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Why is my mare doing this?

5K views 47 replies 16 participants last post by  CLaPorte432 
#1 ·
I'm not sure where to post this, because I'm not sure which one of us is the problem. I am going to assume it's me and how I'm riding, so I'll post it here.

Someone took a couple pictures of my ride today, and my mare is doing this in a few of them...the mouth thing that she has going on (please see photo below). Is it my hands? Something wrong with her or with the bit? She had her teeth done last September (2013). I'm riding her in a loose ring snaffle w/ french link. Or is she just fighting me (she doesn't collect very nicely, she likes to look around at EVERYTHING).

If anyone knows why she's doing this and what I can do to fix it, I'd appreciate the input!!


 
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#41 ·
Going forward is not to be confused with going faster. Going forward is the amount of ENERGY your horse is expressing. It is like putting you foot on the accelerator of your car when it is in neutral. You press the gas pedal and the engine revs, but the car does not go faster.

The same with energizing your horse and giving it the "desire" to go forward. It doesn't mean you will always let it go faster. You should be able to squeeze the horse to create the needed energy. If you have to kick the horse, you are having to do too much to get the needed result. The squeeze is just pressure, I like to compare it with squeezing toothpaste out of a tube. Squeeze, then when you get the energy shift that you want, you release as a reward. The horse should respond instantly, when you squeeze.

I hope that makes sense.....
 
#42 ·
On you video, your hand is still a bit locked at the trot. You can see this by the reins bouncing. When the horse trots, the head moves forwards and backwards with each step. You need to apply just a slight backward pressure so that when the horse's head moves back towards you, your supple elbows and shoulders will absorb that movement and move back towards you, keeping the very same pressure at all times. There should never be any "bounce" or "loose/tight/loose/tight" movement of the reins.

Your elbows are softer at the canter and absorb more of the movement.
 
#43 ·
Alison has explained it very well. I tell my pupils to think of their arms as being made of elastic that stretches and takes.

One old riding instructor would make stiff wristed people ride with their reins through their hands the wrong way so the reins come down through your index finger rather than up from your little finger and when doing this point your index finger along the rein,
 
#48 ·
She looks so much happier! Very good. I am so glad to see someone not take offense to all of the constructive criticism that was given, and actually put it to good use.

And it's wonderful to hear your working with a trainer. Even the BEST riders have trainers. There is ALWAYS something to learn.

Kudos to you. And your happy mare is all the reward that you need for your hard work! Plus you can see how well her neck is developing with all the correct work she is now getting.
 
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