Should I Get Proffesional Help?

[CharlieBrown]

The way its going at the moment with my horse, professional help is the only thing i can think of doing. Otherwise she'll be in the paper for sale by the end of the month.
If i went to a top instructor could they help me sort her out? She's just so strong. I'd planned to compete her next weekend but its just not going to happen, shes too dangerous. She's on barely any food, a double dose of calmer and only being schooled, i can't even trust her to take her for a hack.
I had half term off school a few weeks ago and started the break with concusion after she ditched me on a road and i smacked my head on a curb. I'm on the border of giving up completely.
Should i go to someone who really knows what their doing or just call it a day with her??? I just don't know what to do!!!!

[Bay Mare]

The first thing that I'd do is get a complete overhaul of physical/back issues, teeth issues and tack fitting (saddle, bridle and bit).

If they came up ok then I'd probably want to get a professional in but personally I would get a behavouralist in (I prefer the Intelligent Horsemanship Recommended Associates) rather than a top (or any) instructor as not all instructors will look at the underlying causes for problems. Even for ridden problems I'd go for the RA as a first port of call as this is a behavioural rather than training issue.

What exactly is she doing? How long have you had her? What feed are you giving her? When was your saddle last checked? What bit do you use? How does she respond to a contact?

Personally I would ditch any hard feed (if you're feeding it) straight away and add something like Cal Mag or MagOx.

If you can give us a little more info we can be more helpful :)

[CharlieBrown]

Oops, sorry for being so vague.
Just had her teeth done. Has been back in work for around 3 months after having an EMRT do her back and has new perfectly fitting saddle and bridle. All checked.
I've had her 6 months but rode her for 18 months before i bought her as she belonged to a friend who didn't ride. She's fed 2 handfuls of Honey chop w/garlic and a scoop of very watery sugabeet. I work her in a sprenger loose ring jointed snaffle with a roller ball in the lozenge as its supposed to encourage them to relax in the mouth, because she sometimes locks her jaw on the bit and crosses her jaw. Since she's had her back done she has completely changed, it's like she's had a new lease of life. She's full of herself. She's an anglo arab, so by nature is highly strung. She doesn't really accept a contact well. She's getting better at it, she can hold herself in an outline, but likes to have arguments about it, she's very very stubborn and has a major attitude problem.
In her trot she's very strong, and drags me around the school. When she does i halt her. The problems come when we canter. There's no brakes!!! She's bucking going into the transitions, rushing off and goes flying around the arena 90 miles an hour and she rips the reins out of my hands, she so strong. After the first canter everything goes to pot. In every corner she tries to canter. If i've done a canter transition on a circle, all the way around the circle she's moving sideways, trying to go into canter.
Phew!!! I think i've put in enough detail!
Sorry it's so long...

[R-D]

I agree with the don't go to any instructor or trainer, but would like to add that as well as there beeng some not so good people there are also some very good, try a personal recommendation, someone who can show you a succsess story.

You don't sound as though you are clueless, just look at someone who has lessons that you think have a happy horse that goes correctly and the rider sits quietly and they look comfortable together, ask them who they have.

[thoroughlybred1]

be careful when looking for professionals...........the definition of a professional is one that follows an occupation for reward or financial gain - that doesnt necessarily mean that they are good at what they do! (and i do know this from personal experience in the horse world). it does sound like you could benefit from some more experienced, outside help - and there are many people out there that can help.

Personal recommendation is by far the best way to find the right one to help. If you have ruled out physical causes, and you want to ultimately be able to continue with your mare, then you need to find someone that will not only help with the mares problems, but most importantly help YOU help with the horses problems............ A "professional" might be able to sort your horse but its not the "professional" that will be riding your horse daily!

If you decide to look for someone to help you, dont be afraid to ask for references - you have to be able to trust this person in the same way as you would trust your vet, farrier, saddler, child minder, school teacher, baby sitter!

Remember even the professionals use professionals!

[Bay Mare]

She's bucking going into the transitions, rushing off and goes flying around the arena 90 miles an hour and she rips the reins out of my hands, she so strong. After the first canter everything goes to pot. In every corner she tries to canter. If i've done a canter transition on a circle, all the way around the circle she's moving sideways, trying to go into canter.


Bucking going into transitions COULD be exhuberance but if it were my horse I'd want to DOUBLE check the fit of the saddle and also her back. Unfortunately not all saddle fitters fit saddles particularly well, not all of them even recognise atrophy!

How are things with her now? Did you get someone in to help you? Have things improved at all?

[Willingbe]

A couple of options:

Try canter transitions before the corner of the short side of the arena. Don't worry about her going off on the correct leg but if she takes off use the corners to stop her.

Use short actions with the reins when you're trying to stop her, whatever you do don't take a long pull on the reins because that will give her something to pull against.

Or

Let her run herself out, if you're working in an enclosed arena and you're not at risk of running someone over. Ask for the canter then stand up very straight in your stirrups (not like a racing position but literally like you're standing), don't put any pressure on the reins and make sure your legs are still. She will slow eventually, when you feel she may be ready to come back into the trot then ask lightly with the reins. Keep standing until she's back in the trot then sit down gently and give her lots of praise. Make sure it's your choice that she comes back into the trot, she musn't just fall into it without you asking.

The second option works well with horse who are panicking because they feel unbalanced at canter with a rider on their backs, it neutralises your position so that your centre of gravity is directly over hers (if your saddle's in the right place of course).

[mayoguinness]

All good suggestions. I can reccomend a great intructer called Jayne Lavender. I have lessons with her every month and I'm sure she would be able to help you:) Her web adress is www.jaynelavender.com but its under construction so theres nothing on it really except her contact details :o

[Trewsers]

How much turnout and horsey time is she getting? Reason I ask is at Christmas when turnout was limited, Storm was a nightmare to canter in the school - I gave up asking! she bucked (not that much but enough to scareme) and she felt like she had no brakes at all. I had her back and tack checked and teeth - all came back ok (well, the saddle needed slight adjustment but nothing too major). What helped me was to lunge her first and when she went back to doing a bit more and having more turnout she's (slowly) returned to normal - she always has a fast canter, but feeling like there are no brakes is very scary indeed. I haven't cantered her out on a hack (yet) as we've only just moved home - but, I know she will be better for having time to let off steam in the field. Just a thought.

[coss]

if you know pain is not an issue the lunging as Trewsers said is useful. the bucking and problems your are having do sound like excitement and excess energy.

There are probably 2 methods (off the top of my head that i can think of) that may help get rid of excess energy:

lunging and then riding. if she still feels exciteable when you get on do trot on a circle, do spirals, leg yielding out and lots of changes of bend. This will keep the pace constant but keep her concentration. when you canter if you feel yo u can sit the buck ride through it and i would again go on a circle. use a light seat and just be patient, wait for her to just settle mentally (as said by Willingbe), do changes of reins and get her concentrating. I probably wouldn't canter for a while though, have a few sessions without cantering.

or

i would lunge to begin or work in hand and then just do walk. if you are confident in your stickability give her a long rein and see what happens, many horses will relax when you let the reins go (there are a few that will take advantage hence why you do need some stickability too :p) i also wouldn't do the halting that you say you do when she goes to fast. This will engage her back end more, instead go with it for a few strides then slow her (if you can).

You sound as though you know a lot and its nice that you using a soft bit, you are encouraging her to soften with that.

[Bling]

Having a horse should be a challenge (it's more rewarding that way :p ) BUT it shouldn't be terrorizing! My inclination would be for you to find a less difficult horse to devote yourself to. You have the rest of your life to think of. And as was mentioned, simply "getting a professional" isn't so easy; but they're all pretty expensive. Your own safety, though, should be your priority.

[CharlieBrown]

Well i took Bay Mare's advice and tried a master saddle fitter this time. He tried the 2 saddles i have on her and said that neither of them fit. I'm now having a new one made to measure and for the moment he's leant me another that fits.
I've also stopped having lessons with my regular RI and afriend who has been through all this previously with her daughter's horse has been helping me out. She thought i was too much with the reins, so she's had me using them less and using my body more, but over the past few weeks she's starting going super fast in the trot, not listening to the body at all to slow down and breaking into canter then refusing to stop at all. So now i'm using a little more hand but not being at all strong and doing hundreds of transitions and she's actually starting to listen. We had quite a few problems with her yesterday and my friend actually had to get on and say "no you are going to listen" which ended up being a half an hour argument. But when i got on her i was firmer and more insistent (i'm a little on the quiet side and everyone says i don't shout enough), and she went absolutely stunningly (?)!!!! i was so pleased even if the beginning was bad!
Thankyou all for your advice! You've all helped a lot!

[Laura+Phantom]

That's great, you sound like a really caring horse owner :) It sounds as though she is improving, good luck to you both and i'm sure you will get there :)

I used to be a quiet rider as I am quiet in person too but after intensive lessons on various horses with a scary, but good, instructor, I know when to 'switch on' now. It is a bonus being a quiet rider with an excitable horse though, some people have 'hot seats' and make it worse!

[Hero]

you sound like your in the position i am/was in. We was looking for a new horse with our friend and she chose one thats looked fine at the time but i was unhappy with how big and strong she was. She just took the P**S to put it bluntly because she was so strong and she knew it. after 4 months of trying to battle out her rodeo shows and coming off,getting her a new saddle, having her back done, teeth checked i gave up and rang up someone who said they could school her. They failed and basically said i was going to have to have my baby shot :eek: NO WAY! and then we rang somewhere elce ( a man this time ) who was strong and she behaved like an angle! and she is continuing to be one....so this meens we are going to have to sell her and thats what the man is doing now and he reckons once hes got her show jumping we'll get her a good home, we bought her for £4500 and now the man says she'll be worth £8000! crazy? sure is!

but honestly once you've had a nasty fall get help, x good luck hun x