Help!

Our transitions are just the worse and I'm getting really frustrated because I know she can do them she is just taking the mick to put it politely .

Her trot has gone to pieces and her trot to canter she just rushes and falls into it. When I try to steady her canter she just races or tenses and downward transitions are just impossible and messy . I've had her teeth and back checked and 99.9% certain she is taking the mick but I don't know what to do.

I've tried lots of halt-walk-trot transitions, circles, serpentines, leg yeilding, half halts etc and nothing seems to be working. I have a lesson booked on her next saturday but I don't want to go another week like this.

any helpful hints and tips appreciated...or else look out for a chestnut mare hitting the sales pages soon! (joke..well kind of...)

oh dear! sounds like you're really struggling..try not to worry too much though, it's amazing how much improvement can be made when you get a few good lessons under your belt. To look at your situation in a positive light, it's good that the trainer will be able to see exactly the problem you and your horse are experiencing.. Out of interest, who are you having a lesson with and how long have you had your horse?

Hi Bit of Both
I agree with Amanda. Although it's frustrating at the moment, it's amazing how help on the ground can see things better than when you're 'up top'.

Quite honestly, I've never really agreed with horses 'taking the mick' as such. There is obviously something going on that's not right, which is either your messages to her, or something's just not right with her. I've also known backs to be checked and something missed, ditto the mouth. I would really give her the benefit of the doubt or you'll just get more frustrated and stressed, and it's then a downward spiral. Horses are so often blamed and more often than not, there is something wrong somewhere. Not always, I know, but very often. Shame they can't speak!
Good luck with the lesson and let us know how it goes.

In response to your posts: she is a 19yr old, 15hh arab (chestnut mare with white socks..argh)but doesn't look a day over 8 or act a day over 4. I have photos of her on/jill1982scotland.spaces.msn.com under "shiraz" in the photo albums, they are when she was unfit and soft before she was brought back into work; not looking her best.Her conformation isn't the best...

In her first home she raced and then competed successfully in dressage, jumping and cross- country although her owner was an amazing rider and trained in Germany for many, many years and I'm not in that league!

My mum bought her when she was 11 (the horse not my mum) as she has always wanted an arab and just fell in love with Shiraz when she seen her (she is registered/was called Siham but Shiraz suits her better- the floozy footballer's wife of the horse world!). Mum just wanted her as a hack but she didn't exactly fit that bill. She had always been allowed to gallop home so she had a "bolting for home problem" (we've almost fixed it 8yrs later but she still has a tendancy to jog when she is hyper/stressed) and she was involved in an accident where she lost her rider, was chased by a lorry and went over a 5 bar gate - she still has scars (white hair now) on the underneath of her stomach and is terrified from lorries.

My mum gave up riding 2years ago and that's when I took over Shiraz(June 2004). I've ridden for 17yrs but not ridden Shiraz seriously/constantly since last August; since then it's just been short hacks although I have ridden and had lessons on other horses. I moved livery yard and now have access to a school so that has made a difference.

She's been to the Dick Vet in Edinburgh for a total examination of her back and everything else as the vet couldn't find anything but neither could the Dick Vet. She's had 2 saddle fitters out to her and her saddle custom made (english). She gets her teeth done every 6mths by a fully qualified BEVA/BAEDT dental technician and I've been fortunate to spend a day with him while he worked and he really is top notch.

There is something wrong with her though as she throws her saddle to the right meaning that the left panel ends up on her spine - it's not just my riding as the same happens with whoever rides her. I have used/do use gel pads, back risers, poly pads, etc and her saddle is custom made and checked/reflocked (higher on right side to try to stop it moving over) and she is much stiffer on her right side.

I've had a physio out to her and he agree that she is stiffer on that side and gave me exercises to do, but couldn't see any serious problems.

I know that my riding has gone downhill since I got her as I have picked up bad habits from riding her and have adjusted my balance so I put more weight on the left to try to keep the saddle straight.

I ride her english but was trying to train her western but we had the same problems so I thought that I had better get some control in english again before trying western. I know this is a western site but horses are horses and I really am desperate.

There is no one experienced at the yard to help from the ground and like you both said it is different when you are "up top". I can talk the talk when I am on the ground helping others but I am finding it really difficult when I am riding her to "walk the walk".

I don't have a box so can't get to places to have lessons or go to clinics but am getting the instructress that the others on the yard use for a lesson a week on Saturday.

It's really frustrating because when strange people are on her she acts like an absolute angel and although she still gets excited in canter and is stiff in corners she isn't as bad, she is even better behaved when novices ride her (for the first/only time). This then leads people to believe that there is nothing wrong with her but there is as both I and my mum can testify (the only people who have ridden her constantly). I am worried about getting this intructress because if she jumps on Shiraz she will go like a dream and I just look a fool and an incapable one at that. Not that I really bother what I look like I just want what is best for my horse but then the instructress doesn't get the full picture.

I really do think she has "issues" though, the polite way of saying she has a screw loose.

I really am at the end of my tether, it is taking all my enjoyment out of riding and I am just worried about her. I did consider loaning her out/selling her but I am worried that she ends up in the wrong hands as why would anyone experienced enough to ride her want with her at 19 and I know that she drives me to despair so I am just worried what would happen if she done the same to the wrong person. I know I am just rambling now sorry, extremely stressed and worried. As was mentioned earlier everything is spiralling downhill rapidly! HELP!!

In response to your posts: she is a 19yr old, 15hh arab (chestnut mare with white socks..argh)but doesn't look a day over 8 or act a day over 4. I have photos of her on/jill1982scotland.spaces.msn.com under "shiraz" in the photo albums, they are when she was unfit and soft before she was brought back into work; not looking her best.Her conformation isn't the best...

In her first home she raced and then competed successfully in dressage, jumping and cross- country although her owner was an amazing rider and trained in Germany for many, many years and I'm not in that league!

My mum bought her when she was 11 (the horse not my mum) as she has always wanted an arab and just fell in love with Shiraz when she seen her (she is registered/was called Siham but Shiraz suits her better- the floozy footballer's wife of the horse world!). Mum just wanted her as a hack but she didn't exactly fit that bill. She had always been allowed to gallop home so she had a "bolting for home problem" (we've almost fixed it 8yrs later but she still has a tendancy to jog when she is hyper/stressed) and she was involved in an accident where she lost her rider, was chased by a lorry and went over a 5 bar gate - she still has scars (white hair now) on the underneath of her stomach and is terrified from lorries.

My mum gave up riding 2years ago and that's when I took over Shiraz(June 2004). I've ridden for 17yrs but not ridden Shiraz seriously/constantly since last August; since then it's just been short hacks although I have ridden and had lessons on other horses. I moved livery yard and now have access to a school so that has made a difference.

She's been to the Dick Vet in Edinburgh for a total examination of her back and everything else as the vet couldn't find anything but neither could the Dick Vet. She's had 2 saddle fitters out to her and her saddle custom made (english). She gets her teeth done every 6mths by a fully qualified BEVA/BAEDT dental technician and I've been fortunate to spend a day with him while he worked and he really is top notch.

There is something wrong with her though as she throws her saddle to the right meaning that the left panel ends up on her spine - it's not just my riding as the same happens with whoever rides her. I have used/do use gel pads, back risers, poly pads, etc and her saddle is custom made and checked/reflocked (higher on right side to try to stop it moving over) and she is much stiffer on her right side.

I've had a physio out to her and he agree that she is stiffer on that side and gave me exercises to do, but couldn't see any serious problems.

I know that my riding has gone downhill since I got her as I have picked up bad habits from riding her and have adjusted my balance so I put more weight on the left to try to keep the saddle straight.

I ride her english but was trying to train her western but we had the same problems so I thought that I had better get some control in english again before trying western. I know this is a western site but horses are horses and I really am desperate.

There is no one experienced at the yard to help from the ground and like you both said it is different when you are "up top". I can talk the talk when I am on the ground helping others but I am finding it really difficult when I am riding her to "walk the walk".

I don't have a box so can't get to places to have lessons or go to clinics but am getting the instructress that the others on the yard use for a lesson a week on Saturday.

It's really frustrating because when strange people are on her she acts like an absolute angel and although she still gets excited in canter and is stiff in corners she isn't as bad, she is even better behaved when novices ride her (for the first/only time). This then leads people to believe that there is nothing wrong with her but there is as both I and my mum can testify (the only people who have ridden her constantly). I am worried about getting this intructress because if she jumps on Shiraz she will go like a dream and I just look a fool and an incapable one at that. Not that I really bother what I look like I just want what is best for my horse but then the instructress doesn't get the full picture.

I really do think she has "issues" though, the polite way of saying she has a screw loose.

I really am at the end of my tether, it is taking all my enjoyment out of riding and I am just worried about her. I did consider loaning her out/selling her but I am worried that she ends up in the wrong hands as why would anyone experienced enough to ride her want with her at 19 and I know that she drives me to despair so I am just worried what would happen if she done the same to the wrong person. I know I am just rambling now sorry, extremely stressed and worried. As was mentioned earlier everything is spiralling downhill rapidly! HELP!!

Hi

I have often wondered if I dare post a message! I too live in Scotland, about 20 miles from you. Your horse and possible pain in its back have stirred me into action. I do not use vets initially if there is nothing obvious in terms of cause of lameness. My first port of call for my lot - 10 quarter horses a rare breed Eriskay mare and a rake of Shetlands, is a Chiropractor.
I can be reached via my web site if you would like a chat - find this public domain a bit intimadating!
www.sttsquarterhorses.com

PS Love the new site western shop site , now I have the hang of it!