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 Expert
Posts: 1261
  
| I have a 5 yr old off the track mare that's very green still. Any chance she gets she's straightening her neck out and diving toward the center of the arena I feel like I spend the whole ride getting her off the inside rein and getting her to bend her ribcage. I think I am having such a hard time because she tends to lose all forward momentum when I go to correct her. She just wants to stick her head in the air and drop towards the center as she speeds up. Nothing has been improving with what I have been trying to do so looking for other ideas. |
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 Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
 
| Since she's off the track, she might be "track broke" but not "broke". You may have to go back to the basics .. away from the barrels, ground work, etc. You also might want to have her teeth checked. Just a thought. Good Luck. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| X-ray front feet, hocks, get teeth done, inject anything that needs some help, get a good farrier to fix any imbalances in the feet.
If you're not familiar with putting a really good handle on a horse, consider hiring a good trainer for at least 30 rides to get you chugging again, but not until the horse has seen the vet and the dentist.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| This isn't uncommon with off the track horses. Check for lameness issues first then go back to basics and really get her broke in the rib cage. Also, make sure your softening the mouth and not hanging on her bc they are taught at track to run through the bit, not behind it. Lots of slow work and ease her up to speed bc she'll probably try to push back as you add speed, correct it immediately. |
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 Yard Ornament Collector
Location: BFE, Texas | Lots of good advice already. After an "all clear" checkup, slow up and get er well broke. If a horse is well broke, you can put em where you want them if they mess up in a run. But slow down and do it properly. Mistakes are easier to fix before they become a bad habit. Kick it up a step at a time but only when horse is doing each step correctly. It will save on frustration down the road for both horse and rider. |
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| Yes she was only track broke when I got her and I am not meaning on the barrel pattern we are not there yet I just mean riding in a straight line down the arena she is constantly trying to dive into the center of the arena. I have started a lot of horses but this is the first one off the track and the first that's done this. But I am by no means a professional. I have thought about having someone put some time on her, I was supposed to have help from someone when I bought her but that didn't pan out. Her feet are not good but I have been working with a good farrier and have her on hoof supplements trying to improve them and I haven't had her teeth done yet my others are due next month and I am looking for a good dentist in the area. |
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Yard Ornament Collector
Location: BFE, Texas | Oh, ok, gotcha. What are you doing that you're "speeding up" for ? I guess I'm not understanding. I've started a lot of horses straight off the track and its basically starting them all over again. They still need to be kept slowed down until they can handle each step. There are so many little things to work on that lead to other skills, it just hard to explain in type, esp not knowing whats been done and where you're at. |
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| Tx3turns - 2016-09-10 9:37 AM
Oh, ok, gotcha. What are you doing that you're "speeding up" for ? I guess I'm not understanding. I've started a lot of horses straight off the track and its basically starting them all over again. They still need to be kept slowed down until they can handle each step. There are so many little things to work on that lead to other skills, it just hard to explain in type, esp not knowing whats been done and where you're at.
Oh I don't mean I am asking her to speed up, I mean when just trotting a straight line for example she will randomly straighten and drop towards the center of the arena and as she does so she speeds up. When I go to pick her up off the rein and my leg she wants to just stiffen and stick her head up and losses her forward momentum. I did start her from the beginning like a Colt that didn't know anything at all. I just never have ridden any Colt that so persistently would do this constantly so I am not sure what I am missing. It has been about 3 years since I was regularly riding colts though. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| wishes4kissez - 2016-09-10 12:37 PM
Tx3turns - 2016-09-10 9:37 AM
Oh, ok, gotcha. What are you doing that you're "speeding up" for ? I guess I'm not understanding. I've started a lot of horses straight off the track and its basically starting them all over again. They still need to be kept slowed down until they can handle each step. There are so many little things to work on that lead to other skills, it just hard to explain in type, esp not knowing whats been done and where you're at.
Oh I don't mean I am asking her to speed up, I mean when just trotting a straight line for example she will randomly straighten and drop towards the center of the arena and as she does so she speeds up. When I go to pick her up off the rein and my leg she wants to just stiffen and stick her head up and losses her forward momentum. I did start her from the beginning like a Colt that didn't know anything at all. I just never have ridden any Colt that so persistently would do this constantly so I am not sure what I am missing. It has been about 3 years since I was regularly riding colts though.
You're trying to ride her like a blank canvas. She's had training and you have to undo it, it takes longer and can be more difficult, especially track horses. You have a couple things going on here the speeding up, dropping of shoulder and her trying to get away from bit. First and foremost I'd suggest getting teeth done. Then I'd have those front feet xrayed. Last I'd worry about training. Otherwise you're just spinning your wheels. |
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