Hey everyone. Barrel Baby posted this about my horse Lady because I didn't have an account yet, but now I do. So I'll just tell you all everything I can about her so it might help.
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I got Lady about 2 months ago from friends of my family that live nearby. They were planning on auctioning her and her 3 year old daughter. I was talking to the wife about how I was looking for a horse, and she said I could just have Lady because they knew she'd have a good home. So a while after that I got her.
I started off bareback just because I felt like it, and I'd had a little experience on a bigger barrel horse that belonged to my mom's friend. She did really well, but I only walked her (I was mostly testing how well she responded to her bit and reigns). Then I started under her saddle, which I have to admit... is a tad small. But I'm only borrowing it from the woman who's horse I rode on before. I'm getting my own saddle soon, which will probably be synthetic or nylon because I don't have practically any arm strength yet to heave a leather saddle onto her back. She's a perfect size for me, follow me around like a puppy, isn't afraid of heavy machinery, cars, storms, or dogs.
My mom and the previous owners (she belonged to the father in the family), think she was abused at some point in her life. She isn't a fan of men. She doesn't rear in the saddle, and I've started training her to lunge (which she's doing amazing at). So to my main problem (I have a talkative issue and I kind of went crazy with this post, and went into life storm-mode). Walking a trotting are great when I'm riding her. I use my feet to cue her, and only kiss a little to get her attention if she isn't paying attention. I never kiss to make her speed up on anything but the lunge line, though I'm trying to get her to move when I cue her by saying 'walk', 'trot', and 'canter'. I think she's getting 'walk' down a bit.
Anyways, when we're trotting she's automatically speed up on her own like she's going to break into a gallop or canter. I usually have to have a bit of tension on the reigns to let her know she has to keep the speed she's going, or else I know she's going to take off. Every time I've asked her to canter because I was ready though, she started bouncing and kicking. It wasn't a bronco type of thing, but I most definitely noticed it. I've never been bucked off, but last time I accidentally jumped out of the saddle by reflexes. I kept hold the reigns and landed on my feet though so she automatically stopped next to me.
I read I should try pulling one reign and making her go into a few tight circles then let her straighten out, and that I should keep doing that until she realized she should stop bucking? But I'm also going to ask my mom to get hold of out vet and see if he'll stop by too. Other than that, I don't know. My mom showed horses and she says I just need to keep training her, because when I got her she hadn't been ridden in over 6 months and she still was never ridden much before then. Thanks to everyone who has posted so far to my friend, by the way! I really appreciate it.