Please Help !!!

[untamed_beauty]

Today i came back to my yard in tears, again ! I bought a horse about 8 weeks ago, 16.3 hh hanoverian x tb , 6yo. Lovely mare. I have taken her to a show and have hacked everywhere on my own and in company and she has been great. On sat(2days ago) I took her out on my own on one of our usual hacks, i got to a certain point where there was a cross roads and i had to stand her, she never really liked standing still but was not to much of a problem , anyway after i stood her she started to back up and i tried to kick her on. She started to shake her head and start to rear. I have NEVER seen any sign of this sort of behaviour before and she really scared me, i couldnt get her to go down the road i wanted to so i took her back home and i had to *** mount as she kept back infront of cars and rearing. I got her back to the yard and put her in her stable and she was not herself, she was kicking the door and being rude. Anyway i took her out again today and thought i would not go the same way as i did last time, i got to the road where i wanted to go right and had to wait for a car. when i asked her to stand still she started to back up and rear again then after the car had passed i could not get her to go forward and had to go back to the yard, i thought i would go past my yard gate so she wouldnt think she got her way but as i tried to go past she reared again. I have no idea why she has just started to do this and i am so upset. I really really liked the horse and now she has scared me i dont feel the same about her. What have i done ?? We used to go everywhere and i have never ever seen a mean streak in her. Nothing ever phased her but she has turned really different . Please help , any info would be a great help.
:( :( :( :( :( :(

[TWH Addict]

My old Dales mare was a lovely lady and usually reasonally unspookable but when she was in season she was the cross between a tasmanian devil and a mule. She wouldnt even walk through a puddle on the road without backing up and trying to go home. In the end, I used to get off her, put a hanky (cloth) over her eyes, and walk her past the problem. Once passed, she was fine. This silly behaviour only happened (or so it seemed) when she was in season. Other times, if something made her nervous, Id get off walk her to the problem show her left and right side then she would be fine.

[rache]

I would get a friend to walk with you or meet you at the any point you are going to have to stop for traffic and let her walk by her side, if this does not work i would seriously go out with your friends a bit more and challenge her to it, she will follow her friends and would not want to leave them, she could be loosing her confidence or she might be one of those horses that if they dont want to go somewhere THEY WONT i had one! But you got to gain trust and the only way i did it was ground work and hacking out with my mates at the yard!!

[pandapotato]

First off, if this is a new behavior for her, check her tack and make sure nothing is rubbing her strangely.

Secondly, give that trail a break for a couple weeks and go back and work on things in the arena. Practice making her stand while doing whatever you need to do-take yoru jacket off and put it back on, or mount and dismount, or whatever. Make sure she has excellent manners at home before testing them int eh field.

Third, have another mounted rider come with you. Rearing is absolutely the most dangerous thing, because your horse could fall over backwards if it rears too high or slips. You NEVER want to be alone if that were to happen because you could lay hurt on the trail for hours!

Your horse appears insecure. I've ridden horses that rear when nervous, and there's little you can do in that moment to stop it. You have to go back to the ground work, to the arena, etc and get them to the point that htey ahve confidence and trust. Try going down the trail for only a few hundred feet, turning around and coming back. Try going ALMOST to the spot she freaks out and turning around. THe key is not to force her to stop rearing, but for her to forget about it all together, because she'll be comfortable with the routine. You could even try getting off BEFORE the point that she rears, walking her across the road, and then getting back on. PUSHING HER too fast to correct the problem could complicate things.

Also, get some advice from your trainer about using a tie down. Some people swear by them while others say they complicate the rearing. All I know is that if a horse can throw its head up it cant rear. ...but some say that if a horse rears anyway it could make teh injuries worse. Check into them.

Lastly, WEAR A HELMET AT ALL TIMES. you dont say if you have one anyway, but if your horse fell over backwards, it could literally kill you. WEAR A HELMET. Thats all i can say.

[Nicole5310]

I know this is a horrible thing to say. But who did you buy her off, someone you know?

Several years ago we bought a pony and when we went to look at him he was perfect a real gem. He stay that way for about a month and a half. Gradually he started showing nasty characteristics biting kicking bucking bolting rearing. He was dangerous. We talked to the vet who came out to see him and he couldnt pinpoint any problems whatsoever. He said to us he belived the pony had been drugged after we told him who we had bought him off. He said that its not the first time he had come across this but noone had been quick enough with blood test to prove the sellers were dodgy. When you described what you mare does it just rang bells, but I know this is probably completely irrelevant. But I think the more people that know about these things the better aye.

The good news is at the time we werent experienced and we sold him to a retrainer. I was seven then and now Im nineteen. I have recently discovered I teach a young boy at ponyclub on the same pony. And now he's great.

[Demson]

I assume you had her vetted before buying and her tack was checked so that will rule out those.
When horses are taken to a new place they take time to settle in and then once they have there true colours start to come out.

Also this is the time when your horse will start testing you for dominance as they naturally seek this every day. It sound slike oyu are not experienced enough to deal with this on your own so now is probably a good time to get some help.

Is there someone who could ride your horse just to assess her then start helping you on a one to one basis to help you and your horse get over this.

Once a horse tries something and gets away with it they are likely to do it again. Also if you anticipate her doing something then get nervous she will pick up on this and react to it then you get more nervous..."The circle begins"

Have you tried taking her out onto quiet roads where traffic is very limited. "Back streets etc" Every so often ask her to halt as if at a junction and praise her when she stands. If she doesn't or refuses to move forwards keep at her until she does as you want. Even make her rein back anything more uncomfortable than walking on. Then when she walks on praise her by rubbing her neck (Pleasae don't pat your horse, they hate it)

If you are not confident to do this then set up a fake layout using poles in your arena and place things around to simulate cars. Big boxes, barrells, seats etc. and see how she is in there.

[lawgirl]

I agreed completly with Alf until:

" Then when she walks on praise her by rubbing her neck (Pleasae don't pat your horse, they hate it) "

How in the world do you know every horse hates that?

Just wondering.

Wendy

[BallouBaby]

In the wild, horses rub up against each other, and so they know naturally that rubbing is a good thing, but patting is a domesticated thingy they learn that is either good or bad, depending on how it is directed.

[Demson]

Hi Lawgirl

Stand on the ground so you can see your horses reations, now pat your horse on the neck as though you have achieved something really great (dressage riders pat so hard it echo's)
Observe your horse's reaction.

Now gently rub your horses neck and face and see the different reaction.

In the first your horse will brace it's neck slightly, and show no softness its eyes.
In the second your horse will relax and softon and enjoy the moment.

As a quick test ask a friend to pat you on the back as she would her horse (she must be realistic as most people pat hard) without warning. You will find you automatically move away or tense up or even jump.

Then again when you don't expect it have her rub your shoulders.

Doing this will help you realise the difference.

I am as guilty as everyone as I too used to pat my horse until I realised it was actually uncomfortable for him. Now when I am on the ground and I stroke my horse he loves to stretch his neck and get in really close to me. (mummy's boy LOL)

I frequently Judge at Dressage events and when I hear the riders pat their horse my body cringes and tenses up and I'm in the Judges box. Mind some riders do give a gentle little pat but most don't and I often wonder if their hand is stinging.

A horse will respond quicker to what you ask by rewards and gentleness. Speaks for itself.

[lawgirl]

Alf,

Well, your theory does make perfect sence. This is why I ask questions, never too closed minded to learn more :)

Although you are right about "most" riders seem to pat like they were "spanking" rather than "patting" whenever I have "patted" my horse, it is usually done with my fingers rather than my hand. And it is more of a "love" pat. The same my grandma does on my back, rub, rub, pat, rub rub. I tried what you said, and my horse had the same reaction, brought his head down into my chest and rested his nose against me.

So, yes I can absolutly see your point, I think some or most or a few people think because they are big, they need big gestures, on the other hand, for me, I do what I would like to feel.

But I will defently spread the word, and the next time I see a "spanking" pat, will draw their attention to what you had said.

See how helpful these posts are!!!??? :)

You have a great day.

Wendy

[DITZ]

u_b I wouldnt read too much into it to be honest. All horses seem to go through some sort of personality transformation at about the 2 month stage but persevere because it is only a phase. Basically they push the boundaries to see how far they can test the relationship and your confidence.

Mine went through a stage where he would not cross a level crossing. He had hacked this route for 3 years before I bought him. I had to get off and lead him over because he would go vertical and spin. It went on for about a month but eventually he succumbed.

Dont be afraid to get off and lead him for a while if he does it. It doesnt mean you have lost the battle because you are still going in the direction YOU want to go in.

Dont worry, they all seem to do it.

[Avid_Rider]

I can sympathize with you. I have been riding an Arabian mare for three years now and she is currently 21. When I first started riding her thats exactly how she was.
She could not be tied, she hated standing, hated getting saddled, etc,etc. This is because she didnt trust me, she had been abused when she was younger and to this day still hates men. (Smart horse :p )
But after three years of trust building exercises, she is a wonderful ride for the most part. She will never be a "push-button" horse but Im not complaining.

But what Im saying is that you're horse, in my opinion, is either scared of that point, or doesnt trust you. My suggestion is one of two things. Either walk her in hand the entire trip, past the point where she wants to turn around. (preferably have someone else with you too). Then get on and ride her on the way back.
If that doesnt work, teach your horse to "touch". It's done wonders for my standardbred mare im training. If something scares her, i have her touch it with her nosse and she's fine with it.
I started out with a nurf noodle (you can buy them for swimming) and asked her to "touch". Eventually she figured it out and touched it. I would cluck and give her a treat. She will now touch anything including trees, gates, myself or even construction machinery.

Hope that helps.