I have had this chestnut mare for 6 years now and she still is giving me some of the same issues. Many, many top trainers have tried but this mare still struggles when it comes to jumping and handling new situations. She stops. Not just a nice refusal but a nasty, you will not stay on type of stop. This mare is now 11 and has had a rough past… she was a broodmare, then she was a kids “lets go do 4 foot jumps” horse, then I got her. I have taken things very slow with this mare to bring her back, but no matter what I do she will still stop, even at ground poles. When I went and tried her, she was the quietest horse, jumped everything at a nice slow canter, and then I got her home. Well it turns out she was drugged when I tried her, HA HA jokes on me. Well 6 years later, she has improved in some aspects, and in others not so much. The stopping is not consistent, sometimes she is great and sometimes she isn’t, but the stopping is getting to the point where I am losing faith in keeping my horse. Even at shows, sometimes she is fantastic, and then other times she is explosive. I am looking for advice on any tips for the mare that refuses jumps and poles. I love this horse with all my heart but she is just not at the point that I wanted, and needed, for my riding career. I have considered selling, but it utterly breaks my heart to consider it as I have hopes of breeding her down the road as she is a proven broodmare. The other thing holding me back is that she is pastured with my older mare and they are attached at the hip practically. I am afraid that if I pull her away from my older mare that it will kill my older mare. Any tips, or motivation, is GREATLY appreciated. (PS: The vet has cleared her for all activities and she is 100% sound so it is not pain related at all). I am becoming so annoyed by my mare’s behavior. I can’t even get her through a WTC flat class without her throwing a fit. I was jumping 2’6 and now I can’t even enjoy my flat classes anymore. I do love the mare to pieces, I am so scared to sell her and see her end up in a horrible home again as she is the sweetest mare on the ground, but I do not know what to do. Again, advice/motivation/own experiences are greatly appreciated!
Sometimes they are too mentally fried to get over it. Have you considered trying dressage? Sounds like she might make a lovely dressage horse. I think she’s trying really hard to tell you she just doesn’t like to jump. Its not for every horse and it would be kinder of you to find her a new job. Maybe you could lease her out as a low level dressage horse if you really don’t want to sell her. A second thought have you had a second or third vet opinion? If you can’t even flat her without her throwing a fit it sure sounds like she’s in pain.
Vet, Farrier, Saddle fit, Trainer, new job, sell her.
@btswass I have no issues flatting her at home, only at shows with commotion. At quiet shows, she is perfect however quiet shows are the tiny shows and we are ready to move past that but she becomes explosive. I have had a second vets opinion as well, both said she is a perfectly sound horse. I have had her examined on the ground and under saddle, both vets concluded she is 100% healthy. I have tried dressage with her. She is a beautiful dressage horse, but dressage is not my thing. I would lease her out, however, I do not want her off property due to my older mare and dressage is not popular at all near me. She requires a very experienced and patient rider, which is rare to find, and to find that in a dressage rider who is willing to lease and keep her at my farm, is even harder to find. When she is good to the jumps, she does truly enjoy it. She is forward and loves her job, but then it is like a switch flips in her head and she acts like she can’t handle it. It is such a tricky situation. I do not know whether I should just forget showing and ride at home, sacrifice my riding career, and keep her until it is time to breed her, or risk unsettling my older mare and attempt to sell her. Again though, my biggest fear in selling or even leasing because I have seen that go wrong as well would be that she end up at a horrible home or at an auction.
How is her vision? We had a horse who was great… but then started refusing and could get very sketchy with it. His vision was checked and he had lost some sight in one eye and it was affecting his ability to see the jumps. He now does dressage and is lovely. Maybe jumping just isn’t for her and she can be happy and successful with a new career.
A few things -
Rule out pain first. You said she had a full vet workup, so if you’ve already ruled out pain, fine. Lots of avenues to explore related to pain/soundness/tack that I’m sure other people will bring up, some already have.
The mare doesn’t want to jump. IF pain is ruled out, it could be she’s fried, or she just hates it. Why are you forcing a mare to do something she is clearly displeased about? If she’s happy jumping at home, then that’s what you do. If she’s miserable at shows, stop wasting your money. If she loves to flat and is sane on trails, enjoy her on trails and see if she will foxhunt or hunter pace. You can find other avenues to enjoy her on her terms. If you’ve had professionals try working with her to no avail, stop trying to force something that won’t happen. Horses have likes and dislikes just like we do. You may have to accept that this is one of those situations you can’t fix, and decide what your next step is either to sell or just enjoy her at home.
Please reconsider breeding her. If her brain is a little nutty, why would you want to create more mini-monsters? I’m sure she’s lovely, and this could be just because of her past and that’s totally up to your discretion since you know her best, but people forget that there is more than conformation and raw talent to breeding a good, sound of body AND MIND, horse.
Somewhere you’re going to have to compromise, whether you sell her to someone who can do what she wants, lease her out and find a new friend for your old horse, or change your own goals to make your relationship with your current horse work. It’s a tough spot, but you’ll find the right thing for you and your horse.
Just throwing this out there, but have you had any body work done on her? More than just a normal massage, but someone who specializes in equine athletes?
I ask this only because I had a horse who vets deemed “perfectly sound”, but was pretty hot and cold, seemed bothered by random things, on and off spooky, had trouble holding her leads, etc. I had a highly reputable equine body worker look at her and she had ALL KINDS of stuff going on… tight lumbar, rolled ribcage (chiro didn’t even see this) which made her crooked through her sternum, uneven shoulders, tight in left deep pec junction, crooked pelvis with a wider left hindquarter than right, tight along her right back, restricted lateral cervical flexion which reduced her range of motion… like, so much. It took three bodywork appointments and two chiro appointments to release everything, but the horse I got out of it was a totally different mare.
Might be worth some exploration?
I have not been forcing it, I have not jumped her at a show in the 6 years I have owned her, just schooled her at the shows. So Again, I appreciate the comments and suggestions, but forcing is a word I would not say. And about the breeding, I know many people are against breeding. I am not one of those people. I know there are unwanted horses out there. And while she does sound a bit nutty, as I stated previously, she is a PROVEN broodmare. She passes on a sound mind. Her foal went to pony finals and placed exceptionally well in the green medium division. Breeding her is a plan I will hold true to, if I keep her, as she is a phenomenal broodmare. It is a very tough spot. Trails are difficult because of the older horse. I do not have the funds for a third horse so a new friend so that I can leave her behind is not possible. Thanks again for responding.
Have you noticed any patterns in the behavior? Specifically, I’m wondering if it might be tied to her heat cycle. If that turns out to be the case, you could try to manage the cycle with Regumate or other drugs…I have seen it work wonders on mares.
@Cataluna I have not tried that. That does sound very interesting. I will have to look into that. Thanks!
So is the issue on the ground or with jumping?
Too many good horses in this world. Could possibly GIVE her away. Not sell her.
I didn’t mean to imply that you’re forcing her as in beating/abusing/being mean to her - just a statement as to why you’re trying so hard to get the mare to do something she clearly doesn’t want to do. From your original post, I read it as you’ve been trying hard for 6 years with professional help to get her around at shows, and nothing you’ve tried is working.
In terms of breeding, I’m in no way against responsible breeding. I have a background in repro, I’m just against uneducated backyard breeding (absolutely NOT accusing you of that, I don’t know your horse and can’t make that assessment, just a general overall statement of where I stand on the breeding issue) of inappropriate horses. I know you’d said she’s a broodmare, but in general just because a mare is proven, as in had a live foal, doesn’t mean the kids turn out to be worth it. If her foals are doing well, have good minds, and she’s of quality conformation, then it sounds like a great avenue to go down. I just struggle with people who subscribe to the mentality of “It’s too crazy to ride but sure is pretty. The stallion will fix it so let’s breed her!” If that’s not the case with your horse, then maybe consider breeding her next year and let that be her job.
This mare is tricky because she has learned the behavior of estrus. Whether she is truly in estrus or not, she will act it when off property. I have her on Perfect Prep Training Day, and it helps keep her a little more focused. We tried Depo but that was to no avail. I am hesitant with Regumate because it can cause infertility, but I have considered it. I talked with my vet about it and she said that because it is a learned behavior, Regulate, while it will help, will not completely take the mare-ish behavior away unfortunately.
Her past with those kids no doubt left permanent mental and physical scars.
Why not just hack her at home and get something else to show? I’m sure she’s more than earned the break.
We have to remember that these are living, breathing creatures not pieces of athletic equipment.
If she doesn’t want to be a show horse, she shouldn’t have to be one.
Totally what I was thinking. It sounds like you have exhausted a lot of avenues already. Don’t waste any more money. If you are hell bent on breeding her, why not do so, retire her, and start over with the child?
Regumate makes the horse infertile while it is being given but isn’t meant to have long term effects after anymore than human birth control pills. Have just started with my mare and huge difference.
Either put her on Regumate now and give training one more shot or retire her from riding now. It isn’t fair to either of you to fight for this long. Six years is enough time to see it’s not working.
I wish we had a “LOVE” button. I just went through this with my mare. She was either hot or cold and VERY difficult at times for no obvious reason. Vet deemed her sound and said it was behavioral. It wasn’t. We had an Osteo work on her and we were torturing this poor horse. She was “out” from her nose to her tail. Of course, the fix wasn’t cheap, but she is a different horse. Of course, she’s needed some training to remove the bad habits that developed from the pain, but in 3 months, she went from wild to beginner safe. I always thought in the back of my mind she hurt, but went the Vet kept saying “sound” and “behavioral”, I believed him. I will listen to my horse next time. Live and learn.
Lots of good advise… but the bottom line is, she’s not happy and doesn’t want to do the job you’re making her do! If “top” trainers can’t get it done, then neither can you! Harsh, yes but the truth. I had a mare that did not want to jump, luckily after 2 years and many vet checks (no way would I of lasted 6, I was ready to quit riding completely after 2) her breeders took her back. They did NOT breed her as why breed a horse with mental issues BUT they did have a job for her… she keeps the weanlings company in the field AND she’s used as a parade horse (yep Spruce meadows, she plods around the grounds and international ring like it’s no big deal) .
Find a a good free home for her in what she wants to do …
As mentioned earlier, try to identify whether or not her behavior has anything to do with her cycle. She might be a candidate for spaying. Of course, this would mean you couldn’t breed her, but frankly, from what you have said, she’s not a good candidate for breeding anyway.
