HELP! strong horse!

[dressage1anja]

Hello everyone.. ill first tell you my situation..
Dont own a horse, but Lease every summer, and ride what ever i can in the winter. Will own horse if adjustments are made. But anyways, I have leased horses, and now im on a horse named Penny, she is currently for sale, and is a BEAUTY! Below i have her ad.. if interested in looking at her to see what im dealing with.. When penny is good, and i can figure her out.. shes awesome, but with her- when it rains it pours (fav. saying :P) but.. Yesterday i rode her, im not leasing her till may 15.. But im riding her to get her feel. And i was riding her, first time ive ridden her outside.. and she is VERY strong.. and im a little person! She is a horse that wants to be good, and wont try anything like bucking, rearing.. and the only thing she does is shys, and bolts.. and she is so balanced its hard to come off, cause she usually stops at the barn. But..When i was riding her she was to strong, so i spent time in the walk, i dont think she respects me yet, and she trys to take advantage of me being smaller.. and everyone of my rides ive had to deal with her being strong.. and trying to get her to respect me! she doesnt get who is boss yet.. so i got her introuble and she took me out of the ring! almost bolted but decided not to.. i got off, and my best friend got on her, she is stronger than me, and more experienced with riding miss behaving horses.. so, she didnt want to trot her cause she was still strong, so i brought her to the indoor arena.. and rode her, about 20 min in the walk, when i finally got her steering from my body instead of me having to guide with my hands... hate doing that.... and Penny, is a type of mare that doesnt slow down to pressure, because she is ridden by a very correct trainer.. ive been stratigizing and thinking that instead of using my hand, ill use my body: broader shoulders-Longer legs-push my torso out at her-close my hands, stuff like that..

-so if you guys have any suggestions that will help me to get her to slow down.. or to respect me.. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, tell me them! im desperate.. Kellie wants me to buy her, and i love her, and want it to work out.. but i cant see it if she doesnt respect me and me ride her right!

thanks for help- and heres the ad...
http://equine.com/Horses/ad_details.aspx?lid=166033&search_id=563db50b-62ed-4138-bd5d-7187c8046ee7

thanks very much!!!!
-Jaclyn

[dressage1anja]

need suggestions?

[Wings]

Sorry, I can't help you, but perhaps you get a better response if you post this in a more general bit of the forum ('general', 'training of the horse' or 'training of the rider'). I don't think many people read the dressage section all the time. Also, it is not really a dressage question anyway, so it would fit nicely in one of the other sections.

Penny is a beautiful horse by the way! I would ride her a few more times, and see how you feel. Perhaps you find the right buttons. If not, it's probably not a good idea to buy a horse that you feel is too much for you.

[SailleCinza]

I've been in your situation. :) I only 15 but I lease a young, spooky TB mare (and she's a rearer). You're doing really well by trying to get to the point where you steer with your seat/legs, but I bet you can get to that place sooner by focusing on getting her relaxed, responsive, and respectful. The following explanation is really long, but I've been in your situation and it TRULY WORKS. Please take the time to read and try it.

You said she's antsy outdoors and entirely disrespectful to you, and I assume she drags you around (you said she's strong.) First, when you get on, make sure your legs are contacting her steadily all the way down to your heel. Don't take your legs off. Using your long legs and a moderate rein length, establish a forward walk in the direction you want to go in. Use the lightest contact possible. If she tries to take off, do just what you said: lengthen your leg, brace your abdomen and resist in your arm while USING LEG. If you do this properly (you'll know because a horse physically HAS to hesitate when you do this, starting at its haunches) it will feel like you've walked her into a wall. When she hesitates, immediately give the reins. Repeat this procedure as necessary, guiding her with light contact and your seat in large, loopy circles. Don't worry about using just your seat until she relaxes. If she pulls, use the technique above (which is actually a half-halt) and give the reins as she moves forward: she'll learn that only a light contact is acceptable. Don't worry about getting her working through her back or on the outside rein through the turns; this can't happen until she relaxes into a steady rhythm and you'll only make her nervous and stiff. Just focus on large, loopy circles and perform lots of half-halts if she pulls or tries to take off. As she relaxes, she will become supple and perhaps reach down and raise her back... give her some rein and let her move forward.

Once you get to that point, you'll find that you can demand more accurate figures and introduce impulsion and arcs "on the outside rein." Good luck and be patient - getting your horse relaxed might take a few rides, and even then you'll need to repeat that at the beginning of every ride for a while, but the reward is well-worth it: a horse that trusts you.

REMEMBER: whatever you ask, demand that you get it. But don't ask too much until she's relaxed and respectful.

[dressage1anja]

:) THANK YOU! i will try that if i ride her again.. my trainer kellie went to montana to train some people down there, and found a horse.. TB 6-7 year old, really thick, mare.. 2000.. she jumps, walks trots canters, beautiful dressage horse! and she said she would be a steal pretty much! so im gonna look at thoes pictures, and hope to buy her!:) but again. thanks for your help!

[SailleCinza]

She sounds wonderful! Good luck and I hope she's the one. :)