Quarter Horses?

[Dizzy]

Hi, I have a partbred QH, who I bred from my old mare (Arab/welsh). She is now 4, all her life she's been a lovely, laid back, good natured soul who has been quick to learn and easy to train. I backed her this year and have been gently hacking her out (on her own and in company) along with TTeam inhand work and long reining. She's a very confident girl, in herself and with people, very rarely spooks and is 100% in traffic. She's been great up until now.

The first thing I noticed with her was that she would side step away from what ever I stand on to mount her, I use a mounting block, wall, gate, hill etc to make mounting easier for her and me. Anyway I always manage but up until about 3 weeks ago she would just stand patiently and not move off until asked.

The last couple of times I ridden her she has stopped, refusing to go forward, stamping her back feet and swishing her tail, when I push her on she will threaten to buck and back up. I've ridden her through one, which was on a main road and the cause was a few other horses being ridden in the distance, but the second one was passing her field (on the way home) and her pals were all shouting at the gate, I have to pass the gate and its on a hill so I chose not to argue, got off, lead her past and rode her home. The next day yesterday I long reined her out, past her field, she did try to stop but I got her past quite easily going out, but on the return journey we had a strong disagreement, she tried to bounce round a couple of times, but I managed to keep myself between her and the gate and get forward motion.

Today she point blank refused to ride out of the farm yard, backing in to cars, stamping, swishing and small bucks, I managed a few steps forward then the same, she backed into the tow bar of a cattle trailer, I got off, put the long reins on and longreined her and she was perfect.

Sorry this is so long, two of my friends have part bred QH's, (one is mines half sister) both of whom have had exactly the same problems, but from the outset. They've both been following Breeze's progress (she's 2 yrs younger than theirs) with interest. Is this behaviour typical of the breed? Do you have any advise on how to get her back on my side when I'm in the saddle, that isn't too confrontational, I would like to think that she will go forward because she wants too.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this, would love to hear others thoughts, opinions and advise.

Lesley

[Outrider]

No, its not indicative of this or any other breed. It is indicative of age and training. You need to take your horse back to the round pen and back to basics. Work with the lunge line for walk, trot and canter both directions, as well as whoa. Both with and without tack. Move up to riding with perhaps someone holding the lunge line and giving commands, and then you giving them. Make her back, go forward, lope in small circles and generally, make her know who is in charge and what is expected of her. Pony her out with another horse who is calm and try and get her past the areas she balks at. Then work on riding her with another horse in hand or another rider alongside. Sounds like she needs a little reschooling of the basics and she should be fine. Happy Trails!

[Dizzy]

Hi Outrider, thanks for the reply. Your absolutely right, though I don't round pen, I don't have the facilities - even our small field is quite large and houses 2 donkeys and a pony. I tacked her up today and longrein/lunged, I pushed her a little harder than I normally do, insisting that she responded when I asked - not 3 or 4 strides later. What a little madam she can be! Bucking, flying forward and grunting, she was quite put out when I just kept asking, regardless of her antics. In the end she stopped protesting and worked willingly and well.

The field is a couple of hundred yards from the yard, I got on her at the gate to ride her back and she refused to go forward. I sat quietly, asking every so often for forward motion, the reply was back. I asked her to turn tightly, using my rein, weight and inside leg, but she refused to move so I held her in that position for a minute or so but still asking with my leg then released, gave her the rein and asked forward again, she almost did but stuck again. I did exactly the same on the other rein (which is her stiffer side) but for slightly longer, released and asked her forward, she slightly faltered then set off, it felt begrudging but at least it was obeying me.

I'm going to do as you say and get my friend to lunge us, it was in my mind today, and out of all the suggestions I've had it makes the most sense.

Lesley

[Outrider]

Best of luck with her, Lesley. You also might try a light tap with a crop when she balks. Another thing I have done when a horse balks is to get off, face the horse, take the reins in both hands and back then in a loud voice a few feet. Then get on and ask for forward again. Do it immediately when she balks and she will associate you pushing her backwards hard with balking. Keep us informed on your progress. Happy Trails!

[Dizzy]

Today we had progress. I arranged for a friend (the one who owns Breeze's half sister) to come and help me. She brought with her, her western saddle. I was dubious as I've never sat in one before, but I've seen Breeze's bucks and the horn looked just what I needed for a bit of security. Anyway we tacked her up and went down to the field. The weather was atrocious, but my lunge corner is very sheltered.

We lunged her first with the idea that today we'd let her get used to the saddle and not ride her. My friend sent her out on the circle, she set off into trot and felt the different sensation the saddle gave. Well! I've now witnessed a bronco first hand, buck, buck , buck, and a couple of attempts to bolt - I went in and acted as a second anchor, just in case, but it didn't come to that thankfully.

Anyway after a few minutes the bucking stopped and she settled down and started to pay attention. She worked really well, but still putting in the occasional buck which eventually petered out, she went onto do some really relaxed forward trot-canter-trot-walk-halt. Its the best work I've ever seen her do, head low, really using herself, and she looked happy. She went the same on both reins.

When I was watching her buck and object to work I was stood thinking 'I'm not getting on that' but as her attitude changed and she accepted that we would just keep asking regardless of her behaviour, I could hardly wait to get on.

And I did! We didn't lunge her with me on, the already bad weather had got worse (wind and driving rain). But I got on and rode her back, not a buck! The most forward going walk I've ever had on her, it did feel weird in the western saddle, Linda my friend insisted I held the reins in one hand and held the horn in the other (my reins were total washing lines, but I was still on the lunge line) we did a few halts with me asking her on, she wasn't totally happy with my legs - swishing tail. But walk on she did. She also trotted on, going forward with a lovely relaxed stride. I know there's still a long way to go, but we gave her alot to think about today, and though I'm more than pleased with today and proud of her, I did feel she felt happier in herself too.

Linda has left the western saddle with me, and is coming over again next week. I must admit I love the English way and dressage is my dream. But she looked fantastic in the western saddle, QH has dominated in her conformation and I'm teetering on the brink of going the western way.

Sorry for blethering on, I'm just so pleased.

Lesley

[Caz&Irena]

After seeing how well my horse is going in her western saddle I must admit I am now completely sold on it! Good luck, I'm sure you will progress with her now!