Super speedy horse--advice needed

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;7868370]
I’d recommend she take a few months of dressage lessons this winter to establish a better line of communication with her horse. It’s not very safe to be out on the trails on a horse that’s not rateable. I’ve certainly had a few instances where I was very happy that I had immediate brakes, leg yield, jump, etc. to avoid a dangerous obstacle (huge downed tree, pothole, oncoming truck, etc.). And no dressage trainer is going to let her ride him on a tight rein with a curb bit so that will be fixed.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, but this is “Basic Riding Lessons,” not “dressage.” Dressage is an advanced discipline for people with independent seats, established hands, and horses who are ready to MOVE BEYOND the basics of their gaits on a single track.

Dressage trainers too often keep riders like this one everlastingly dependent and fearful, in part because they make riding into “rocket science” and never let them out of the ring. They also tend to be perfectionists. I would far rather send this rider to a teacher who can troubleshoot her TRAIL problems and teach both horse and rider the basics of control.

Truthfully, however, this sounds like a horse/rider mismatch. This mare is plainly not for beginners, and the rider should get something more “user-friendly” for her level. You DON’T have to stay “married” to a horse who scares or frustrates you; the truth is she also would be happier and better off with someone else.

[pdq]

^ Agree.

The OP said she has a nice appy she can loan the new boarder. That would nicely solve the “wanting a quiet trail ride” dilemma.

[oliverreed]

[QUOTE=GaitedGloryRider;7871554]
Ah yes, because all gaited horse people are drunk hillbillies crashing around on dangerous horses at mach 5.

I get the sentiment, I know the type seen plenty out on the trail and they annoy me (and my other responsible gaited-horse-riding trail buddies, and pretty much all gaited horse people who ride/train/enjoy their gaited mounts responsibly) as much as you non-gaited folks.

But really LSMarnell, could you be any nastier stating your opinion and painting us all with the same brush? You seem like the type that offer a snide remark and eye-roll to anyone ambling along at a nice relaxed dog walk down a flat open trail simply because their horse goes different than yours. Stop painting us all with the same brush, your class is showing.[/QUOTE]

I just had to emphasize this. My Paso Fino is as polite as they come in the indoor arena, in the outdoor ring - very steady eddie. But get him on the trail and he really wants to go, he LOVES it! He doesn’t, though, unless I tell him he can. Not all gaited riders/trainers are the same.

[Plainandtall]

I’m sorry I just skimmed this thread looking for the words “Tom Thumb” and I didn’t see it… Is this horse being ridden in a tom thumb bit? And no one is saying anything about that?

The only reason why I know about these things is because an inexperienced boarder at a farm where I also boarded used this kind of bit on her pretty palomino QH mare. that mare tossed her head like a maniac and she would wheel and spin and jig and was miserable under saddle- totally different from her personality untacked. That bit was a brutal confusion and if you look into it- and understand how having shanks which rotate- or a hinged snaffle which twists with leverage action… or what happens when you simply try to direct rein with it- it’s a monster- and so many people think that it’s “mild” (or mildER than a curb because it has a broken mouthpiece. That broken mouthpiece is exactly what makes it more severe.

The bit is very popular, and I’m sure there are some people and horse combos who benefit from it- but for a hot horse and a newbie rider it is asking for just the sort of behavior that you are seeing.

Just google it and look at the lists of behaviors that always go with the questions- head tossing, open mouth, high head…

[JCS]

Thank you Plainandtall. I have suggested to the rider that she try a different bit but she “doesn’t dare to” as she fears she would have even less control. It’s not my horse and not my student, so… Only so much I can suggest.

For the record, though: My dressage trainer rode her in a snaffle, and her behavior was pretty much the same.

Also, the owner has now been in touch with the horse’s previous owner who had her for five years. The previous owner reports the same behavior with her. She was able to work through the rearing and spinning and got to the point that the horse no longer did that with her, but she reportedly tried for five years to teach the horse to slow down and had no success. We also found out that the reason she sold the horse was because she fell off her and broke her ribs and wrist. GREAT! This piece of info was not disclosed by the middleman seller. (Supposedly a rescue, but I don’t want to call them that. Ugh.)