Hey Guys. I'm Mandy and new on here. I'm a mature rider apparently, lol. I have started riding lessons sooooooo many times and something always stops me just as I'm starting to get the hang of it; university, kids, work, etc. So, I have three kids, aged 6,4 and 3. The six year old is really into her horses which has spurred me on to re-start my lessons as well with a view to buying a pony or two when we are both confident enough. I started lessons at a local riding school and the lady who runs it knows that I would like to buy a horse one day and so she's paired me up with a gorgeous cob called Judy. Judy is a novice ride apparently. I'm having private lessons to try and get my confidence back up and learn quicker. So this week was my second week of lessons and I was putting Judy's saddle on and went under her neck to pull the bridle through and as I went under Judy's neck, she bent down and bit me on the butt. After a few minutes of me wanting to bolt out of the door, I managed to carry on and finish tacking her up and led her out to the yard and had a lesson with her. The owner says that Judy was probably a bit miffed because it was breakfast time for all the other horses (Judy had had her breakfast earlier coz the owner knew I was coming) and Judy wanted more food (she's very greedy apparently) and when she seen she was getting any she decided to show her displeasure by biting me. Would you say this was right? Also, do you really have to keep kicking a horse to get it to do what you want to do? I feel awful at having to keep kicking this horse but the owner keeps telling me to show her whose boss. I don't think I can buy this horse now. As a friend has just said to me, if I was at a dogs home looking for a dog and a dog I was interested in, bit me. Would I still buy it? Probably not. I'm desperatly trying not to let this affect my confidence but I'm sat here with a sore butt thinking if that's one of the schools placid horses I think I'm in trouble. Sorry for the long post by the way.
Got Bit on the Butt
- Thread starter Gracefulhb
- Start date
I don't think kicking a horse is showing them you are the boss. Horses just start ignoring that. . tuning it out.
Looks like taking lessons on how to be the horse's leader would be a better way to start. ..something like the Parelli games etc. Learning how the interact with the horse on the ground, getting their trust etc. makes riding them much better. Learning how to speak "horse" is important. Start with ground work/play. When you've established a good relationship, then it's time to start to ride. You will feel more confident as you learn leadership (leadership is NOT dominance). Your current instructor may not be the type that teaches this. May need to look elsewhere. :happy:
Looks like taking lessons on how to be the horse's leader would be a better way to start. ..something like the Parelli games etc. Learning how the interact with the horse on the ground, getting their trust etc. makes riding them much better. Learning how to speak "horse" is important. Start with ground work/play. When you've established a good relationship, then it's time to start to ride. You will feel more confident as you learn leadership (leadership is NOT dominance). Your current instructor may not be the type that teaches this. May need to look elsewhere. :happy:
Mmm... Of course any horse can have an exceptional moment but I wouldn't rush into buying the horse. If the riding school are leaving you to tack up alone I think the horse should be pretty saintly, if the horse does tend to bite when she hasn't had her breakfast someone else should have tacked her up!
And you shouldn't have to be kicking. It is true that the horses we are given when we first start riding are often hard to get moving but it still shouldn't be constant kicking. If I was you I'd have some more lessons before you consider buying, and maybe try one or two at another school just to compare.
And you shouldn't have to be kicking. It is true that the horses we are given when we first start riding are often hard to get moving but it still shouldn't be constant kicking. If I was you I'd have some more lessons before you consider buying, and maybe try one or two at another school just to compare.
Even if Judy was a bit 'miffed' it is not permissible to bite your handlers bum..end off! Or any other part of their anatomy come to that:giggle:
If you are being taught to 'kick' a horse to get it to do anything, find another instructor and another school. In my book a horse only gets 'kicked' forward when it is being a complete tit and putting us both in a dangerous position. i.e - napping on a busy road, thinking of rearing etc. Other than that 'kicking' isnt something useful you should be being taught IMO.:devil:
If you are being taught to 'kick' a horse to get it to do anything, find another instructor and another school. In my book a horse only gets 'kicked' forward when it is being a complete tit and putting us both in a dangerous position. i.e - napping on a busy road, thinking of rearing etc. Other than that 'kicking' isnt something useful you should be being taught IMO.:devil:
OMG! Just seen you are considering buying this horse. Please dont rush into buying her or anything else. Maybe give yourself more time with a decent instructor and try riding a variety of horse's before you even think about buying?:frown:
Hello and welcome.
Is this a riding school pony? If so, and its known to be a biter I am surprised they let you tack it up on your own. Even the most placid can have an off day, and maybe thats what it was. But horse bites really can hurt,and I am more surprised at the almost accepting attitude of the owner TBH!
the riding school ponies I first started with did need a bit of kicking to get them going, but as I was just learning I was just using my legs, not my weight and seat to communicate 'forwards'. As I got a bit more coordinated I found that magically the pony was more responsive!! give it a few more lesson and as you improve so might she.
As to buying her, only you can decide, but have a good look around and do some research before you commit to anything.
Is this a riding school pony? If so, and its known to be a biter I am surprised they let you tack it up on your own. Even the most placid can have an off day, and maybe thats what it was. But horse bites really can hurt,and I am more surprised at the almost accepting attitude of the owner TBH!
the riding school ponies I first started with did need a bit of kicking to get them going, but as I was just learning I was just using my legs, not my weight and seat to communicate 'forwards'. As I got a bit more coordinated I found that magically the pony was more responsive!! give it a few more lesson and as you improve so might she.
As to buying her, only you can decide, but have a good look around and do some research before you commit to anything.
No she shouldn't have bitten you & no you shouldn't buy her ,or any horse at the moment. You need to carry on with lessons so that you can ride confidently & properly , also learn how to look after one before you buy. If you are very nervous do give yourself a chance to become confident,don't forget that it's one thing to ride for an hour supervised by someone who tells you what to do to get the horse to co operate & quite another when you're riding your own horse with no one to tell you what to do. Oh & can you find a proper riding school where you can learn how to ride without kicking persistently as this school has told you. If you learn properly you will gain an awful lot of confidence & find everything so much easier good luck :smile:
I wouldn't read too much into the bum biting - Storm nipped me when I was stood waiting to go into the school to try her all those years ago.... She has many redeeming qualities so I don't let it worry me! She did it again for the first time in years - but it was blowing a gale and we were both wet (no excuse but I kinda see why she was cheesed off!) But, as others have said give yourself plenty of time and get lots of experience before rushing into anything.
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