10yr old mare just been broken! help!

[cazza]

I've got a 10yr old arabXtbXwelsh mare on loan who has only just been broken! (madness i know!).

She was very nasty in the stable (ive had the bruises to prove it) but now is getting quite sweet (although i still do not trust her 100%) as she is being turned out more and had an incident where i found her in her stable in the morning with her door kicked in and on the floor(hinges still on the wall) with her stood in the other side very scared?! Since then she has been a lot more loving as i think she scared the crap out of herself (although what actually happened is still a mystery to me!).

Basically i just want some suggestions on what type of work (ridden and ground work) I should be doing with her. She is very unbalanced and can be a bit scatty sometimes although she does love to be ridden (lunging is often a different story!!) She is quite forward going, can get worked up and bores quite easily! We've just started leg yielding and are trying to master circles! she hasn't jumped with someone on her back yet but enjoys it when i loose school her over jumps. She goes over trotting poles with no problems what so ever! Unfortunately i am unable to hack her out at the moment due to the Foot and mouth ( i live in devon!) but as soon as i can we will be going out at least 3 times a week!

I am open to all ideas and hope to hear your suggestions soon! Cheers!!

[Queenie]

Hi Cazza, I would treat her the same as a youngster under saddle basically letting her find her balance, confidence and rhythm. Don't be tempted to rush just because she's 10, age doesn't make up for experience. What she needs to do is try to relax under saddle, talk to her and take things easy. Don't forget her back needs to strengthen under the weight of a rider. You could also work her in hand walk with headcollar.. stop, move back etc... to build up a relationship with her and confidence too. All said have fun :)

[floppy]

why not do some of that parelli horsemanship stuff too if both or you get bored?

[sarsha]

cazza i dont think you really need anyones help , you seem to be doing a wonderfull job allready.
i agree with floppy, as their is no greater bonding experience than parelli work
(and not to forget you queenie i liked your responces also )
so cazza , keep us posted !!

[Mossy]

Cazza
It may appear madness but these deliquents need somebody like us fools to take them, and show them a different life to being in a field.
Do you have a option to buy as I would hate you to put in all the work only to find they take her back again with a "So long and thanks for all the fish!"

The way things are going I am going to have a 10yr old who needs restarting. She's had minor injuries, had the c**p sacred out of her by somebody who thought they knew my horse better than I did, been rainbound, and is now F&M bound. Every time I have thought I am getting somewhere Him upstairs has laughed and put us back again.

He said smile behold things could only get worse, so I smiled, and behold they did!!!!
Where is Devon are you?

[JackiAH]

You sound awfully like a girl I know.. I don't suppose your trainer is Sally Shaw :)?

Anyways, we also have a ten year ArabxTB that was just broken with a saddle this year... or so it seems. I am no where near experienced enough to ride her, but from what I have seen, Abby usually rides her without pulling on the reins when she tries to pull her tricks, and just trying to make her ride strongly forward. Get your instructor (if your taking lessons) to help if you want it, I'm sure she/he'd be able to give some suggestions :)!

Good Luck!

Jacki

[fionahogg]

Hi Cazza.
I would definitely treat her like any baby that’s just been broken. Take everything slow; don't be tempted to rush just because she's older.
Try to keep everything as interesting as possible - vary schooling routines by including ground work (Parelli Natural horsemanship, also if she doesn't like lunging she might prefer to be longlined?). Get out hacking as soon as it is 'safe' to do so. Introduce as many scary situations in a safe way as possible.
I always like to make sure that flatwork is good before even contemplating proper jumping - ie. make sure she can walk, trot, and canter balanced circles and straight lines before you start to jump.
Build up a really good bond on the ground and she'll be much more likely to trust you when you're on her back.
Get some experienced help and have fun!

Good luck!

Fiona

[cazza]

Thank you all for your replies! im very interested in Parelli but im losing my confidence with this mare and am thinkng of giving up! i really don't know what to do as im sure she just plays up to wind me up now! im also worried about doing lots of hard work over the summer and in winter (when im back at college and don't have much time) all my hard work will be forgotten and i will back to square one! help! if i do decide to give up will anyone out there be interested? as she is very sweet its just im losing my confidence with my riding. i live in Holsworthy by the way Mossy
please reply, i think im having a bad day!!!
luv Carrie xxx
ps
sally isn't my trainer
Pella hates long lineing even more than lunging!! (she throws herself on the floor and goes mental etc...)

[floppy]

cant you find someone to share her while you at college? to keep the training up?

[Mossy]

Cazza
There is a free Parrelli talk at Peter Tavy church hall on Friday 18th at 7pm. Dave Stewart is doing it. It's a distance from you but not that bad.

[cazza]

cheers mossy im already going to the free Parelli talk in Tavy, i saw Pat Parelli himself up in Bedfordshire last
December and he was excellent! Unfortunately i think that im going to give Pella up as i really have lost all my confidence with her and do not really trust her at all! I really do think that i've bitten off more than I can chew! So if any of you out there fancy a challenge and have got the time please contact me asap as i don't really want her to go back to her owners as they'll only just shove her back in the field and forget about her!