I need some help with my horses... (Long question, Sorry)...?

Question

Please read the WHOLE lot. Sorry it's long...

Two of my horses are being trouble right now. They're both Standardbreds and retired trotters.

My first problem started when we bought the first - a 10yr old 15hh mare. Firstly she was terrified to get on the float and her previous owner seemed to think he was a cowboy (no offense... you know what I mean) and forced her on with a rope around her back end which just scared her more.

She's saddle broken but not ridden for the past 2 years or so. For the first few weeks I was walking her around the paddocks just to bond with her and it was good... Although she was a little spooked by the sheep and alpacas.

We've had her for about 4 - 5 months now and are yet to ride her. The few times we've saddled her up she was brilliant. She puts her head forward into the bridle but was a little unsure of the saddle. As soon as my partner put his foot in the stirrup she started being silly and I got the same reaction...

Answer 1

My mare HATES rugs, i think its a mare thing cos i know a few.

Maybe shes had a bad experience with men, horses always remember! Your partener will need to do extra bonding work with her, keep it calm and gentle and gain her trust. Let him give her her feed and treats, let him brush her and spend some time petting her and in time she should be alright.

Urm, i'm from england so i'm guessing a float is a horse box to get them around? My mare was awful to box too, its a common problem, but it sounds like by taking things slowly and quietly, as oppose to forcing her like the old owner did, she'll realise theres nothing to fear. You could put her feed and hay in there and leave it in the field through the winter so shes tempted to go in and begins to associate it with positive things.

Saddle, urm, make sure its the right size etc, give her extra padding under her saddle and maybe have her back checked. If you can, when she starts being silly just continue like nothings happening and she'll soon realise its not going to get her anywhere. Its probably a good idea to re-break her and go through all the basics again!

With the gelding, maybe try a stronger bit? And make sure you have good contact with his mouth.

Try lunging him, if he lunges? And teach him the woah and halt command, if this doesnt work then lead him and when you stop say 'woah' and maybe give him a treat or a pat.

I hope you sort things out!

xx

Answer 2

sounds to me that she is very unpredictable and therefore unsafe to any one. but that's pretty much all horses i don't care if they are half dead doesn't mean that one day they will spook when a little kid comes running up while its half asleep.

       sorry just wanted to get that out of my system.

Answer 3

She is not silly, she is not broke to ride and is therefore unpredictable and unsafe.  You need some help.  You may be ready to ride but she is not ready to be ridden.  You didn't say what type of training she had, but trotters are not usually broke to ride - they are just broke to harness and cart.  If she has not been ridden in 2 years, she may as well be colt-green.  Be safe and get some assistance from someone who is "uncowboy-like" - you know what I mean!!!

Answer 4

just be persistent...let her know that you are the boss(not in a harsh matter) but always never give up and dont be afraid of her becuase she can sense that and she will think that she is boss and you may never be able to ride her with her acting dumb...as they say when you fall off get back on....dont do anything to hurt her or scare her, let her now that you are her friend and let her now that you are her master at the same time...i must stress again all horse training is, is persistence,, also if she is really excitable you may want to try lunging, not alot just enough to get the edge off her, have fun hope i helped

for the gelding the food thing is just natural there just seeing whos boss between them, but for the stopping ride him in a small square corral(if you have one) if you dont ride him inside a fence of some kind and to get him to stop use your commands and make him stop at the fence, this will make him recognize that when you want him to stop he is gonna have to until he does actually stop i wouldnt ride him out of a corral until he realizes this, otherwise it could obviously be a bad mixture (wide open space with no brakes) just try this for a while and when he starts to get the hang of it practice in the middle with no fence and where ever you tell him to stop if he doesnt stop there back him up to where you first asked....when you do these excersizes it is important to give him 30s everytime he stops..pet him and let him think about what he just did...then continue, good luck and have fun with your new horsies!

Answer 5

Hi, many years ago I was given an 8yr old TBX Hannovarian. He had been ridden....4yrs before!!! He'd been dumped out on grass and never brought in for handling in 4 yrs, you can imagine! It took forever for my hubby to get shoes on him, me to be able to even pick up his feet and then dodging the teeth! I started with the basics. I was long lining him, lungeing him, sitting in his paddock and watching how he interacted with other horses. It obviously paid off, as I think I got him to the point of boredom, so when I first got on him, he was so ready! He didn't put a foot wrong. It took months of just spending time with him, not just working him, but getting him to trust me. I would recommend doing that, spend the time, do the ground work and work on the trust. Once you have that, you and your horse will have so much fun. Good luck!

Answer 6

If your partner is a guy that is probably why. Horses have a good memory and they remember a lot about a person who has hurt them or caused them stress. You said her former owner was a guy right? Well if he is that is why she will probably stay scared or nervous around him untill he proves he is no threat to her. My mom is a professional horse trainer so I hope this helps.

Answer 7

I have trained and ride STB, there wonderful horses and very stubborn as you have learned :) your little guy who wont stop at whoa and listen needs just some extra ground work before you head out. Hes the type of horse that I am sure soon  will learn to buck you off because he is so hyped up. He isnt listening because he is so overwhelmed he wants to keep just going and doesnt understand it seems why you are saying whoa. Try a new command like stop, heal or walk off. I taught my horse Walk on and off because the person who taught him whoa also taught him how to rear on Wow and he thinks thats what I am saying is Wow and will topple me over. I just think you need to ground work the little fella and then with the little filly you should cross tie her and rub her with items on her body that you are going to put on her even if she has seen them, she seems body shy, because when you see fear in there eyes it means that the item coming at the is scaring them so much. Also it may mean seeing as your partner (I am assuming guy, could be wrong)  is coming towards her and she is going crazy and backing away means she was abused by a male figure and needs help there. The special one who did the rope thing did scar her to heck because no horse should be treated that way, unless wild or a foal learning. I suggest training her slowly to go in the float and praise and comfort her because she sounds like she is scared of everything because of her past life. If you know nothing demand something from him and find out why she is the way she is. Also with the food all STB fight over it lol so its not just yours, just keep on doing what your doing your doing fantastic. Hope I helped! email me if you need anymore answered if I am helping the way you like!

Answer 8

When a horse has had a long break from riding, you need to take a step back and work on some of the basics.  Spend a few days just longeing the horse.  After she's had plenty of time to run and buck, and get the kinks out, then you can saddle her, and longe her with the saddle on.  After she shows you that she's going to be quiet under saddle, and not buck or be silly, then get on her.  For the first few days, start with easy stuff like walking and trotting, but longe her every time before you ride until she gets back to the way she was before.

I have to do this every spring if my horse has the whole winter off, so imaging how much extra work a horse that had 2 yrs off might need.

You always want to be safe, so longe before you ride, and give her a few days of the longe-line work under saddle before getting on her.  I think you'll like how she behaves better.

Good luck!