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A strong cob with her head on the floor!

2K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  Palomine 
#1 ·
Hi,

I've been riding a cob mare for about 7 months now. When I first rode her she was very forward going but strong. I like the forward going... and we have cracked the strength in the school she goes lovely in there now, but as soon as I take her in the field or into an arena it all goes to pot. She's in a snaffle. She has jumped most of her life and loves it, but the past few months she's started to refuse jumps and then canters off with her head really low... therefore I can't pull her up and it take me a good five minutes to stop her. Any advice? I'd love to take her to shows jumping but her refusing and then cantering off with her head low makes me nervous like I'm out of control, I really want to take her cross country aswell but I am not going just to be out of control!

Thanks!!
 
#4 ·
Has a vet checked her out?
You may think she's fine, but there could be an underlying problem..
You shouldn't be having to beat her over a jump, you should like her to be willing and light about it.

I really suggest having a vet/chiropractor out and perhaps a saddle fitter.
 
#6 ·
Yes when I first started riding her she did exactly that. Then we came into a double and she hesitated but went over the first, she hadn't picked up enough momentum and refused the second and I fell. Ever since then the first jump she's set up to she tries to run out of it or just refuses. :-(
 
#9 ·
Though you should have a vet come out to check her over, this sounds like more of a training problem. When a horse learns that they can get out of something, they will. She learned that if she refuses you will come off. Same thing happened with my mare. Go back to square one. Start at ground poles/cavaletti, then ground poles with very low jump. Slowly build up the jumps. If you do it right then you will be back up to doing what you were before quickly. But don't rush it. Wait until she is comfortably and happily jumping over the low jump before you raise the jump any. Every time you raise the jump, work on going over it until she is comfortable and willing over it, and then you can raise it again.
 
#7 ·
I still think she should be checked over by medical professionals
and that maybe you should take a few lessons. Having a ground person to talk you through the jumps would be nice.
You need to come back to the basics and get your seat secure and learn to control her strides and her power. You both have to get back in sync.
 
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#8 ·
We have had quite a few lessons, and none of them have ever expressed concerns about her. Dentist is coming tomorrow but I really don't think it's teeth as she accepts the bit very nicely. If anything its her back, and I dont know much about that. I'll have to see if anybody around my area could come and have a look.
 
#12 ·
Accepting the bit nicely has nothing to do if she has an abscessed tooth, broken bars, something stuck in soft palate or a cracked tooth. You cannot judge physical condition or problems of horses by their willingness or not to be tacked up. Or ridden for that matter.

As for no one expressing concern during your lessons? Quite a few people wandering around who have horses couldn't tell you if one was lame, unless the horse only had 3 legs that morning. And even then there are some who would insist horse is just dandy and just needs to hop on one side.

As for horse getting head low, that one is on you, you are letting her get head down. You are not reading this horse and making move to stop her lowering head. And once a horse gets head down?

Takes an act of Congress to try to get it back up.

Watch her ears, one forwards and one backwards means she is thinking about pulling something with you, like a kid standing by cookie jar looking innocent, but watching to see what you are doing.

When you see her do this? Then tighten up reins, give a squeeze, cluck or let her have some heel, so she knows you are onto her, and she isn't going to pull anything.

But something is off here, either horse has issues that aren't being addressed, or your mechanics are failing for this to be happening.

Video of you riding would help along with some photos of saddle on her, and conformation shots.
 
#10 ·
Having seen the amazing difference in my boy since he saw the Chiro and the dentist I would always start from there and work up.

I have a horse who was so stoic that he was hiding a lot of pain from his teeth, and now they are fixed he is a different horse, throw in some chiro work and a $10 shim to help balance his saddle, and we have a whole different way of going.
 
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