Hi Hun
I have an x racer, Harry 16.3 and he had so many odd habits, he had been schooled very slightly but was pretty fresh iff the track, he had a year off for an injury then sold but the lady was very nervous so i bought him one his habits was the mounting block, on a much smaller scale but he didn't like it and wouldn't stand still and he would get agitated and try to get away (jockeys don't get on from blocks whilst the horse is standing still they do it walking) please don't think I'm patronising you if u know all this but I didn't have a clue when I got Harry! I started off for the first few weeks every day I walked him up to the mounting block with a polo or carrot and just got him to look at it and be near it then rewarded him. Then moved on once he was calmer round it to getting him to stand by it and the second he did it even if it was just for a few secinds he got his minty reward! Then I tacked him up and did the same. As I got on he would start walking off to start with but I always made him stand once on and gave him a good pat and lots of fuss. It took a few months of repetition but now I lead him up make him stand once stood I give him a pat then get on and he doesn't move till I tell him to. He use to pull away and trott off and just fidget as soon as we were near the mounting block and I thought he was incapable of standing still but it was just so foreign to him. I also used a long thin crop that I just gently placed on his backside to guide him over so he was close to it as I could get his head end there but his *** would be no where near and now I don't have to. All his funny trades were just fear, as long as I'm confident with him he gets confidence back and will willingly do anything.
I use to have a nightmare with his back legs when picking
them out he use to snatch them back like he was going to kick and start moving away and pulling back but once I leart to be firm and confident he stopped it. I had this with road signs, drains, sheep, water, the sound of water, road crossings........ even just tying him up he would lift his head and pull, snap the lead rope! I think it's just such a massive change of environment that they need repetition, routine, confidence, patience and lots of time. I had to lead him down our track by his head collar am and pm and show him the drains that go across the path as when I was on him he would just reverse and rear and freak. So I grabbed a treat and walked him so he could see it then rewarded, then got him up to it, got him sniffing it then got him over it ( jumping it to start with!!) then once he was calmer I replaced treats with pats and lots of fuss ( talking to him like I would my 18 month old girl in a proud mummy cooing voice) I never got cross or told him off as he was just generally really worried about these things and once he knew it wasn't anything to be scared of and I had reassured him of this he was a different horse!
Sorry for woffeling on and on and on and again sorry if u already know all of this!!
Best of luck and stick with it, you sound like u have loads of experience, it's just don't worry about rushing her and give her lots of general work from the ground when your tending to her daily
Xxx
Abi and Harryn
Also got a thorogood saddle fitted that is great for tbs! Oh god and he use to freak when I put the numna on as well, but I just slowly, slowly kept on gently gettin him use to it!
Right rant over, good luck!
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Hii,
My maisie does the lead rope thing as well.... just causally put her head up and walks backwards! I have a thorogood saddle but it's not a tb type one it's a cob one but it fits her to the tee, as she's got zero withers and is actually oddly flat backed for a tb, i might try the polo thing.... it's just a bit worrying cause of her size, my pony before her was a 12.2h welsh b .... biig difference to a 16'2 tb mare... (well she was 15'1 but she's grown so much in the last 9 months)
thanks for the advice it's very helpful
byee
