I have a 5 year old welsh part bred who I've just backed. I've had her since she was weaned so know her history. She's always been of very nervy disposition and we've done an awful lot of ground work to build her trust and I've left her the extra year to mature a bit further (I generally break at 4).
She's a fab little mare but she can be very nervous and as such we've taken the backing process really slowly. She's had me on her in walk and trot being lead, on the lunge and independently and I've also taken her on about 8 hacks, she's coming on brilliant except....
She's constantly worrying about what's behind her - she does this on the ground but is worse with a rider on. I've done a year or mores worth of desensitisation with her and she's got much much better but it seems to be something that's always stuck in her mind.
When riding in the arena last week a horse whinnied in the field behind the arena and she shot forward, panicked herself and then tied herself up in knots. I was able to sit to it but it did alarm me that she panicked so much. I long reined her a few days later which is something she's been fine with and I tripped very very slightly and again she shot forward but this time started broncing - I'm not sure I would have sat that! When she shoots forward she goes forward then spins to see what's behind then panicks more, often throwing a little rear or a buck.
She's had her teeth done recently, saddle is brand new and fitted to her, back was done less than a month ago so it shouldn't be anything underlying, I think it's just her spooky nature. Anyone have any tips? This isn't a regular thing, when we were out hacking last week and cyclist came up behind us really quickly and all she did was flick an ear to listen! She's not nasty in any way, I'm sure it's just nerves but I'm not sure where to go next with it.
She's a fab little mare but she can be very nervous and as such we've taken the backing process really slowly. She's had me on her in walk and trot being lead, on the lunge and independently and I've also taken her on about 8 hacks, she's coming on brilliant except....
She's constantly worrying about what's behind her - she does this on the ground but is worse with a rider on. I've done a year or mores worth of desensitisation with her and she's got much much better but it seems to be something that's always stuck in her mind.
When riding in the arena last week a horse whinnied in the field behind the arena and she shot forward, panicked herself and then tied herself up in knots. I was able to sit to it but it did alarm me that she panicked so much. I long reined her a few days later which is something she's been fine with and I tripped very very slightly and again she shot forward but this time started broncing - I'm not sure I would have sat that! When she shoots forward she goes forward then spins to see what's behind then panicks more, often throwing a little rear or a buck.
She's had her teeth done recently, saddle is brand new and fitted to her, back was done less than a month ago so it shouldn't be anything underlying, I think it's just her spooky nature. Anyone have any tips? This isn't a regular thing, when we were out hacking last week and cyclist came up behind us really quickly and all she did was flick an ear to listen! She's not nasty in any way, I'm sure it's just nerves but I'm not sure where to go next with it.