Riding with others

beezwing · 08-26-2008, 08:50 AM

My horse acts like a nitwit when we ride with other horses. She has also, in like a week, has gotten very attached to the horse in the paddock next to her. To the point when I got there last night, the other horse was being tacked up and my horse was cantering around screaming her head off for her.

I didn't think we could ride at all, but after lounging her a bit, and riding in the round pen next to the other horse..we gave it a go, and it was fine as long as we rode right next to the other horse. We had a nice hack about the property at a walk, because I was worried that Lady would start to race if we went any faster..(last weekend that was our issue, and she reared after a half hour of my holding her back.)
but it was a nice ride after all...

until the other girl had to put her horse up and I rode Lady away, and I discovered that she can go to the right with her head bent to the left. Head up speeding up, not listening unless I was very hard on the reins..back in the round, pen...still acting the butt..so I dismounted and lunged her silly self until she was paying attention to me. licking and thinking.

We sometimes ride alone, and sometimes with other people and horses. Idealy we need a private place to ride and work on our skills..but that isn't likely to happen.
Anything you can suggest to get her listening to me when we are riding out in a group?

How quickly can a horse get herd bound..a week? really?

k

JoesLove · 08-26-2008, 08:54 AM

I knew a gelding who got attached to a pony mare after just a few days. He was used for lessons and everytime theyd take him out he put up a big fuss. They tried changing stalls (kind of across from her lol ) but obviously he could still see her and he went crazy! Eventually they moved him back to his previous stall and things got better. I dont really have any advice on where to ride or what to do ..I just know horses can get attached fairly quickly, depending on the horse.

Carri · 08-26-2008, 08:58 AM

That is the exact problem we are having with Miley, she can go anywhere she wants with her head pulled completely around to your foot. With Miley, we are just working, working, working, and hoping she gets the idea eventually. So far, that's not working real well for us! Grace is little and has no leg, and Miley is perfect for the trainer. She only does this with Grace.

David · 08-26-2008, 09:51 AM

Beezwing-do you use any leg cues with this horse? If you can get her to yeild hind and fore quarters then she can only go where you tell her. So what if her head is tucked under your left leg, if you don't have control of her feet she can still go right all day long. However, if you teach her to yeild to your legs she can only go where you tell her too. If you don't use leg cues yet try pointing your belly button where you want to go. If you point your belly button left this will push your right leg forward and in and your left leg back and in and that will give her the leg cues she needs to turn left. You may have to practice this in the round pen/ arena for a while but once she gets it, then it will be easier to control her whole body.

hope this helps
David

EquineAlberta · 08-26-2008, 10:48 AM

Your mare sounds insecure. She finds comfort in being with other horses which is completely natural for a horse! In the wild, horses that stuck with a herd did better than ones that didn't and so were most likely to survive to pass on their genetics.

Try to think of it as just another step in training and take it slowly. She isn't trying to be difficult, she is scared/nervous!

Riding with a horse and then having that horse leave is one of the more difficult things for an insecure horse to handle (why did they leave? is there something I should be afraid of?) so I would wait until you have her more comfortable before you work through that scenario.

Things to try:
1) Give her more buttons so that you can get her attention/focus. THings like leg yeilding, counter bending and transitions are a good start.
2) Ride with someone and have them go out of sight for a moment. For example have them ride on the other side of the barn and then meet up again at the other end. Do things to calmy keep her attention such as talk to her. Don't make her work harder every time the horse leaves or she will learn that being alone means work, rather start to ask her to do something BEFORE the horse leaves so she doesn't notice at first that the horse is gone.
3) Lead or ground drive her away from the other horses. SHe may take comfort in being able to see you and it may build her trust in you.
4) Groom her and/or feed her out of sight of the other horse. At first this may be best only after she has worked.

Karen

beezwing · 08-26-2008, 01:12 PM

Thanks everyone.
Lady was in a completely different sort of mood today.
We had a lovely ride this morning..but all the other horses were there but not being worked. She happily listens to me while her friends are in sight munching grass. But if the other horse are being ridden, whole other story.

David, we are working on leg cues, though at the moment, when she gets nervous any leg at all means go faster. We worked on the weave poles today with mostly leg and a little rein and she is doing much better, she just seems to lose her head around others.

Equine Alberta, you are so right. I do think she is being insecure and I need to be able to gently give her confidence. I can tell because after I mount she is nervous for just a min then exhales, really blows out some air and relaxes, and is great. You can really feel the tension..and it is getting much better and she is relaxing much sooner. Maybe what I really need is just more wet blankets for her and a good shot of whiskey for me..

On Saturday, the busy day at the barn..when we are trying to ride together. What do you suggest? naughty circles when she starts racing..work her in sight of the other horses but not next to them, get off and lunge her when she starts acting like a fruit loop..?

to make things worse..the other riders are teen age girls whose whole goal in horses it to tear around barrels at break neck speed, and my dressage queen mentor..so I am neither the one with tons of experience and a very well trained horse or, the ones with no fear

k

EquineAlberta · 08-26-2008, 11:44 PM

Saturday...can you just get up early while the teenagers are still asleep

Seriously though, if you can work her before it gets busy, and then have her in the ring as others start to come in (either on or off her) it might be a good introduction.

I think circles, shallow serpentines, figure eights, and other monotonous patterns in one out of the way area are a good way to go, but don't think of them as punishment, think of them as a hypnotic and boring excercise to help her to relax/stay calm, and to focus on you (so just circles might not work as she might figure out the pattern and you will loose her attention). You could also do ground work in the ring as as turn on the forehand and haunches, backing up, working over poles and so on if you are nervous riding. Lunging is ok, but might just reinforce her idea that she should go quick when the other horses are there...I would prefer slow work that allows her to think.

Is she possibly in heat? Sometimes mares are more difficult around other horses in certain phases of their cycle.

Karen

Slim Pikkens · 08-27-2008, 06:37 AM

A common fault is not looking where you want the horse to go. Many riders look down at the ground or if the horse's head is bent around, at it's face, rather than where you want to go. When you focus on something distant your body aligns itself, passing this thro to the horse. As you turn your head, so to do your shoulders, hips, legs right down to your heels. It may be pronounced or it may be subtle but it registers with the horse. Being gentle doesn't build confidence in your horse but being confident does. And three deep breaths will help you relax as well.

beezwing · 08-27-2008, 07:32 AM

Slim, have you been talking to my riding instructor?

(she said I was getting much better

) I get you about relaxing and finding my center..I do wish the horse would stand still while I did it though.

Equine Alberta, I love the idea of slow calm work. I was thinking "I need to be the leader work and make you pay attention to me"..I will try making her calm and thinking, but I fear her brain falls out around others.

She does need more ground work..calms she is ok, nervous she runs up on me.

She could well be in heat. She isn't acting the hussy she was the first time, but she is in a paddock alone, and not in with a gelding this time. The place she lives is 1/2 acre paddocks, pipe fences, and she can visit with the other horses over the fence and within sight..but unless there are extra horses, no one has to share.

k

beezwing · 08-28-2008, 08:11 PM

Whooo Hoooot..

just got back from an excellent ride with 4 other horses and Lady was a very good and attentive girl. I was even able to ride abreast and hold her back while we passed through gates.

she did pin her ears at the wee little pony, but didn't do anything very nasty, just gave the poor old thing a dirty look.

yeah...
k

Carri · 08-30-2008, 09:47 AM

I am so glad!!
Opie is the king of nasty looks, maybe we should get them together and let them glare at each other.

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08-26-2008, 08:50 AM
beezwing Coming two Join Date: May 2007 Location: louisiana Posts: 1,742	Riding with others My horse acts like a nitwit when we ride with other horses. She has also, in like a week, has gotten very attached to the horse in the paddock next to her. To the point when I got there last night, the other horse was being tacked up and my horse was cantering around screaming her head off for her. I didn't think we could ride at all, but after lounging her a bit, and riding in the round pen next to the other horse..we gave it a go, and it was fine as long as we rode right next to the other horse. We had a nice hack about the property at a walk, because I was worried that Lady would start to race if we went any faster..(last weekend that was our issue, and she reared after a half hour of my holding her back.) but it was a nice ride after all... until the other girl had to put her horse up and I rode Lady away, and I discovered that she can go to the right with her head bent to the left. Head up speeding up, not listening unless I was very hard on the reins..back in the round, pen...still acting the butt..so I dismounted and lunged her silly self until she was paying attention to me. licking and thinking. We sometimes ride alone, and sometimes with other people and horses. Idealy we need a private place to ride and work on our skills..but that isn't likely to happen. Anything you can suggest to get her listening to me when we are riding out in a group? How quickly can a horse get herd bound..a week? really? k __________________ “Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.” St Francis

08-26-2008, 08:54 AM
JoesLove Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 357	I knew a gelding who got attached to a pony mare after just a few days. He was used for lessons and everytime theyd take him out he put up a big fuss. They tried changing stalls (kind of across from her lol ) but obviously he could still see her and he went crazy! Eventually they moved him back to his previous stall and things got better. I dont really have any advice on where to ride or what to do ..I just know horses can get attached fairly quickly, depending on the horse.

08-26-2008, 08:58 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	That is the exact problem we are having with Miley, she can go anywhere she wants with her head pulled completely around to your foot. With Miley, we are just working, working, working, and hoping she gets the idea eventually. So far, that's not working real well for us! Grace is little and has no leg, and Miley is perfect for the trainer. She only does this with Grace. __________________

08-26-2008, 09:51 AM
David Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,066	Beezwing-do you use any leg cues with this horse? If you can get her to yeild hind and fore quarters then she can only go where you tell her. So what if her head is tucked under your left leg, if you don't have control of her feet she can still go right all day long. However, if you teach her to yeild to your legs she can only go where you tell her too. If you don't use leg cues yet try pointing your belly button where you want to go. If you point your belly button left this will push your right leg forward and in and your left leg back and in and that will give her the leg cues she needs to turn left. You may have to practice this in the round pen/ arena for a while but once she gets it, then it will be easier to control her whole body. hope this helps David __________________ "If you see your stirrups slap together above the horn, you're probably bucked off". Dave Stamey.

08-26-2008, 10:48 AM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,470	Your mare sounds insecure. She finds comfort in being with other horses which is completely natural for a horse! In the wild, horses that stuck with a herd did better than ones that didn't and so were most likely to survive to pass on their genetics. Try to think of it as just another step in training and take it slowly. She isn't trying to be difficult, she is scared/nervous! Riding with a horse and then having that horse leave is one of the more difficult things for an insecure horse to handle (why did they leave? is there something I should be afraid of?) so I would wait until you have her more comfortable before you work through that scenario. Things to try: 1) Give her more buttons so that you can get her attention/focus. THings like leg yeilding, counter bending and transitions are a good start. 2) Ride with someone and have them go out of sight for a moment. For example have them ride on the other side of the barn and then meet up again at the other end. Do things to calmy keep her attention such as talk to her. Don't make her work harder every time the horse leaves or she will learn that being alone means work, rather start to ask her to do something BEFORE the horse leaves so she doesn't notice at first that the horse is gone. 3) Lead or ground drive her away from the other horses. SHe may take comfort in being able to see you and it may build her trust in you. 4) Groom her and/or feed her out of sight of the other horse. At first this may be best only after she has worked. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

08-26-2008, 01:12 PM
beezwing Coming two Join Date: May 2007 Location: louisiana Posts: 1,742	Thanks everyone. Lady was in a completely different sort of mood today. We had a lovely ride this morning..but all the other horses were there but not being worked. She happily listens to me while her friends are in sight munching grass. But if the other horse are being ridden, whole other story. David, we are working on leg cues, though at the moment, when she gets nervous any leg at all means go faster. We worked on the weave poles today with mostly leg and a little rein and she is doing much better, she just seems to lose her head around others. Equine Alberta, you are so right. I do think she is being insecure and I need to be able to gently give her confidence. I can tell because after I mount she is nervous for just a min then exhales, really blows out some air and relaxes, and is great. You can really feel the tension..and it is getting much better and she is relaxing much sooner. Maybe what I really need is just more wet blankets for her and a good shot of whiskey for me.. On Saturday, the busy day at the barn..when we are trying to ride together. What do you suggest? naughty circles when she starts racing..work her in sight of the other horses but not next to them, get off and lunge her when she starts acting like a fruit loop..? to make things worse..the other riders are teen age girls whose whole goal in horses it to tear around barrels at break neck speed, and my dressage queen mentor..so I am neither the one with tons of experience and a very well trained horse or, the ones with no fear k __________________ “Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.” St Francis

08-26-2008, 11:44 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,470	Saturday...can you just get up early while the teenagers are still asleep Seriously though, if you can work her before it gets busy, and then have her in the ring as others start to come in (either on or off her) it might be a good introduction. I think circles, shallow serpentines, figure eights, and other monotonous patterns in one out of the way area are a good way to go, but don't think of them as punishment, think of them as a hypnotic and boring excercise to help her to relax/stay calm, and to focus on you (so just circles might not work as she might figure out the pattern and you will loose her attention). You could also do ground work in the ring as as turn on the forehand and haunches, backing up, working over poles and so on if you are nervous riding. Lunging is ok, but might just reinforce her idea that she should go quick when the other horses are there...I would prefer slow work that allows her to think. Is she possibly in heat? Sometimes mares are more difficult around other horses in certain phases of their cycle. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

08-27-2008, 06:37 AM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,948	A common fault is not looking where you want the horse to go. Many riders look down at the ground or if the horse's head is bent around, at it's face, rather than where you want to go. When you focus on something distant your body aligns itself, passing this thro to the horse. As you turn your head, so to do your shoulders, hips, legs right down to your heels. It may be pronounced or it may be subtle but it registers with the horse. Being gentle doesn't build confidence in your horse but being confident does. And three deep breaths will help you relax as well.

08-27-2008, 07:32 AM
beezwing Coming two Join Date: May 2007 Location: louisiana Posts: 1,742	Slim, have you been talking to my riding instructor? (she said I was getting much better) I get you about relaxing and finding my center..I do wish the horse would stand still while I did it though. Equine Alberta, I love the idea of slow calm work. I was thinking "I need to be the leader work and make you pay attention to me"..I will try making her calm and thinking, but I fear her brain falls out around others. She does need more ground work..calms she is ok, nervous she runs up on me. She could well be in heat. She isn't acting the hussy she was the first time, but she is in a paddock alone, and not in with a gelding this time. The place she lives is 1/2 acre paddocks, pipe fences, and she can visit with the other horses over the fence and within sight..but unless there are extra horses, no one has to share. k __________________ “Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.” St Francis

08-28-2008, 08:11 PM
beezwing Coming two Join Date: May 2007 Location: louisiana Posts: 1,742	Whooo Hoooot.. just got back from an excellent ride with 4 other horses and Lady was a very good and attentive girl. I was even able to ride abreast and hold her back while we passed through gates. she did pin her ears at the wee little pony, but didn't do anything very nasty, just gave the poor old thing a dirty look. yeah... k __________________ “Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.” St Francis

08-30-2008, 09:47 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	I am so glad!! Opie is the king of nasty looks, maybe we should get them together and let them glare at each other. __________________