April was a butt head last night!!! I just need to rant...

April was the biggest butt head last night!!!!

I had one of the worst days at work yesterday so I was pretty excited to ride. I talked to the BO for a little bit and she said that April had been running around the arena all morning so she may be a little tired. So I did my normal routine, and at the walk and trot she was beautiful, very soft at the bit, was flexing nice, had her head down low…it was awesome; then I asked her to lope…

She fought me a bit to get her into the lope, then she fought me to get her collected, when she isn’t collected she wont but her head at the vertical. So I put her in draw lines.

I haven’t had to use draw lines for a couple months, I usually can get her to do it with some softening techniques and then we are fine. I put the lines on and did the walk, trot, some flexing, not a big deal. I pulled her up to get her collected and then kissed for her to lope… instantly she pinned her ears back and slammed on the brakes. I asked again with a little leg this time… she kicked out!!!! I asked again with more leg… she tried bucking on me!!!

So I ended up working her with long trotting and circles, this way and that way… trying to make it MORE work to act up then just to do it. I asked for the left lead and she jumped right into it… once she got into it her ears were forward and she was fine. So then we turned around and I asked for the right lead… same crap again!!! (she kicked one the arena boards which scared her too ) So I worked her through it and it wasn’t a big deal.

I don’t think she is sore or anything (I lunged her before I rode and then when I was done I felt around her back and legs…no heating or anything) and she had a few days off so she isn’t overworked by any means… I think she was just being a mare (she was in heat the beginning of the week) and the temp has drastically dropped this week. It was almost 90 degrees on Monday and last night it was 63 degrees when I rode. I don't think she wanted the draw reins either... she knows that they are more work then just reins.

Anyhows sorry this was long…it is more of a rant then anything. Tonight she gets her feet trimmed so Im going to do some round pen work before he comes out. I still love her though…
:)

Well you said it yourself, two of those factors probably played a HUGE role in her sudden spontaneity... the weather change and her being in heat.
Those are two definite ways to jump start a horse. :P

Sorry about your night! I hope you have a better one soon.
Just remember, they have bad days too just like we do.
Sorry!

Agree - especially about her being in heat. That's why I prefer geldings .

Hey guys...

I rode her again today...I think she hates me, lol. I went to put her halter on her in her turnout pen and she was eating hay, I thought she was going to nail me!!! She pinned her ears back and tried biting at me. She NEVER acts like this. I had her feet trimmed last night and then did some ground work and then hand grazed her for over an hour.

Anyhow, after I got her to allow me to catch her I pulled her in the barn and felt aroud her body, legs, etc and she didnt seem to act sore anywhere and her legs/fet werent heated so I saddled her and lounged her and she didnt fight me on anything, listened to all of my voice commands, etc. I then jumped on her, did our flexing, walk, trot, lope.........well tried. She bucked and kicked again. But once I get her into it she puts her ears forward and she doesnt fight me if I go to bump her up for collection.

There was some hay in the arena (from another horse that was turned out) and we loped past it and he slammed on her brakes and wanted to eat, I asked her to go and she got very upset...grrrrrrrr.... I don't get why she is acting this way all of a sudden. She isnt in heat anymore and I can't find any sore spots on her back or anything. She gets fed hay and grain twice a day and is turned out during the day and only gets ridden 3 times a week.

So while riding I would ask for a lope, if she refused, kicked, or bucked I would put her in a tight circle and made her work. I would ask and if she went right into it I would go for about 1/4 the arena and then walk 1/2 the arena and then ask again. At anytime if she would kick or buck it would be working circles and then start all over. By the end I did it about 6 times in a row and she didnt fight one bit....

Sometimes I think I should just get a driving mini and not worry about this crap....lol I don't understand this sudden crap she is pulling, atleast she hasnt gotten me off yet..lol

I know what you mean. I always know what to expect out of my gelding. The same things bother him and he always acts the same way with everything. It's easy around him. My mare on the other hand is a monster when on her off days. The smartest and best horse I hve ever delt with but she uses her size when she sees fit.
I would have to admit I have thought of just selling her on those days when she is REALLY bad.

Comes with the territory of owning mares

Yes I know it does... I had a pony gelding when I was younger otherwise my main horses have been mares... My barrel mare would get really craby on me. If we were having a bad barrel run she would buck on the run home.... But she was very consistant for trail riding... Ya April has been much better for me, I was just frusterated last week. I didnt know what was bothering her which then bothered me. I don't think I would give my mares up though, the attitude problems are what make this interesting from day to day :) ... but if I wanted a really competitive horse I would probably get a gelding just cause they are less likely to change from day to day.