Love a Horse with Personality 
[QUOTE=horsefool;5427133]
I live where the weather has been yucky and we havenât been riding much so I am thinking part of it is the fact that sheâs in her stall (it does have a large outside run) alot this winter. At the place where I board her they get very little pasture turnout in the winter. [/QUOTE]
It stands to reason if sheâs been cooped up most of the winter, she has a lot of frustrated energy. Not to mention spring fever, which has really got ME by the throat!
I guess Iâd work her in the arena before going out on the trails. Do a fair amount of forward work at trot and canter, with lots of transitions, so that she settles down and is listening, and works off some of her energy. Or, work her in the arena until sheâs listening and then take her out for gallop if you have a safe place for that. Then, do trail ride. She sounds like a good mare who just needs to get her ya-yas out.
Get some lessons if you think it would help.
I would definitely consider saddle-fit before trying anything else. A horseâs back can change, especially when theyâve been off work for a long period of time. I had a mare who was jiggy and only got worse, no matter what I did. I fianlly got her a new saddle that fit better and she was a different horse.
Also had a friend who had a really laid back QH. He suddenly started acting agressively and was almost to the point of being dangerous under saddle. I checked his saddle fit and found that it was much too narrow. I rode him in a different saddle and he was back to his laid-back self. The owner never did change his saddle and finally sold him because she couldnât ride him. The new owner never had a bit of trouble with the horse.
Please check your saddle fit first.
[QUOTE=imaginique;5459645]
I would definitely consider saddle-fit before trying anything else. A horseâs back can change, especially when theyâve been off work for a long period of time. I had a mare who was jiggy and only got worse, no matter what I did. I fianlly got her a new saddle that fit better and she was a different horse.
Also had a friend who had a really laid back QH. He suddenly started acting agressively and was almost to the point of being dangerous under saddle. I checked his saddle fit and found that it was much too narrow. I rode him in a different saddle and he was back to his laid-back self. The owner never did change his saddle and finally sold him because she couldnât ride him. The new owner never had a bit of trouble with the horse.
Please check your saddle fit first.[/QUOTE]
I bought a new Circle Y saddle last year that we rode in all spring & summer. It was very expensive and I hope I donât have to buy another one!:eek:
She is mutton-withered (gotta love those big quarter horses) and my saddle is a FQHB - wide tree. I spent a few extra bucks and bought a nice saddle pad too.
I donât think its her saddle because she only acts jiggy on the trail and only at certain times. She will be fine the first hour or so and then she gets worked up. She NEVER acts up in the arena - she is a perfect well mannered lady, which is funny because when I first got her, she HATED the arena! I really think its her lack of turnout during the winter. I love where she is boarded, but they save the pasture for spring & summer turnout. All the horses have stalls and 24/7 access to their outside runs, but letâs face it: The paddocks are not large enough for running, bucking, farting and burning off energy.:D:lol:
âSighâ,I canât wait for spring,
Is she being fed according to her work load?
[QUOTE=Foxtrotâs;5462473]
Is she being fed according to her work load?[/QUOTE]
Yes. The people that own the property where I board are extremely knowledgable about horse nutrition. The horses are fed 4 times a day and are only grained (small amount in the morning) along with their vitamins and probiotics. No sweet feed or alfalfa. Right now we are not riding more than once or twice a week so their work loads are not heavy. Our two horses are very healthy and look fantastic. Both are barefoot and have nice, healthy feet.
Iâm just happy to read this bc I realize my horse is not the only pain in the butt out there, AND it affirms my decision not to get something else bc I will likely end up with a horse that just has a different issue. Might as well stick with one I am familiar with, right?
OP, I have no advice to give, but good luck. Double check saddle fit/cinch just in case, otherwise it does sound like itâs spring fever. I swear they switch it up just bc they think they have to keep us on our toes.
[QUOTE=cloudy18;5464586]
Iâm just happy to read this bc I realize my horse is not the only pain in the butt out there, AND it affirms my decision not to get something else bc I will likely end up with a horse that just has a different issue. Might as well stick with one I am familiar with, right?
OP, I have no advice to give, but good luck. Double check saddle fit/cinch just in case, otherwise it does sound like itâs spring fever. I swear they switch it up just bc they think they have to keep us on our toes.[/QUOTE]
Cloudy, you made me laugh. :lol:
I went through the same thing when I first bought my girl three years ago! Only then she was a pain in the arena. I just figured I would work with what I had because getting another one would be getting another set of issues! It worked out though because I am so in love with her now I am dedicated to working through whatever she has problems with.
We rode on Saturday (in the arena, still bad weather) and she was an angel. She lunged at liberty in the arena, and listened to every command I gave her. She joined up and my husband wished we had a video camera because he said I could have made a training CD. She was that good! I think I am going to switch saddle pads though. My new expensive pad I think is making her shoulders a little sore. She was carrying her head a little high while trotting but she was trying sooooo hard to be a good girl. I have another pad I am going to use later this week and see if it makes a difference. Btw, I had someone check my saddle and it fits fine. They suggested I try a new pad. We will see.
Since sheâs good at home, you might try riding outside of the arena without going for a âtrail ride.â Do some work just 50 feet from the arena. Then go back. Next day, go 100 feet and do some work. Then go back. etc.
The idea is to get her working at greater and greater distances from the arena without her making the assumption that âWeâre going for a trail ride, wheeee!â Keep her mind focused on working wherever she is, as though it were just an extension of the arena.
Wouldnât it be wonderful if it was the pad ? Maybe it doesnât really bother her too much until you get to that certain mile. Also could be a combination of pad and too much energy.
Maybe ticks?
Do you live in an area that has ticks?
During this winter, we had some warm days. When I picked back up riding end of Feb, my mare was normal forward. But during the next 3 weeks, she got more agitated under saddle. I had the saddle maker out to check fit and pads. Adjustments were made, as she had changed shape, for the better, since the last fitting. saddle was too tight in the withers.
She was still agitated, so I had the vet check her. Horse is on free choice turn-out, but our weather was very wet, so she was tiptoeing in the pasture. No ulcers.
I took her foxhunting and instead of being her usual perfect self, she never stood still and was quite upset. I called the vet, again. Tunrs out she had gotten a tick borne disease and had anaplasmosis. No wonder she felt awful! Our temps werenât much above 40F, but those critters were out, and hungry.
