bucking when asked to lope

Question
Hi there.  Well, I have a 5 year old AQHA mare.  She is kept outside in a large pasture with one other mare.  She has 6 geldings that she stares across the fence at.  When she's good, she's REALLY good - she can slide, spin and is a dream to ride.  However, she is lazy and can get crabby when asked to lope....all other gates she moves into freely.  She has had the entire winter months "off" and I just started riding again this week (3 rides).  I ride her in a small arena and the other horses are visible.  I start off by doing some long trotting, turning and stopping.  If all is going well, I will ask her to pick up the lope (usually from a walk or stopped position) I make a kiss sound and she immediately pins her ears (because she knows what's coming!)  After the kiss, I will apply leg pressure, if she's still not loping, I will nudge her with my spur....today she responded by "rolling" her neck and head, turning her head to bite my spur and eventually bucked.  Ultimately, I win because I just keep after her and make her lope....Once I have her loping, I will lope one lap nice and easy.  Then, I will break her down and make her pick up the lope until she can do it without bucking.  I guess I'm just wondering if there's something else that I should try?  I'm probably expecting too much from her considering she's been laid off for the entire winter....Additionally, I think that she was in heat today which probably complicated things.  Any thoughts?

Answer
Hi Sara!

Well, it seems that she is not being so much bad....as opinionated. LOL

She is very young and is testing the waters to see if you really mean it, if you can really make her obey.  From what you said, you are having no issues pushing her through it.

My recommendation would be to solidify the canter cues in her longeing work.  She is young and healthy enough to be longed before every single ride and also on her off days to keep her mind on her business.

Feel free to longe her in her tack, IF you know how to do it correctly.  If not, just longe her naked and then tack her up.  Be patient and work her up to the canter by going through all the gaits, one at a time.  Make sure you go both ways and also ask her to collect and extend on verbal cue.

All of that will help to put her in a "working time" frame of mind and get you both on the same page about exactly what the cue means and how important it is for her to obey them.

Maybe you are expecting a little too much since this young mare did have all that time off....but, when a mare is this easy to bring back to work, one can get ahead of one's self.

Be firm, be patient and above all, be consistent ~

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange