[Lunachick]

Ok, so I'm taking a hrse on trial for a month.
She's a beautiful, very well conformed 16.1hh chestnut mare. Not sure of her breeding but I think she's a thoroughbred. She's 5 years old and hasnt been jumped before. She' been ridden on roads, lunged and done groundwork.

She's very friendly, likes people, but she can be quite bossy and a bit misbehaved. When leading her, she is quite strong and tries going her own way and she's not very good at staying still either. What's the best way of dealing with this?

EDIT: Also, when she gets distracted and wants to do something her own way, she doesnt have a problem walking right through someone.

 

[Ray MacDonald]

A bossy mare! lovely eh? you could try join up with her that could help her trust you more and might behave a bit better. Also check out this guy, Monty Roberts, Monty Roberts Join Up, Man Who Listens to Horses, Real Horse Whisperer, Books, Biography, Train, Demonstrations, Flag is Up he's a fantastic horse trainer with amazing training ideas!

 

[Ray MacDonald]

Did you get to ride her yet?

 

[sillybunny11486]

Do not "try" join up unless you actually know what your doing.

Get your trainer to help you, or get a trainer.

 

[Amlalriiee]

With an appy that the lady I ride with has, she does a lot of walking and then stopping with her from the ground. She's a major boss mare, so she will try to push and she's been getting better since we've been doing this with her. Just making her stop every time you stop. So, take a few steps....stop. Take a few steps, stop. If she pushes past you, she has to go back and start over. Ex: if she was being taken to her stall to eat, or being taken back out to the pasture. With staying still, I usually just won't let them go til they stand willingly, then give her her head and let her go forward. Practice a lot of transitions and such so that she's paying attention to what YOU want.

 

[flamingauburnmustang]

She sounds really nice, besides the part where she is bossing people around...

One thing I have learnt, NEVER let a horse get away with deliberately bossing or pushing you around. When I was still scared and inexperienced with horses, I allowed them to push me around, but now I would never allow them to do that anymore.

Show them who's boss from the beginning. Very, very important. :smile: