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 Veteran
Posts: 112
| I was wondering if anyone had good advice for a horse that is pretty hot/nervous. She is 4yrs old and has been this way since she was broke out. She is also nervous on the ground in the sense that if something is out of order or place she knows it and will get pretty leery. She also will pull back when tied. Overall she is just a nervous horse. She has had a lot of groundwork and has great ground manners and would do anything you asked her, she is just a nervous nelly. My problem is when riding, she will start out walking around on a loose rein and can trot with a small amount of contact, but when you lope her it's like a switchh goes off and she loses her noggin. She will get on the muscle and any little hand movement she thinks she is going a different direction and will cross fire (she is super catty-all cow bred). She is broke very well in the sense that she can do anything you ask at slower speeds but any sort of lope is just mind blowing for her! We had her on reserpine and it really helped but I just really don't want to rely on that. I have started one rein stops with her when she gets pushy but she very bullheaded and I'm not sure if I'm doing the correct thing and need to stick with it or am I just driving her nuts by picking on her? Lol any help is greatly appreciated :) |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
 
| I have an 8 yr old similar ! Be interesting to see what people say :) quite frankly I've done enough one rein stops to last me a lifetime lol ! I will say transitions help her relax some .. Trot , walk , trot , walk . Lope , trot etc .. Until she relaxes
Edited by Fancy Lass 2015-05-06 9:10 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 112
| I will definitely work on transitions with her! It's very frustrating lol but I know she can probably turn into a great barrel horse but her nerves get in her way :p
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 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | One of my horses was like that and I've always had to lunge him in the round pen before riding him, even as a teenager. If he hadn't been ridden over the winter, I would work him in the round pen for a week before I even dared to get on him. And I would still lunge him first before I got on. If we were going to a race, I would lunge him at home in the pen, and then I'd lunge him on a line at the show! Some of my girlfriends thought I was crazy but it helped him relax and focus. The only difference between my guy and what you're describing is he is not "bullheaded" at all. He has always been very willing. That makes things a bit easier. Have you tried a calming supplement? Perhaps she is deficient in one of the B vitamins or magnesium? |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
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We train our horses to be super reactive (sensitive), when we make any move we want them to jump NOW. I believe that could be what youre seeing when you start to lope her and if thats the case the horse needs to be desensitized more often.
Just my opinion, I dont know much... |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| Or lope her, then lope her some more... |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Sounds like she wants to work for you. She is just trying to hard. I would not lope her some and then lope her some more. Try being slow deliberate and confident while around her, especially with your hands. I bet if you PM'd uno-dos-tres she would be able to help or WrapSnap on here is a good one to ask. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Alberta, Canada | I have an ottb that is just like this. Has been checked for ulcers and not an issue. Have been feeding her down -- doesn't help. No matter how many transitions and how much slow work, still nervous and hot. Was recommended to try a magnesium supplement. Have it ordered and on the way so will see if it helps. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | I would give her Raspberry leaf twice a day in her feed. Animal Element also has In the Zone paste you can give an hour before a run to help keep them relaxed so they can focus better. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Maybe put her on B1 crumbles, or try Mare Magic..But its not going to work over night you need to give it time to get into her system. |
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Veteran
Posts: 112
| Thank you guys for all of the great suggestions! I rode her today in a ring type bit that LW makes and took the curb chain off and she was much less reactive to touch! She was still up in the bridle but settled in a little better. We ordered smart pak's calm supplement that I had heard good things about. I worked in just squeezing the reins when she would get a little "chargy" And it really helped her to come back down a little without over reacting. I also did some transitions and some one rein stops at the walk. She def by no means is quieter but was able to relax a little bit! I am also working on being the quiet one in the relationship like someone had mentioned on here! It really seems to help her, as she takes any discipline to heart! I'll keep you guys updated on the supplement and her progress :) and will continue to apply suggestions!  |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I would be keeping her on an ulcer preventative after I treat her for ulcers first, as I find these hot ones who loose composure are more prone to ulcers |
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| I think if there was a ruler of Hot/Nervous Mares - mine would be the absolute Queen of it. And I managed to get her riding on a loose rein in a snaffle, so there is hope! Lol. She used to be a psycho, ill spare the details. But, after her long break off (she got blown up in the alley too, go figure) and having a foal and everything, I started working with her again, after I got some advice from a trainer. Basically, she very very quickly would quit "thinking" and start using the reactive side of her brain, and that is when she would start her hyper moments. So, for example, if she started to think I was gonna take her nose in to work some circles, she instantly put together that soon enough she was going to be trotting/loping/etc, and started getting prancy/chargy on me. Or, if I were to take her on a trail and let her go faster than a walk, she would instantly lose any calm demeanor and I would be fighting her to walk the whole way home. The trainer I talked to suggested that every time SHE thinks she is going to do something (thinks shes going to trot circles, run, etc), to do something that she is completely not expecting. He used the term "blow her mind". So, if she were to start getting prancy and chargy on a trail, i could turn her in a few small circles, stop and back up, stand for a few seconds...you get the point.. literally anything that she does not expect. It gets their mind out of the reactive side and back into the thinking side. This has worked WONDERS on her. She is much easier to ride at home, and i have been hauling her to arenas with no "blown up" behavior at all :)
I hope all that made sense, it kind of came out as word vomit. Lol! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I would definitely check her for ulcers or maybe check magnesium levels. Make sure her teeth are good (young horses actually need their teeth checked more regularly). See if she's having any issues or pain in her lady parts (maybe check for cysts). Make sure she's not sore, hocks or stifles. My filly has been acting a little more bothered when she had pain there.
If you rule all that out, some of the desensitizing stuff other people mentions helps a ton. I will lunge one if they need it. Do things they don't expect. The big thing is to keep their feet moving and usually not in a straight line. Serpentines, lateral activities like sidepassing, going through poles, over cavelettis. All these help me get them focused. Breathing exercises help me personally too. It's amazing how much calmer a horse will feel if their rider also feels calm and confident. So I practice breathing exercises to relax me. If I'm relaxed they are more likely to relax. |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Make sure you're calm and relaxed all the time and consistent with that. Minimal reactions from you. When she spooks at something, just act it's not even there and doesn't exist.
The more training and sacking out and round pen / join up the better.
?Magnesium, having calcium to phosphorous ratios in check. No beet pulp, no molasses, no corn. I have had a lot of horses get hotter off of beet pulp. |
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