her guardian and her voice, it might be time to speak up.

Good luck.