29 August 2008 12:13
I have a 14.2hh Connemara cross, who I’ve owned for six months. We were told that she napped but we thought we would be able to get her out of this habit. However, she still naps.
She won’t go in front when riding out with other horses – she will spin round and run to the back. She is also nasty towards other horses and we have to muzzle her when travelling.
I changed her bit from a sweet iron snaffle to a full cheek French link, but this does not help with her spinning and rearing. In all other ways, she is my ideal horse, so I want to help her. What can I do?
Answer
By Your Horse
Instructor Jane Baker advises:
This type of behaviour usually starts due to a lack of confidence. Some regular work in an enclosed area will improve your horse’s responsiveness to your aids, which in turn will improve your control out hacking, and restore your confidence in your ability to control her.
Before you attempt to hack out alone, you need to be at a stage where she is happy to work alongside others and then to take the lead for progressively longerperiods of time. As she relaxes, her jaw and neck muscles should soften, which will give you some steering if she does decide to whip round. If she tries to turn to the left, for example, then turn her back to the right to face the direction you want to go – do not turn her in a complete circle as it allows the horse to continue the evasion.
Keep your hands apart and with an even contact on each rein – be careful not to pull back. She will eventually relax and decide that it is easiest to go forwards, but this may take some time.
You may find it useful to ask a more experienced rider to hack her out several times as you are now probably convinced that your horse will stop at some point.
Her other behavioural problems may be inter-related. Occasionally, mares have hormonal imbalances, which can cause significant changes in behaviour. If this may be the case, ask your vet to check her as soon as possible, as all-round behaviour often improves once the cause is found.