Please help

From London, 7 posts

I'm loaning a 25 yr old horse, she is very responsive and will change direstion etc just by you moving your weight, BUT she won't keep in walk, she tries to jog everywhere, and if she does not get her own way she has started to buck and shy with me. The first time I rode she cantered with me and wouldn't stop, I could control her on circles etc, but she had no breaks, I have now invested in a martingale as somone sugessted she may be carrying her head to high. The bottom line is, I am worried to trot or canter with her incase I cant stop her again. Apparently she is a very nervous horse, and she has had the same owner for most of her life. (Mostly she hacks out rather than using the menage to school her) But with her being like this, I do not feel confident going on a hack with her at present. Any suggestions? Is it me or she just being mareish?

From Essex, 4 posts

Hi what type of bit is she in, what type of noseband.

firstly I would suggest taking her into the school on walking(while on her) sit deep in the saddle with a loose rein if she jogs let her do it for a few paces then stand for a min or so than ask for walk again just keep doing it she will soon get bored.
once you have got a nice walk and it will happen then start a similar process with the trot if she goes too fast back into a walk.
also lots of turns (circles changes of rein) by doing this she won’t know what is coming next.

hope this helps.

From London, 7 posts

Hi dhorncastle, thank you for replying.

She uses a drop nose band, and recently we have started using a martingale. She is slowly getting used to me, she is still very nervous though and keeps shying. I have now mastered the walk, but now its the trot which is the problem. if we trot, she kind of sees it as he cue to run and not stop and I get very dizzy! .

I will try what you suggested, thanks again!

From Stockport, 7 posts

work on schooling in the menage if this is where the problem is, just relax and dont get tense as she will feel it, you could try a stronger bit. what bit do you ride in at the moment?or maybe try a flash, i think its just a case of trying things out and seeing what works, good luck.

2 posts

my horse was exactly the same when i first bought her!
lean back and put as much weight into your seat. try not to pull on the reins too much or else you'll create a battle with his/her mouth!
good luck!!