my horse has a bad attitude?

Question

i have a 10yr old quarter/arabian/thouroghbred. she is very gentle on the ground and with begginer riders. I am a advanced rider and everytime i tack her up and try to get up on her she start rearing up and trying to bite at my feet when i finally get up on her. I have had her for about 3 1/2 yrs now and she has just started this habbit about 3 months ago. i have tried everything i could think of from a new saddle, new bridles, whips and everything else. She only does it with me, because my friend will ride her and my friend is a begginer rider and my horse will accept her without any problem. i would like to stop this problem because i dont want to sell her because this summer i am planning to do rodeo and she is the fastest horse around here. so if you could help me plzz give me some edvice please. thank you so much!!

Answer 1

This is obviously not a physical problem, seeing you've tried different tack and she only does this with you.Also, how often do you go on trail rides or do something relaxing with her? If you work with her on the barrel or pole pattern (or whichever event you're doing) every time you ride her, she's going to get very sour. Mix it up and let her know YOU don't always mean WORK.

If this is not the problem, then this is either a communication or relationship problem.

To start off, if a rider has ridden a horse for a long while, the horse gets to the point where she can "read" the rider. Your horse knows what's coming next just because she's gotten so used to you riding her. You pretty much just have to think about what you want her to do, and she feels it through your body language.

This may be why she's okay with other people. Usually horses react the other way around (they're good for their owner but bad for other people) but your horse acts the opposite. She reads you so well that she can tell how much work you're planning on just by your facial expressions and actions. Your horse cannot tell this with new people for she hasn't gotten used to them, thus she does not anticipate work.

Next time before you get on her, really think about your state of mind. Do a few stretches to relax your muscles, and breathe deeply at all times. Make sure you're relaxed and your not giving off any messages that you're nervous about her rearing when you get on. When you're ready, take her into a round pen with a saddle on and the reins tied to the horn. Have a rope or crop at hand.

First hold her and have her stand. Move over to her side and grab her mane like you're going to on. If she ever takes a step, get her MOVING. Have her trot around the round pen a few laps. After a three or four rounds, have her stop. Repeat the process until she stands without you holding the reins, with you by her side. Now, while holding her mane with one hand and the back of the saddle with the other, raise your leg like you're going to put your foot in the stirrup. If she moves, make her trot another few laps. Eventually you'll be able to put your foot in the stirrup without her moving.

Now hold the reins and get on. If she moves, move her the opposite way. for example, when you get on, if she walks forward then back her up. If she backs up, kick her forward. The key though is to not get frustrated and to stay calm. Make sure you're relaxed and you're not jerking on the reins. Make sure your hands are low, you aren't looking down, and you're breathing deeply. Your relaxed state will get her to calm down.

She may have anticipated work so once you get her to stand with you on her back, dismount. Do a few sessions like this and eventually she'll stand calmly for you to mount. Also when she turns her head to bite at your feet, bring her head back straight. If your horse ever gets away with something, she'll try it again. They're like little kids.

This is not going to work if you have a bad relationship with your horse. I'd suggest hiring a professional trainer and researching some equine behavior. Also, a good book to read is "The Man who Listens to Horses" by Monty Roberts.

Don't sell her over a silly problem you can fix with a little time and patience :) If you don't feel confident in doing this, hire a professional trainer to help you. Good luck have fun at the rodeos!

Answer 2

Have you had her back checked, some horses that are in pain react that way to being ridden. She may allow your friend because she may not ride as hard as you. Or did she have a bad experience with you on her back? A beginner rider may not make her work as hard and may let her get away with things you won't. I had a horse who would let kids ride him because he did not have to work, but if I were going to school him he would throw a fit, he was lazy. We ruled out any medical problems and made sure it was a attitude issue. After that it was a lot of hard schooling from the ground and I became the only rider. It took time but he broke down and gave up the fight. The only other riders he had were the experience one that would put him through his paces, he did not get the easy ones any more and it was hard for him to tell off the bat who was easy and who would school him.

Answer 3

DO NOT GET OFF HER IF SHE REARS!!- that is rewarding her for rearing!
My sister's pony acted the same exact way in a slightly different circumstance. We could put 2 yr olds on her and she wouldn't move- the second my sister got on- bucking and rearing the whole time- she knew my sister could handle it and wanted to ahve fun.
It isn't fear- she is definately pissed at you. Most likely you are making her actually work and she does not like it. Did you start doing something else around that time? Does she seem to hate the speed shows? My horse hates when my aunt rides her- because my aunt is a better dressage rider and makes her pick herself up more. My mare will squeal the whole ride.

What I suggest is to take it easy with her- try something different that she usually doesn't do and see if that makes her more responsive- it may take a couple times. Just walk around on her with some trotting- no canter, to make it a fun relaxed ride for her. She may associate you with having to run and go fast all of the time- something she might not want to be doing all of the time.
I would also suggest not letting anyone else ride her until she gets over this attitude. She sounds like a marey mare- when she gets pissed at you, you know it. Just keep working on it and if you try my suggestions, she should get over it relatively quickly once she realizes that you are not going to force her to just run fast or work harder (than she would with a beginner) every single time you ride.
Watch your body language as well- are you tensing and expecting her to rear? Then she probably will. If she is biting at your feet- jab her in the head- she will quit soon enough.
Any other questions - just email me.

Answer 4

Sounds like she is testing you. Do not give in to her. My old mare did this as well, she was very gentle with kids or beginners, but she wanted to have fun with someone who could handle it. She would run away with you and no amount of turning would help, all I could do was hang on. Just keep working with her and let her know you are the boss. If she gets her way even once, the problem will get worse. But I would also recommend going slow. Work through the bad habits and as soon as she starts behaving reward her with a pat and a kind word, then let her go. Done for the day. Only release her after she has shown good behavior. Get a tie down so she can't rear but be careful, sometimes this can cause them to go over backward if they aren't used to one. If she bites at your feet, give her a little bump with your toe. Don't kick at her hard, just enough to tell her to stop.

Answer 5

I work with horses, have backed my own, and have hadnled semi-wild ones. You need to traet your horse like it is a normal procedure that happens all the time, which means everytime you do something it should be done in the same order.

Get your horse in, do not mess around, dont cuddle or tickle her, just groom her, and tack her up, if she does anything that she shouldnt, use the back of your hand knuckle area, give her a good tap on the shoulder. I do not agree with beating animals, but where I work, i cannot have horses being boss of me. I was once told, if your donkey kicks you, kick it back. I didnt want to, but I did once, he has never kicked me since.

Then quietly lead her to a mounting block, and mount. Ask her to move forward. if she rears or bucks, just give her a gentle kick, getting harder each time she messes around at the same stage of you riding her. If you get on her, have to kick her quite hard to get forward and then she goes fine. Then if she stops in a gateway or something, start the ask forward process again from the beginning each time getting harder with your feet.

What you have to remember is that your animal is bigger and stronger than you, and if you let her beat you, you will end up scared of her. It would be hard for you to sell her too because you would have to tell people the reason for sale. Give it a go. Email if you need more help!

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

I also have quarter throuoghbed mare, and bitchy and moody is an under statement, lmao. If possible get a lead that has a chain for the nose, and when you go to get on her, have someone hold the lead, if she tries anything stupid, have the ground person give a quick jerk and it should keep her grounded. They hate the chain on the nose. Also the biting feet thing, may sound cruel but not at all, give a "flick" with your boot in the nose, she'll figure it out. Also, you could check her to the opposite side when she goes to bite. I also rodeo my horse, I should say barrel/poles, stuff like that and my horse is also fast as anything, gotta love that throughbred!!!!!

Answer 7

Obviously, it's something you're doing.

You probably aren't as advanced as you think, would be my guess. Your seat is probably all screwy and it hurts her. When you ride her, do you sit bolt upright? Beginners tend to melt in the saddle. They tend to sit 'wrong', but they are actually sitting right for the horse's point of veiw.

I know this might be awkward, but it's a very helpful excercise. When you were little you probably played "horsie" with your friends. They pretend they're a horse and you ride them around. Sit on a friend the same way you sit on your horse. Do everything EXACTLY the same as you would. Don't change your seat position or anything. Ask your friend what it feels like. What your friend is feeling is the exact same thing as your horse is feeling. Adjust your seat until your friend says that it doesn't hurt at all anymore. The spot you will have found is somwhere between your tail bone and your crotch. It's exactly on your butt muscles. This may feel like you're leaning very far back, but you're not. You know you're sitting in the right place if you can easily touch your horse's rump while you're sitting on her.

Also, see if she takes to riding bareback. Forget all about looking good and having people go, "Wow", just soften your whole body and sit there on your butt. Not on your tail bone, crotch, or seat bones, your butt. You shouldn't feel any pressure on any bones in that area at all. You'll probably feel all incorrect and sloppy, but does your horse care? And when you ask her to walk forward, don't sit upright again! Stay in the same position.

If it's not a seat position issue, it's still your problem. Obviously she doesn't trust, respect, or even like you enough to cooperate with what's asked over her. Work on your relationship instead of winning buckles and things. The most rewarding thing of all is to have a horse that's really your friend and partner instead of "The fastest horse". My horse is my best friend and I know I'm his. He is always happy to work for me and now he offers to even if I don't ask. It's because he likes pleasing me. Keep in mind, this used to be the horse that ran away from he, bulldozed me, and did exactly the opposite of what I used to ask just for the sake of tormenting me lol. It's funny too, my goal used to be to show him and win all these ribbons (He's a very athletic horse), but now that's not even on the radar. My relationship with him is so much more important to me now than recognition. It's much more fun too!


Good luck!

Answer 8

Lunge her tacked up. Then attempt mount if she even begins to rear, lunge again. Repeat. She'll get the idea after some time that to take you politely is the only option.

Plus be sure that she is getting some down time in the pasture. Horses need this.

Answer 9

it sounds like she is afraid of u.... horses usually show aggression like bitting and rearing when u try to mount when the are afraid... also did u start changing something before she started this? if she does not do this with other people she is associating u with something that has happen to her, such as pain or discomfort. try to figure out what changed when she started this so maybe u can change the problem.... also having some arabian and thourobred in her, they tend to be more sensitive towards negative situation. so any negative situations like been hit or chased or things thrown at her could be causing her to be afraid of u and start acting aggressive.... just be careful and good luck

Answer 10

My friend had the same issue every time she got on her 1/2 Arab she got really bad response...She had been very heavy handed with this horse and rode her hard when she got on her. Anybody else could get on the horse and get fabulous results. So, maybe you should start over and gain her trust have some fun with her not just work.
Are you bigger than your friend perhaps weight is an issue also, Did you check your horses back to make sure it is not sore? Just some suggestions. Have fun and be careful!!!