Help with stubborn horse?

Question

i have a thoroughbred/quarter mix who is really stubborn.

if the rein isn't loose enough to her liking she tosses her head. and when returning to pasture she always veers to the side of the gate. when i finally get her to the gate she refuses to go in unless i get off and lead her. i also have to have someone hold her because if she sees me coming with a bridle she will go away.

my other horse doesn't do this at all.

help?

Answer 1

The head tossing you described indicates discomfort with the bit.  Have you had her teeth checked lately?  If so, experiment with other bits, starting with a single link snaffle, if that's not what you're using.  Go to a french link, and try a Cook's bitless bridle (if you can borrow one from someone).  Try a mullen mouth, and different metals (copper alloys, sweet iron, etc.)

The other behaviours (veering to the side, not responding when you ask her to go forward through the gate - - ignoring your aids) are indicative of her deduction that she is the one in control.  Leaving town when you approach her with the bridle . . . are all forms of her thumbing her hairy little nose at you.

After you resolve the bit problem, you need to be more assertive when you ride.  When you ask her to go forward, she must go forward, no questions asked!  She has to go where, when, and how fast you ask.  Carry a long whip (dressage whip) so you can keep both hands on the reins and tap her behind her leg at the same time.  You have to be determined, (but not mean and grumpy) when you ride.  Look at it as a fun challenge, and get help if you need it.

Answer 2

head tossing could mean her bit is to aggressive for a tender or soft mouth. and the rest of the stuff she is doing, could mean she is what we called soured. but its hard to tell with out seeing in person. good luck!

Answer 3

What you're describing is not an easy fix! You have a horse who is communicating to you that she is uncomfortable with some of what you are asking of her.

To us, it can look like stubbornness, it can look like she's misbehaving, like, "She knows this and she's just being bad." But somewhere along the way, she's learned that the gate isn't a safe place to be, and she is uncomfortable with the confinement of a tight rein. Remember, horses think like horses, and it doesn't always make sense to us right away.

There is a reason why she doesn't like pressure on the rein. Please make sure her mouth is not sore, have a vet or a dentist check her teeth.

Beyond that, you can help her by thinking about how you are using your reins. Soften your hands and use your reins as if you are having a conversation with her, rather than dictating to her what she should do. You can use your reins with great subtlety - try being more sensitive, and when you touch her mouth with the rein, just squeeze your hand on the rein, as if you are squeezing water out of a sponge. Let your elbows remain loose and relaxed, and support her by sitting up tall, look where you are going, remain relaxed and make sure you are breathing.

I can't say enough about breathing! Whether you are on the ground or in the saddle, horses notice when we are relaxed and breathing naturally. Breathing communicates that we feel safe and relaxed, and this invites the horses to relax and follow our lead.

If you are asking her to be on the bit or to frame up, consider that she may be stiff in her back, and her resistance is her attempt to let you know that she feels like she's not able to give you what you're asking for.

If, when she shakes her head, you feel frustrated and get in a fight with her, insisting that she "should" be able to do this, you are actually teaching her to fight. You're teaching her that what you want is to fight.

If, though, you are soft and sympathetic when she's resistant, asking her to come on board with your request rather than demanding it, you'll teach her that you aren't looking for a fight, you're just looking for her cooperation.

Horses will remember frustration, stress and anxiety in a situation, and, even if we think it doesn't make sense that they should feel that way, they can remember that stress the next time you go.

Strive for friendship, relaxation and partnership as your attitude with her. Slow down a bit and walk with her gently to the gate. Approach her with friendship when you have the bridle in your hand. If you don't bring the fight to her, she'd be much happier without the stress.

Groom her for friendship, remember what it feels like to be in love with horses! Have compassion for her, understanding that she's not trying to be stubborn - she's trying to communicate with you about what's uncomfortable.

Let go of corrections and punishment, and instead, handle her each time as if it's the first time - pretend that every time you handle her, you are teaching her what you would like. She will feel like you are more open, and she'll want to trust you more and more.

Remember, frustration and punishment breed fighting. Compassion and teaching breed companionship. I could offer you a lot more coaching in a private consultation!

Answer 4

1.  She may have teeth issues, the bit is wrong for her, or you have really rough hands.

2. You may need a crop.  To teach her to move forward, like a bite on the butt from another horse would do.

3. She's too smart for you?  Don't go to her with the bridle all the time, go to her with a treat once in a while and just brush or pet her.

Sounds like she basically doesn't trust you, and has you figured out. You may need to handle her differently than your other horse, until you work out that "trust" thing.  One thing about a smart horse, once you gain their trust, you have a friend forever.  Keep working with her, but maybe lighten up and give her a chance to prove she can respond to you properly.  

Answer 5

wow. i have the same breed and the same problem with her tossing her head if the rein isnt loose. And i got her when she was 8 but now shes 12. I used to event her but then she got her so now im jsut doing dressage. What you have to do is make her execpt the contact. pick up the contact and when she tosses her head just keep a steady hand. when she stops tossing her head you can be soft. but if not kick her and make her exept the contact. That exatly what i did with my apendix quarter horse and she actually can be a pretty good dressage horse when shes steady

Answer 6

train her

Answer 7

Two things here. The fact she refuses to go in through  the gate and that she goes away if she sees you coming with the bridle tells me this is an attitude problem. Once again we have a lack of respect from the horse. The cure is always the same, get down and do some groundwork designed specifically to take care of this.

From now on, start with join-up. Do it every time you're going to work with your horse. Here is a video:

http://www.ehow.com/video_4483373_joinup...

Join up will help you overcome the problem of your horse going away when she sees you with the bridle. Next, you need to spend some time just leading your horse. This is pretty deep stuff. Lead a horse properlly and you will see lots of other problems go away, because in leading properly you are acting like an "alpha" horse and thinking like a horse does. What this does is enable you to communicate with your horse using body language that he understands. Try this video for that:

http://www.ehow.com/video_4483237_lead-a...

I would take 10 minutes a day to do nothing but make your horse back up. That is a great way to cool down a dominant horse. Then work on disengagement of the hindquarters, on the ground first:

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...