rbrown
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- Joined
- Nov 6, 2011
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- 185
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My mare Skip is driving me nuts. She has no "go" when I'm working her in the arena. She has no problem moving out on the trails or in our neighbor's large, fenced-in pasture, but getting her to respond to forward cues in the indoor is taking way too much encouragement on my part! I'm always switching up our routine in the indoor- we do cones, lots of groundwork, etc., so she's not just going around in circles, and I only work her in the indoor about once a week- otherwise I'll take her walking/jogging on the trails, or we'll drive in the pasture. When we're in the pasture, she'll respond to my voice and I hardly ever have to use the whip (she doesn't get hot or crazy- she just listens well and has no problem going forward), but it's becoming a drag to drive in the arena. The footing isn't too deep, the cart doesn't sink (it's a well balanced wooden road cart and shouldn't be too heavy for her- she's a big, strong 39" girl), so I don't think that's the issue- she's also lazy when I ground drive her or lunge her in the arena. I even got her a freedom collar, thinking she might be resisting moving forward into the straight breastcollar (it did help free up her shoulders, but she's still as lazy as ever!). I would love to just drive outdoors at the neighbor's place all the time, but it takes me forever to haul the cart over, then bring the horse, then drag everything back (plus there often isn't anyone there to help if something went wrong, so I usually only go if there's someone to watch me).
I'm just not sure what to do with her. I know that she is capable of moving out- my barn owner says she's always running around in her paddock, and she does move out very well when I take her out in the pasture. I don't think harness fit is the issue- she's lazy on the lunge as well as when I'm driving and ground driving (and I don't use an overcheck or sidecheck, so her head/neck isn't being restricted). I am thinking she might just be bored in the arena, but I try to keep it interesting for her- I set up cones courses, fun obstacles to play with when I'm working with her on the ground- and I never drive her indoors for more than half an hour. She's also just generally difficult to get moving- sometimes she stops and doesn't want to keep going when I'm walking her to the neighbor's, or doesn't want to walk at a decent pace when I take her for walks down the back roads. The only places she seems to work well in is the pasture and the trails, but I really need to be able to drive her in the arena for those days I can't get to the neighbor's! I'm also frustrated because I really want to work on bending, or tracking up, or better contact when I'm in the indoor, but instead all of my energy goes toward keeping her moving forward.
I've never had this issue with my other mini mare, so I'm not sure how to deal with Skip. Using my whip doesn't seem to phase her- giving her a tap on the rump will get her to move for a few strides, but then she quickly loses energy. I don't want to nag her, and I don't want to be constantly using my whip. Any advice would be much appreciated
I'm just not sure what to do with her. I know that she is capable of moving out- my barn owner says she's always running around in her paddock, and she does move out very well when I take her out in the pasture. I don't think harness fit is the issue- she's lazy on the lunge as well as when I'm driving and ground driving (and I don't use an overcheck or sidecheck, so her head/neck isn't being restricted). I am thinking she might just be bored in the arena, but I try to keep it interesting for her- I set up cones courses, fun obstacles to play with when I'm working with her on the ground- and I never drive her indoors for more than half an hour. She's also just generally difficult to get moving- sometimes she stops and doesn't want to keep going when I'm walking her to the neighbor's, or doesn't want to walk at a decent pace when I take her for walks down the back roads. The only places she seems to work well in is the pasture and the trails, but I really need to be able to drive her in the arena for those days I can't get to the neighbor's! I'm also frustrated because I really want to work on bending, or tracking up, or better contact when I'm in the indoor, but instead all of my energy goes toward keeping her moving forward.
I've never had this issue with my other mini mare, so I'm not sure how to deal with Skip. Using my whip doesn't seem to phase her- giving her a tap on the rump will get her to move for a few strides, but then she quickly loses energy. I don't want to nag her, and I don't want to be constantly using my whip. Any advice would be much appreciated