How Do I Fix This Problem ?

Question

I was recently at a show, and encountered a problem with my mare.

(i show western pleasure, showmanship, & halter by the way)

when i do my riding clases, my mare would always pin her ears back when im passing other horses, and threaten to kick them. At one point she even kicked one.

my trainer told me to just back her up and i've been doing it at home in the ring, but i really cant in the show ring.

any ideas for correcting her in the show ring? and any other ones for at home?

thanks in advance.

Answer 1

you need to focus her back on you, i would push her fore ward and collect her up (in your case bump your reins) she can't think about them when shes thinking about moving foreward/you.

my OTTB is the same way, he wants to fight every horse in the ring, but if i keep him focused on what hes SUPPOSED to be doing then he doesn't have the time to attack..

Answer 2

my horse did the exact same thing at shows.

i worked her in the middle pull her nose in towards the circles. i also practiced riding at home with other horses around, passing them and such.

finally in one show she did it and i decided to just blow the class so i put two hands on her and pulled her nose in and used those spurs, she hasnt done it since :)

good luck!

Answer 3

You probably already know when you get to close to the horse in front of you you just make a circle, right? do the same thing, evan if you are far behind the horse in front circle when you see a horse coming towards you, do this just before the horse passes you. This is because you need to keep her busy, make her mind work get her thinking just before the horse passes you, nobody will ever notice what your doing.

Hope this help!

Answer 4

it seems like she just may be aggressive towards the other horses..

alot of horses are when they are trying to show dominance over each other. If you board or have multiple horses, see if you can get her pastured with different horses that she doesn't know and watch her when they first get introduced.. if she is doing the same thing there that she does as shows, she is trying to figure out her pecking order at shows.. there really isnt any way to stop that. Its natural for horses, but if you can, when you are showing, when you pass people make sure you go out of your way to pass them. Dont pass in a close distance from people. the judges should appreciate the space youre giving people [they dont like when people are right on others] along with the riders your mare is threatening and your mare shouldnt be so aggressive. she may pin her ears back, but she shouldnt be trying to kick if she is farther away.. anyway, i hope this helps! good luck!

Answer 5

Just backing this mare up will not begin to solve your problem.  You'll need to blow a class or two and deal directly with the problem....if the cure is over and under with the end of your reins, then so be it....you'll be "forever" penalized for riding a "kicker" in the pen.  Plus she's a danger to other exhibitors and their horses.  Which isn't fair to you or to them.  

You need to work on keeping your mare's focus on you rather than on every horse that passes you in the pen.   Be ready to deal with any misbehavior from her.   Make that punishment harsh...what she's threatening to do is just as harsh on others.

Answer 6

At the next show- tie a red ribbon in her tail. I dont really know how to stop her, but I would try and stay away from the other horses. If one is getting in her tail, circle, but if you cant do that I would speed up a little so they aren't in her tail.

At home i would try and work in lessons with other horses if she isn't allready.  

Answer 7

spend more quality time with her