Would you consider this weird or fairly normal?

Question

The horse I ride (and will be buying) has a weird personality problem...(well at least I think it's weird)
Whenever I'm riding with one or more people in the arena or out on a trail, she gives me an attitude problem; is slow about getting into a trot, flicks her tail when she starts to trot, moves off the wall when she trots, and won't respond to any hand or leg commands.

Yet when I am riding by myself in the arena (not on a trial lol...not that brave lol) she listens to me great. She never gives me an attitude (well an occasional tail flick when she starts to trot, but that's it).

Is that something normal for her? None of the other horses have that trouble? Could it be because of the other horses in the arena? Even if there's just a person in the arena, she gives me a hard time...but if I am completely alone, then she's perfect.

the horses that ride with her, are in the same pasture as she is. She is completely used to them...and usually get's along fine with them (unless they get too pushy then she tries to bite them).

When I have a crop in my hand, she acts up more. And when I actually use it to get her to go, she'll toss her head to the point where I sometimes loose balance then go into the trot

well, my trainer that I have now, is great! She's the best I've had. When she get's on Star, Star is like the horse everyone dreams of...she has no problems with Star whatso ever. But when I get on her, she becomes a brat. I do everything my trainer says to do; put pressure on the inside leg to get her over to the wall, while loosening up the outside reign to lead her over to the wall also. She'll listen, but then she'll break her trot and walk.

It is annoying, for I do want to show her..she's a great dressage and jumping prospect...my trainer has gone up to lvl 3 dressage with her and won first with her.

here's a picture of my riding her
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/Glytherian/IM002306.jpg

no I'm not nervous on her at all. I've ridden her so many times, and I'm not one bit nervous on her. She's a good girl, and has great ground manners when it comes to walking, but trotting she hates

note on the picture
I was only riding a western saddle because we were going on a trail ride. I usually always ride English when riding in the arena and western out on a trail (if there's a western saddle available). I gave her more reigns because of the trail

Also, she only acts up really for me. There was one friend that Star put up a fight with, but when she got under control. For my trainer (the owner so far) and the other kids that ride her, she's fine for. But she gives me a hard time

Answer 1

It is very common to have a horse behave wonderfully for the trainer and badly for the owner! What I suggest is that you ride in a lesson with these other horses working around you during the lesson. This will give the trainer a chance to see the behavior and will give you the tools to correct the behavior as it happens.

I believe it is simply a matter of lack of attention from the horse. Focusing on transitions during this bad behavior to snap her attention back to you. Do the unexpected to keep her quick. For example, if she expects you to circle to the left, quickly take her to the right then halt and back up a few steps. This type of work forces their attention on you because they do not know what to expect.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Normal....but I would collect her up a bit more than what I see in the photo....let her know you are there. If she is or has been a dressage horses then she is used to a bit more contact than you are having in the photo...maybe the photo is a bad example....of how you are actually riding her....even if you are going with Western riding collecting her up a bit more would keep more of her focus on you.
When you are asking for transitions or other horses are going past, coming up on you, or moving away from you ask your mare to do something....it really doesn't matter what that something is...maybe a shoulder in or out...a half halt...anything to take the focus of your mare off her surroundings and back onto you the rider...the director.
You see if you just leave your horse to do her own thinking she will do just that....and whether or not you think you are nervous when others are in the arena or not...just know and accept that you are nervous about others being there watching you. If you weren't nervous then your mare wouldn't be doing what she is doing. It is as simple as that. When you are alone in the arena with no other horses and no instructor and your mare is perfect then this is when you are not nervous. This is human nature. Everyone at one time or another has gone thru this and not just in riding horses.
So learn to be the director of your mares actions all of the time. And stop worrying about what other people think. If they are gossiping or talking about you behind your back or watching you ride and making jokes or telling you what to do or not do...ignore them. But at the same time you don't need to be a snob either because then you are at their level of stupidity. It is your instructor that you need to pay attention to and not the others who think they might know something.
Who cares if you make a mistake. Learn from it. If I got thru a day without making a mistake then that means I didn't get out of bed all day. You are doing fine. Set some goals. Above all have fun and relax. Perfection is attained thru lots of hard work and repetition.

Answer 3

Perhaps you need to get a chiropractor to look at her, she may be a little sore somewhere, seen as how in a trot she messes around, As for when she mucks up when you in the arena with other horses when she miss behaves do a 5 meter circle, she has to concentrate on where shes placing her feet and this gets here attention off the other horses. try different distractions, half halts on the outside rein, then the inside rein, don't saw on her mouth though.
Make sure you breath when she plays up as a lot of riders hold their breath when things aren't working out, when you hold your breath your body tenses up and she will sense that. A trick I used to use with my students was to make them sing. Therefore they were relaxed, Even though you say your not scared of her she can feel the slightest change in you and she may well think you are scared.
By the way shes pretty

Answer 4

I guess I'd say this is 'kinda weird' and of course annoying- if you plan to show at all I'm sure you'd really like to get this problem sorted out. However, most horses in the world are not perfect- they have some vice or personality thing that just makes them, 'them'.
Do you know anything about the horses past?

When dealing with horses; I guarantee that most problems have something to do with their past: either abuse or just not being trained right. I'm guessing your horse gets 'cautiously aware' (lol) of other horses and people. Maybe she had a bad trainer in the past or something like that. Finding a nice, well respected trainer could help you two through this. They seem to have all the answers and know exactly how to fix the problem.

Good luck!

Answer 5

She's telling you she doesn't trust you nor believe your cues. Heels down, curl your tail bone under you're a little too upright, keep your hands level, makes them soft, get out of her mouth unless you are giving a cue or reprimand (run the bit through her mouth quickly from side to side once, bam, bam,) not to hurt, just get her attention. Lose the halter under the bridle.

When you feel her about to twitch her tail (precursor to a kick) run the bit. Quick, left right, then reward by getting out of her mouth. You need confidence. She feels your lack, it's "horse trick # 4,587,231."

When I was training if the kids repeatedly did not respond to the bit running technique, I'd put them in a tight circle, nose almost on my foot, both directions for 3-4 turns. Wraped them around my inside leg, giving the outside leg cue for turning. Settled the brattiness right out of them. Be sure to look ahead or you'll be on your head.

good luck

Answer 6

There is always a period of time that you both are learning about one another, and becoming accostomed to each other. All things taken into consideration I would say the behavior is normal. Never hurts to have her vet checked, have your tack checked for proper fit. Ground working is also a good way to help relax the both of you. Lunging and longline before riding sometimes helps.

Answer 7

It is completely normal. My horse used to do that to because he lived in a small pasture by himself so I asked him to be moved to a bigger pasture with a couple of other horses. He may not be best buds with the other horses but he is used to them. Maybe it will work for you or maybe she just doesn't plain want to be around other horses.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

The other horses & people may just make her nervous, which is why she acts up. It's normal, and can be worked with, I'm sure.

Answer 10

you might want to try having someone else ride her so you know if it's a problem that she's only giving you, or if it's something she does for everyone. all horses react different given diferent situations. my horse is better when no one is watching, too. if she only misbehaves for you, then it might be a rider problem.