Cooling her jets....

[Kelly Lee]

Hi everyone.

I wrote a while back about my new TB Chestnut mare who was grumpy at the crossties. Some gave me excellent advice on "NO TREATS" while grooming and it has worked very well! Thanks!!!

Now that we have gotten to know eachother more over the 2 months (starting crossrails last week and have worked on walk/trot transitions and a little bit of canter only as she can be a little pully and forward). Here is the issue - have been taking private lessons and it has worked wonders as my coach is awesome. Patsy Lou is quiet and responsive and halts on the spot.

Other side of the story - I have taken a couple of public lessons with others and Patsy Lou gets very exuberant!!! The other night I asked for the canter and tried to bring her back but she preceded to keep going. I brought her down after a lap of the arena and I was fine - I know whe wouldn't do anything really stupid. I was quite relaxed. After this incident she trotted in one speed for the rest of the lesson - FULL STEAM AHEAD - pulling and not listeneing to my half halts and leg to bring her back. The only time she has done this is around others in the public lessons. Never in private. I want to keep working with her in the busy environment to correct her exuberance as I want to show on the flat this summer! (She is an Off track thoroughbred 6 yrs ago). Is there any exercises I can do while around others to help her understand that other horses does not mean FASTER?

Other than this I love her to death and she is such a sweety. Not mean or malicious at all - just genuinely exuberant.

Thanks in Advance.

[Tina J]

I have this problem with my ex-racehorse. Schooling beautifully on his own now, but still gets very excited when others are about.

I am simply taking every opportunity to work him with other horses around. It is taking time, but he is improving. I still do school work and lessons on my own as well, so that we make progress when he is concentrating hardest, but he will eventually settle now working with other horses. We still get snorting and trying to tank off to begin with, but perseverance pays in the end.

Keep your patience and keep at it. Good luck.

[Lancashire Lass]

Hi Kelly Lee,

You are doing pretty much the best thing for her, educationally. She must learn to work on her own AND with others (especially if you're intending to show her this year!). A piece of advice I would offer if I was in the 'public' situation is, that everytime she decides she's going to call the shots as to what pace and speed she's going to go, put in a circle and then back on to the track with the others, with a couple of half halts as you hit the track to say to her "now listen young lady, I'm the driver OK?!!" (careful you don't bump into anyone on the way back to the outside track!). This way, you can get her attention back and ask her to listen to YOU and not go roaring off! Keep putting these circles in Kelly Lee EVERY TIME she starts to dictate to you what pace she's going off in. She'll soon tire of this, I'm sure and work out that it's a complete waste of energy and perhaps start to take more notice of her Mum!!

It will take time and patience but I'm positive you'll get there in the end. I think it's a great idea that you're having a mixture of private and public lessons, this way she'll learn that her way of going MUST be the same no matter what situation she's in and it will also stand you in good stead for the show ring as well1!!;)

[Kelly Lee]

Thanks for the responses.

I was thinking "circles" in my head as well. This seems to combat a lot. We are also doing a lot of groundwork for her transitions. She needs more schooling on transitions in general. It will be a dream when we can do an extended AND collected trot. I know the day will come.....

I will keep mixing private and public then. At least we will progress in the schooling area (jumps and transitions and precision work) in the private where we can concentrate, and I will use the public lessons to strictly gain her attention no matter what gait we are at.

Thanks again for your responses...

Kelly Lee