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help needed
I bought a gorgeous 7-year-old mare nearly five months ago. The next day I got on her and she bolted before I got my foot in the second stirrup, the saddle slipped when she breathed out (didn't know then how much she puffed herself up!) and I hit the deck - badly! In the weeks that followed I had to desensitise her to everything before I could even think about getting back on board. Mainly lunging and later long-reining, I have got her a lot more flexible and balanced, but her lack of schooling means she is still very green and has no idea of leg aids. It took ages of slowly building up to the process of getting on board and eventually I did, but as soon as she knew you were on her back she took off like a bullet out of a gun. Over the last few weeks the time she has given anyone getting on her before she shoots off has got less and less, to the point where you now don't get time to swing your leg over before she's off. If you hold the reins tight to stop her shooting forward, she goes backwards or sideways just as fast. If you can stick on board, she calms down once she has had her initial 'blast' across the school, and when she is behaving, she has lovely paces. She is brilliant on the ground - even won an inhand class at the only show I have taken her to, and her behaviour there was perfect. Her back, teeth, feet and tack have been checked by experts and she had a 5-stage vetting, so there are no physical problems. It goes without saying that my confidence is dented, but I love her to bits and want to overcome this remaining - but vital - problem. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Posted:
Nov 2 2007, 9:32 AM EDT by
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Jul 10 2008, 4:18 PM EDT by
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