My mare is mean?

Question

My mare will lay her ears flat against her head, and try to buck. She's only bucked though like 3 times before, and they aren't very big. I've been riding bareback lately and I am sick of her doing this. What can I do to get her back on track? Whenever I put ANY leg pressure on her, her ears fly back and she tries to buck. I know that they can't buck with their heads down, but today my finger started to bleed because i was pulling so hard on the reign. I have no clue what to do! We were just starting to make progress. I know that she is just testing me! Thanks!

Answer 1

I have had the same problem with my mare and I have come to find out that mares are just plan moody.  A girl moody? No way. Who would have thought?

What I have been taught to do in this situation is to get her mind off of it. When she starts to buck, start turning her in tight circles. It gets her mind off of the bucking and makes her work even harder and reminds her who is boss.

About the pulling the reins hard, you shouldn't do this because if you just keep pressure on her constantly like that, it could make her start to ignore the reins altogether.

Answer 2

No, she's a mare! Lol. Mares will be mares, they are pretty much like girls in real life. I ride a little sassy POA, she must of reared with me 10-12 times yesterday... yah i know what your talking about. She took off trotting too, and i have all sorts of blisters now! I reccommend you get a good pair of gloves. This little mare rears whenever you put any leg pressure on her, besides asking her to change gaits. But u ask her to speed up her gait... rear. Just keep working, it takes patience.  =] Good Luck

Oh and... they CAN buck and move. Have you ever seen the broncos?

Answer 3

Well, I guess my question is, is this a new behavior? If it has only happened since you started riding bareback then she is reacting because shes either in pain or uncomfortable.....try going back to your old routine, ride with a saddle and see how she does. If she goes back to normal then you know it has to do with riding bareback. If not, then I would do a proper look at her and check everything it might constitute a vet visit. If nothing turns out to be wrong, then try and ride her through it.

Answer 4

Please remember that horses aren't just mean for no reason.  There is a reason that she's doing this.  she's either being hurt by something you are doing, someone has done or she expects to be forthcoming - she's in pain and she's trying to tell you - or you're doing something that she doesn't like.

You say you are riding bareback - do you know how easy it is for a butt bone to poke into a horses muscles along their spine and hurt?  Have you had her checked out by a vet to insure she's not in any pain?  what are the conditions when she bucks, does she do it immediately when you mount or later after you've ridden some steps or are away from her comfort zone?

My guess is that if she really wanted to toss ya, she would-she'd just haul off and buck and throw your rear in the dirt, but it doesn't sound like she is, she's giving you a message that something's not right.

Try with a saddle?

Try with a different rider?

What do you do when she does this?  If you give up and quit - I can tell ya right now why she's doing it, it's to get you to give up and quit.  She can have learned within a buck or two whether a buck will make you give up and let her go back to resting or a comfortable place.

I suggest, once you've determined for sure it's not due to any pain she's in, that you get the help of a trainer - someone knowledgeable who might come to your place for $100 and watch and tell ya why she's doing it.  Look for a person who knows natural horsemanship methods, not someone who trains by domination.  Ask about your area and put out feelers - go to the local horse supply stores and ask for opinions.  I would think a $50 or $100 session to fix her problem would well pay for itself - as bucking can cost that much in medical bills - also the experience will teach you so much about interacting with horses and how to interpret what they're telling you.  an hour with such a good person will set you on a path that will so much heighten your knowledge and awareness of the horses you'll be amazed.

Good luck.

Answer 5

my mare is mean to have you considered a martingale it make there head stay down.you can finde them at any tack store.I've use one bareback all it does is where you buckel the chin strap you put it throw the loop and buckel the for the gerth you do the same you just slaide it throw and buckle th gerth

Answer 6

My mare had problems with this.  Whenever I went to trot, the ears flew back and she bucked.

To me, she doesn't really sound mean, she sounds like she is lazy and hates working (cant blame her, really, i don't either :) )

When her ears go back, get her moving as fast as you can.  They cannot buck if they are moving.  A crop helps if you can't do it with your leg, you want to make her go immediately.  Make her work, do circles and serpentines and stuff.  Work for about 2 or 3 minutes, then go back and do the same thing you were doing when her ears went back.  After a few repetitions, she will learn that pinning her ears=hard work, and she will stop.  Good luck!

Answer 7

Horses buck for a reason.  I agree - rule out any physical problems, then if none are found, look into Natural Horsemanship for this mare.  

I wanted to add, most horses who buck, actually need to lower their head in order to buck (but preventing this is not a solution, it only adds to the problem); and horses can both buck and go forward.  

Many horses will test a rider bareback while being apparently fine under saddle.  When the saddle comes off, the relationship comes out.  

You said that leg pressure, bareback, causes the bucking.  Can you cue her without leg pressure to go forward?  Soften your signals.  Go back to a walk, and ride her bareback at a walk for a while (assuming there is no physical problem with her being bareback).  You also may want to use a bareback pad.  Once she will walk bareback and is relaxed, then she might be ready for more.  Go at her pace.

Answer 8

Some horses do not like being ridden bareback.  It is not because they are mean it is because riding bareback is not as comfortable for them as riding with a saddle.  That is because despite what some of the new fad trainers tell you, the saddle distributes your weight over a larger area.  

Here is a good analogy.  It is like the difference between a saddle and a bicycle seat.

Answer 9

She doesn't  sound mean.  That's the same cue for "I'm in pain, don't do that!"

If she only does this bareback, there may be something in her conformation or in your conformation that is causing irritation.  A saddle spreads the weight out more and keeps it off the spine.  You will be more balanced in a saddle, which also helps a slightly sore back.

If it's only when you put your leg on, check her sides where your leg touches for sore spots and twitches.  Check your legs and whatever boots/shoes/jeans you wear for stickers or rough or sharp things that might stick out.  Check your saddle very, very closely.  I had a similar problem; turned out a tiny, tiny rivet had popped up one of the little tines that hold the rivet in the leather.  I could hardly see it, but lordy lordy could my mare ever feel it!

I don't think she's testing you.  I think she's trying to tell you she's in pain.

Put your saddle back on; check the fit carefully, mount gently, ride gently.  Take special not of exactly what you're doing and exactly where your leg is when she bucks.  You may be able to figure out a physical reason.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

My mare hates to be ridden bareback. She gets all cranky whenever I try to do it. She is great at her regular job, so if that's the one thing she doesn't like, I'm not going to make her do it.  I've learned that if I really want to ride bareback, I only walk, or I borrow a horse :)

Answer 11

You might try longeing before you ride.  Try longeing with just a halter and she how she acts.  Then try with her saddle and  bridle and see if it makes a difference.  Something might be uncomfortable about her tack.  If that fails you might try to get a really good trainer for a few lessons and see if that helps