Naughty horse

[Waikato Valuta]

I had a bad lesson today. I dident fall of and dont think i lost and confidence although the next ride will tell me that. But I was just disapointed with the way this horse worked for me today. I have ridden her about 20times.

To start of with a friend was holding her for me and I was half way into the saddle. When she bit my friend and then thinking she was goign to get a smack she reared away from my friend she pushed me to the ground and I almost got my foot stuck in the stirup. Then she went galloping accross the arena bucking.

When we caught her we walked her for about 10min untill my instructor arrived when I mounted. We have been working on leg yeild and bing soft and working into the bit but now today. She kept naping and doing mini rears. Then she had a few bucks she bolted with me about 10 trillion times bucking accross the arena. She did everything wrong i dident go one lap of the arena without her putting in a buck or pigroot or rear. She also was falling out and not bending. When i tryed to canter her she bucked. The i tried again another four bucks and then a gallop then i asked again and she got the wrong leg and my instructor told me to keep her going she put in a buck then a pigroot then a flying change then another buck. I never thought a horse would but so often for a whole hour.

I have another lesson on thursday. and hope she go's better. I will ride her tomorrow.

She is usualy naughty just not this naughty. she often dose mini rears or the ocasional buck and she had naped a little but never like this she was naping all the time i had to constantly be on her with my voice and leg just to get her to trot.

P.s i did not know where to put this post so i put it in two rooms. helping rider and helping horse.

[Karenr]

Have you considered her being "naughty" could be her way of saying "hey I'm in pain I don't want you on me".

She may have bitten your friend when you were mounting as a sign, and the bucks, rears and napping could all be indications of discomfort in the back, withers or neck. Alternatively she has suffered pain in her back in the past and just associates people getting on her with pain - as they do.

What is she like to put a saddle on?

[Waikato Valuta]

She has had a massage lady out to her who says she is in great health. She runs to you in the paddock is a very dominating stance. she rears on the ground as well and is fine to put a saddle on. She is a 6yo tb who triled but never raced. when she is good she is wonderfull. she just has her bad days.

[FreedomStar]

have you checked her tack? It seems maybe something is wrong with the saddle, as she bit your friend when you were mounting. Everything a horse does is to tell you something, and it's a good idea to listen.

[Waikato Valuta]

I had the saddle fitted to her my a very weel known and respected saddle fitter in my area. The bridal is custom made and i have had a vet and massuse to check her for physical problems.

[Dizzy]

Saddle fit is the first thing that springs to mind. It would be worth your while getting a second opinion. In the past I have witnessed cases of saddles that aren't comfortable for the horse, but that had been fitted by qualified fitters.

Another thing that is saddle related, is do you mount from the ground or from a mounting block. When mounting from the ground, it exerts a teriffic pull on the horses back, which can vary between mild discomfort to very painful.

Also is the saddle far enough back, its a common fault to place it too far forward. This alter the balance/weight distribition of the saddle and have you sitting in the wrong place on the horse.

And when you do up the girth, do you do it gradually, or in one fell swoop. Horses appreciate it done gradually, and not too tightly. I don't know if you ride western or english, an english saddle is easy to move it up a hole, after you've been on board for a few minutes. I ride western and know this is more difficult, but if it needs it, I ride for a few minutes, then get off, where there's a rock or tree stump available, notch it up, then get on.

Apologies if I've suggested everything you've already checked. Your mares behaviour is suggesting discomfort, especially the bitting before you mount - she's anticipating and trying to protect herself from something.

Good luck,

Lesley

[Shady_Indigo]

NOT a naughty horse! :mad:
Just because you don't understand why it was doing that does not make it Naughty!!
Im very sorry for being so very rude but it really annoys me when riders say their horse is being naughty when it is just trying to tell you something.
Horses are NOT naughty animals, they don't do things for no reason just to pi$$ you off. They do things to tell you how they feel, or to test you, but after 20 times i don't think it would still be testing you.

It really does sound like a saddle problem to me, which is an owner/rider problem, not the horses fault!

[Spydgal]

I dont necessarily agree with that. Yes my initial reaction was maybe a back problem/tack problem but if it isnt then this horse could be acting up and it could be a behavioural problem.
Yes horses do not psychologically make a concerted decision to annoy people but testing and behavioural defiance can go on longer than 20 times if the horse is strong willed.

[Waikato Valuta]

I do The girth up slowly and have had two people fit the saddle they both adgree the saddle is fine. I mount from the ground but I am quite adjile and not pull the saddle. she is only 15.1hh so she is not very big. I have had her back checked buy a vet and a chiropractor.

I personaly think it is behavioural and no i dont think she sets out to be bad just to adnoy me. But she is physicaly fine so I think she might have behavioural problems.

She dose this every time i get on just not so bad as this particular day.

[Spydgal]

When I mount my mare she swings her head and bites the air. I think this may have stemmed from her having a badly fitting saddle in the past (the one she has now is fine and I am very gentle mounting).

I definitely think that some horses can be naughty at times and its not always a tack issue. They have personalities too that can be strong willed and difficult some days if they are not in the mood.

[Shady_Indigo]

and by being strong willed on a particular day they are saying 'im not in the mood hunny, i don't want to be ridden" which we refuse to listen to of course and say that she is being naughty.
It is a privilege to ride a horse, not an undoubted right.

[Spydgal]

I guess you can look at it from different angles. I respect my horses thoughts and feelings on things, but she sometimes has a job to do as I do myself. What about mounted police? Those horses have a job to do. Should those horses be retired if they act up occasionally when they are not in the mood?

I have worked with horses who want to be boss always and will walk all over you to get to that position. They will misbehave sometimes when someone gets on them and yes maybe they are saying I dont want to be ridden but they are working horses and once they realise they dont make all the decisions they come to terms with it and actually enjoy being out. It like me phoning in work and saying I am not coming in today because I dont feel like it ... and work paying me anyway and being ok with that.

Mutual respect is what it is all about .... I personally require a horse and I to work for each other to form a partnership.
My horse has everything she could ever want to be content and happy. I empathise with her feelings and respect her. I dont think riding out a couple of times a week and her behaving herself is too much to ask in return.

I do respect you have a different opinion on it ... its just not the only one.