Wannabe Mule - HELP

[chincoteagueeventing]

Hello all, I’m in need of a bit of help, and would really like some advice. I have a mare who is a green broke 7yo. She has a great personality on the ground, and is a joy to be around. Perfect ground manners, etc. I have ridden her on/off consistently since she was a 3yo, and did one mini trial competition with her (we placed 2nd).

The problem is that she absolutely hatesarena work. Like hates it. I’ve never ridden a horse that hates the arena more than her. She is constantly sluggish and has zero will to work or please. In the arena, it is difficult for her to have a consistent, rhythmic trot, and it is very difficult to push her into the canter, and when you do it is quite unbalanced and she is constantly trying to break back into the trot (and don’t even think about cracking her with a crop - she flips a switch and becomes the national grand champ for bronc riding. I’ve completely quit even taking one with me when I ride her now because it only makes things worse). Out of the arena however, she is happy to do conditioning, trail rides, and XC. She naturally has fluid gaits, and is fine doing WTC. She’s very brave with obstacles, and will walk over bridges, in water, teeter-totters, tarps, etc., basically anything. Is this stuff just more interesting for her?

I must also say, she has about zero stamina (we’re working on it at the moment). I have never demanded any really hard work from her, and her stamina has never been built up. I also think she gets bored very quickly in the arena, even when I try to make it interesting. Could stamina and being unbalanced be part of the problem as well? How can I get her more forward in the arena? And how can I help her enjoy working in one, instead of constantly outside?

Here are two reference photos of the wannabe mule:

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[Cruiser12]

This is a good question. I hope you get some positive feedback. I am assuming that you have ruled out any back/hoof/saddle fit issues. I used to prefer to lunge my slightly lazy horse so that she would learn to self balance before I worked much in the arena. That’s my only thought!

[Huntin_Pony]

I have one like this. Getting better. It’s been two-and-a-half years.

The first year, I simply did not ride in the ring. Very occasionally (once a month maybe) I walked through the ring. Otherwise, I rode out.

The second year, I rode in the ring for a few (like 10-15) minutes once every couple of weeks. I started by picking a spot in the ring that would be the rest spot. In my case I picked the corner farthest from the gate. I would walk to that spot then rest. Then I would walk a small circle and when I got back to the rest spot, rest. After a few sessions like this, I would try to trot the small circle then rest. Did a few sessions like that. Then increase the size of the circle and so on and so on. The horse knows he gets to rest when he gets to the spot so he goes there willingly.

Now, I trot and canter all around the ring once a week or so without having to push constantly. I still keep the work sessions very short (20 mins) and the trot and canter sets much briefer than with a “normal” horse. To make training progress requires the rider to be clever and efficient, but it can be done - with a lot of patience.

The essence of the approach is to ask for tiny bits of correct work and reward consistently. Always finish the session while things are going well and keep it very short. If you can stay the course for long enough, it will work.

[CindyCRNA]

Agree with Cruiser. Don’t know if you do your arena work in a different saddle that may not fit. I have a big Holsteiner. He too is lazy in the arena. “OMG I just can’t!”. Get out on cross country or in a jumper ring, you can here me yelling “Whoa dammit!” A lot of horses hate arena work. Do you use a spur?

[chincoteagueeventing]

Thanks for the advice! And no I don’t use a spur, as I just don’t think my leg is steady enough yet (especially on her). Yes, I use the same saddle in and out.

[wsmoak]

Initial thoughts are to have the vet check her over, particularly her heart. If she gets sluggish any time you ask her to work, she may not physically be able to do it.

Next is for you to completely change how you think about her. I happen to like mules, they’re super smart, but I have a feeling you don’t consider this a compliment! Horses pick up on our emotions and our intentions.

Similar to @Huntin’ Pony 's process, you might find the 4th episode here interesting – “Choose Where You Work, Choose Where You Rest” http://farmnranch.tv/programs/the-pr…s-of-training/ . Also the next-to-last one has some similar work.

[beowulf]

Have you ever had a vet listen to her heart, or scope her? Horses with low stamina or difficulty being forward, sometimes can have breathing or cardiac issues that limit their athleticism.

Otherwise, it sounds physical. Does she drag her toes at all, have difficulty with one lead or direction over the other?

Do you have a video of her, W/T/C?

From the symptoms you’ve listed, it’s very unlikely she is sound.

• no stamina
• breaking canter / can’t hold canter
• difficulty maintaining a rhythm
• sluggish
• bucking
• unbalanced

[Salty]

She is very cute. I agree with getting a thorough vet workup, including blood work & heart. I rode one like this who had a metabolic disorder.

If everything checks out, I’d incorporate some jumping into your flatwork, and continue to do dressage-type work on the trail. Also, if you can, get some lessons with a good trainer who can show you how to get her in front of your leg. There are ways to do this that don’t involve a big confrontation.

[Salty]

Also, what Beowulf said.

[merrygoround]

After you get her checked out by your veterinarian, and if she checks out OK, I would get some one to help you work with your position. It isn’t good o/f and it isn’t good on the flat.

In riding and training, function follows form.

Your form needs help.

[kt]

@merrygoround

After you get her checked out by your veterinarian, and if she checks out OK, I would get some one to help you work with your position. It isn’t good o/f and it isn’t good on the flat.

In riding and training, function follows form.

Your form needs help.

I hardly think it’s fair to say this based on two small images on a screen, one of which was taken at quite some distance. I don’t see anything glaringly bad about her position.

[CarrotBreath]

What’s the footing in the arena like? If it’s considerably different from the ground outside of the arena, like harder, softer, deeper, more slippery, etc., maybe she doesn’t like the feel or finds it hard to balance or be secure?

[chincoteagueeventing]

@merrygoround

After you get her checked out by your veterinarian, and if she checks out OK, I would get some one to help you work with your position. It isn’t good o/f and it isn’t good on the flat.

In riding and training, function follows form.

Your form needs help.

Yes, very encouraging pep talk… thank you for your advice.

[chincoteagueeventing]

@CarrotBreath

What’s the footing in the arena like? If it’s considerably different from the ground outside of the arena, like harder, softer, deeper, more slippery, etc., maybe she doesn’t like the feel or finds it hard to balance or be secure?

She’s seems to be worse in harder arenas, but that’s relative. She’s sluggish in all arenas, except grass ones that make her “feel” like she’s outside.

[ClassyJumper]

Please ignore merrygoround, this poster seems to love a snarky one liner while offering no real help. I think your position looks like it has solid basics especially at the level you are riding at. I dont have any great advice for your situation but good luck with your mare, she is very cute.

[staceyk]

Hi, I have a WB that is similarly unmotivated in the ring - I think some horses are just that phlegmatic, and amateurs in particular struggle – speaking from my own experience here. My trainer has NO issues riding him outdoors or in the ring, but she sets a tone, not afraid to demand forward, and after a few come-to-jesus moments, they work together beautifully.

I will say that I’m not as steady or consistent as my trainer, my cues may sometime conflict, and some horses really don’t tolerate that well. It looks to me like you are getting good work out of your mare in some settings, and that is a huge plus that (to me) suggests it is not soundness or the saddle. It might be that she’s gotten the upper hand by scaring you out of pushing her (I don’t blame you!). If you can swing it, maybe get a trainer or more experienced rider on her to see if progress can be made?

She’s a cool looking girl and def. worth the effort of figuring her out. Best of luck!

[chincoteagueeventing]

Thank you all for your advice! My saddle was fitted for her, but I am now thinking about buying a Port Lewis impression pad to make sure that it’s the best fit I can get for her. I will also be asking my vet to do some tests to check her cardiovascular health. If all is checked out well, then I will just continue with training, and trying to get her to enjoy the arena more by improving myself and keeping it interesting for her. Slow and steady wins the race (-:

[roseymare]

Is it only home arenas she acts this way in?

[chincoteagueeventing]

It is the worst in my arena in particular (possibly because it is smaller than my coach’s arena, and slightly harder). I think the novelty of being in a new place takes away her dislike of arenas because she is more interested in looking around and taking everything in (for a competition or clinic).

[Tyrus_Mom]

Mine is a somewhat lazy mover too. I have done the rest stop thing with him (and for me, it gets too hot out sometimes, so I need it more than him). Also, I reward with little animal cookies when he’s good, and I make sure he’s good a lot, so he gets rewarded with those little cookies I carry in a saddlebag every so often, but more cookies and praise when something is actually accomplished. (They are cheap and plentiful to come by.) He loves them. I like to think they help him deal with ring work more positively since he is highly food motivated.

Mine hates the crop, so he will step on the gas a bit and occasionally let out a buck in protestation, but nothing difficult to sit. He deals. With mine, it’s his build, he’s half-draft. It’s physically harder for him to hold a canter for very long. So I try to limit my asks and amount of time he spends cantering. Currently, we are working more on transitions anyway.

He gets out of breath after a good gallop too. The galloping is mostly with other horses on the trail though. I let him set his own pace on the trail. There is no way he can keep up with Arabs cantering/galloping with their stamina. He often has to break to a trot to keep up and still be able to breathe… and then I ask my friends to hold up. I try to take into account his physical limitations. I also am trying to build up his endurance too, and I think I have to a certain extent with the trail work.

One more thing that might help. My horse works better and concentrates more when I play music on my phone. Boredom can create frustration and unwillingness too. I try to change up things we work on in the ring quite often, gaits, direction, etc.

He had to work on balance when I first got him a little over a year ago, he hadn’t been used as a riding horse much and he wasn’t used to cantering at all, it scared him, he wasn’t sure of himself. So I lunged him and made him do a lot of trot canter trot transitions until he got used to where his feet were during cantering. He’s more willing to canter now that he’s confident with cantering.