My horse keeps stopping when I try to move her foward. What else can I try?

I have an 18 year old QH mare. We got her from a rescue in March and she's been great, until recently. When we got her she was slightly underweight and we were worked on building her up weight and strengthening by riding her lightly around the race track. Well, that barn turned into a nightmare and we moved to a new wonderful barn where she's getting fed properly and has gained enough weight to be where she should be. Now, she's acting up when I'm riding her. I haven't done anything different than I had been. We thought maybe since she's gained weight the saddle might fit different so we changed saddles to a full quarter horse bars, no luck. I was thinking maybe it's time for her teeth to be floated and the snaffle was pinching, so I tried a rope halter, which I have also rode her with before, no luck. She'll start with walking and as soon as I squeeze with my legs and cluck (our cue for her to trot) she stops on a dime and pins her ears back and will not budge. I can........

My horse keeps stopping when I try to move her foward. What else can I try?
I hate to say this but she's really got your number. If she stops dead and the only consequence is that you turn her away from the direction that you were trying to make her go in, then she has succeeded in her mission not to go forward. Backing her up is again one of the worst things that you can do. You start with the intention of moving forward, she refuses so you allow her to turn or go backwards. You have done all the appropriate things such as checking the saddle, getting weight on her, having her teeth floated. The fact that she only does it when you ride her or ask her to go certain places indicates to me that she is just plain out trying it on and so far, she's got away with it. She's feeling good and you aren't forcing the issue. It's time to step up and show her that you mean what you say, no more turning out of it or backing up, it's forwards and that's how it is even if it means a good slap with a crop. Be prepared though to do battle because she now thinks that she is top dog. I should also mention that you might want to consider the fact that she ended up in a resuce in the first place because she pulled stuff like this and the previous owners couldn't deal with her. If it comes to it, pay someone more experienced to ride her a couple of times to get her past this block.


Good luck!
Reply:While the tender spot on her hoof may hurt a bit, if she isn't bobbing her head at the walk or trot, I doubt that is what is causing her refusal to move forward. It sounds like barn/buddy sour to me. When she does this, the trick is to make it more work for her to balk than to go forward. When she stops, immediately ask for her to back up, sidepass, turn on the forehand or haunches, anything to keep her feet moving. Eventually she will find that simply walking forward is easier and less work than balking.





In the past when my horse gave me problems in certain areas, I would go back to ground work. Try taking her to the point where she balks, then lunging her on a short lead, asking for frequent changes of direction. When she has done this a few times, ask her to walk forward past you, then turn her around and send her back the other direction.





Whether you do something on the ground, or mounted, try to avoid getting her too 'up', as horses that don't want to go forward can resort to rearing, which is a habit none of us want. Just have a lot of patience and you will work through this.





Good luck!
Reply:It sounds like she is feeling swell now and her true colors are shining through. Can you longe her?? This is a great aid to show her you mean business from a safer place than the saddle. When she balks, get after her and make her go. Use the verbals cues you'll use from the saddle to reinforce them. If you don't know how to longe or she's even worse with this, you may need to resort to spurs or a crop to enforce your cues. I had a horse who figured out the Stonewall jackson routine and a bulldozer could not budge him when he got like that. Fortunately, the place I boarded him had a round pen and I could work through his attitude from the ground in there a lot better than from his back. He did not care what you did up there, you could use a cattle prod, he was a stone statue, amen. Once he realised I was bigger than he was and could MAKE him do what he didn't want to do, he got better. Is there someone around who can help you work through this? It might be safer than you by yourself as she may just decide to blow up and lose you once and for all.
Reply:what is in her feed? you mentioned a recent change in diet and that can greatly affect a horse if its something high in energy or just has too much of something. it could deffinetly alter her moods.
Reply:it could be that spot, and shoes just on the back or just on the front (depending on if that tender spot is on a front foot or back foot) can help.
Reply:Out of curiosity, are you sitting up straight enough in the saddle? This is probably something you're already aware of, but I know when I'm up on this one horse in particular, the minute I lean the slightest bit forward at a walk or trot, he stops dead in his tracks. Just a thought...
Reply:It sounds to me as though she's just acting up, and that it's not a pain issue. If you've had her thoroughly checked all over, back, teeth, legs, etc and checked that all of her tack fits well and properly, then she must be acting up. Unless she's in season? she could be a bit sore around her belly because of it, and that could effect how she goes. The way to tell if she is in season is to see if she keeps on lifting her tail and presenting when around stallions (and the stallions go mad!!) or even just geldings. If she is in season, then leave her a couple of days and then ride her, and see if it's any better.





If she isn't in season, then the only possibility left is that she's acting up. Maybe get an instructor in and get some lungeing lessons to see if she behaves then etc, and your instructor can help you move her on. Also, maybe try and do more ground work with her, groom her, talk to her etc. And why not get someone to ride her while you're leading her? and vice versa too!





hope i helped!! =D
Reply:I think that you have several things going on at once, some that you didn't have to deal with before. First of all, she is getting more and better feed, she feels better and is going to have more energy to back up her stubborness. Now, there can be more than one reason why she is barn sour...it could just be that she likes it better at the barn now, she is getting better care, better feed. Now, she also has made a new barn buddy that she doesn't want to leave either, so there are two things right that that could cause you problems. Now, this is something that I think you should always think about. "You are always training your horse when you are with it." You are either reinforcing positive behavior or reinforcing negative behavior. So, if you can't inforce your commands without a crop, you are in a sense, reinforcing bad behavior and teaching your mare that she can do what she wants, when she wants and you can't/won't do anything about it. I would guess that if you led her away from the barn, you wouldn't have any trouble getting her to walk, with you on her back) back to the barn, quite happily. That should tell you exactly what is going on. If this happens, you know that it isn't a physical thing, it's a spoiled thing, and you can do something about it. I know, I know, I am about to tell you to do something that a lot of folks either won't understand or don't care to, but try it, it is harmless to the horse and is very effective in breaking them from the bad habit of being married to the barn and who or what is in it. If I encounter even the slighest bid of balk, I will try one time to use regular leg , voice and crop aids to urge the horse on...if he doesn't move along, [away from the barn], I won't fight with him, I will let him fight with himself..I will immediately get off, take one rein and tie it up out of the way around his neck [just so he doesn't step on it and take the closest rein and tie it around to either the back cinch or the stirrup just far enough that if I were sitting on him, I could see his eye that is on the inside of the circle. This does NOT hurt the horse in any way, but it does teach him to give and that he isn't the boss, and it is immediate...there is no hitting, no yelling, no nothing, he is doing it to himself.. again, I mention, it doesn't hurt the horse, it just aggrivates him enough that when you untie, and get back on and ask him to move forward, he would rather do that than what he was doing. If he goes a few steps and them either balks or whirls around towards the barn, get off and repeat the process. I have taken a lot of really problem, barn sour horses though this and have yet to have it fail...plus, you don't push them into bucking, rearing, kicking up, anything like that. If you don't understand what I mean by tying his head around, ask me again and I will explain again, as if you do it to tight, it accomplishes nothing, because he will comply to the pressure and still not get away from it...he needs to be able to be instantly rewarded when he gives in, physically and mentally. Yes, this works, yes this is humane, yes this will keep you and others from getting injured, yes this will keep your horse from getting injured...so, there is no reason not to do it.
Reply:I sold a mare that was like that, your isn't bay with a KC brand on her hip is she?? LOL





When they get that soured, its alot of work to bring them out of it.





She's 18, she probably did this number before you owned her and now your seeing her true colors since shes all healed up.





Have you tried spurs, a riding crop etc.???





If this beast was mine and being that she hasn't been with me long enough, I would probably send her down the road.
Reply:sounds like the click might spook her a little bit, try a soft kiss sound, or some thing OTHER Than that, constantly reassure her its ok, maybe when she decides to stop, get off walk her in a couple circles, walk her past her own point of stopping, then back to show her its ok, get back on but move in the opposite direction, the way u just came to show her that no matter what ways she's going she's fine.
Reply:My horse used to balk all of the time. I used to be against spurs until I learned a little more about them. I was always afraid that they would gouge into my horse. False! I started to use them and now my horse walks and trots no problem. I don't even have to use the spurs now but I still wear them just to let him know that they are still there!!!Good Luck.
Reply:well there could be several reasons shes not going! when you have her saddle on and you are sitting in the saddle can you reach forward and stick your fingers under the pomell and her withers and check to see that there is enough clearance between the pomell and her withers? if the saddle is pinching her in the withers or shoulders she may not want to continue in that saddle? crow hoping and other small signs like ears going back, planting and not responding could all be signs that the saddle could be too small!!! check after you ride her or lunge her in an arena with the saddle on work her for 20-30 minutes to get a sweat pattern take the saddle off and see if there are any dry spots around the withers or shoulders if there are then the saddle is too tight and most likely pinching her!!! if you check all those points and the saddle is fine then it could be she is just being stubborn! she might still be a little sour or unsure of her new enviorment if you just recently moved her! if her teeth needed to be done she would be dropping alot of food at feeding time and throwing her head around with the bit in her mouth! sometimes when you get a rescue horse and start to take better care of them they start to feel better and asert a little extra energy or stubborness remember you had to rescue her for a reason so you will have little corks you will have to figure out and overcome. good luck and good for you for rescuing her!!! if you have any questions about saddles or anything else feel free to contact me via e-mail or you can call all tacked up saddles and tack in norco,ca @951-272-1243 ask for andrea
Reply:Sounds to me like you need a trainer to teach you how to train your horse!!! Not meaning this mean just to help you.
Reply:I have a gelding that did and still does the same thing. When we got him he came from a neglective owner with a paasture mate. we took him in and not too long after we started haveing forward issues. We took him to the vet and they did accupuncture and accupressure and then they took a sample of his blood and we found out that he had ulcers. He has done really well since we found out and it has helped that we started him on Orchard Grass Pellets and Aloe Gel/juice. We have also had a herbtologist come out and look at him to figure out if we could get him on a diet of all natural things.








Don't know if this will help you but it sounds like your horse and mine are close to each other personality wise).
Reply:Assuming she has a clean bill of health...no pains ect..Back her up back her up back her up... with lots of leg pressure. then when you stop or run in to the wall or fence and she moves forward... let loose of the leg pressure as a reward.. over and over.. she will get it..
Reply:Well, assuming all physical issues have been ruled out, I agree with Lisa that this mare has your number. And if you won't use spurs/crop, then you need to get a trainer or more experienced rider to get this horse going because she will get nowhere with you allowing her to get her way. When she balks, smack her with the crop(in addition to your leg and voice aids) if she doesn't respond to your leg and voice aids first. You need to be firm and make her do what you want her to do. She is getting rewarded every time you give up, so of course she will continue. So, get a crop or let a more experienced horseman get her going before she decides to resort to worse behavior.





Also, she would benefit from being taught voice commands from the longe, and then carry them over to riding under saddle.
Reply:Bumper spurs - just a little encouragement. Obviously on your horse I wouldn't suggest use of a sprocket spur or a hard jab. My gelding has this thing where he stops and doesn't want to move or when he slows down without my cue - when mom's got on bumper spurs he behaves himself.
Reply:im glad you asked this ??? my mare does the same thing im thinking maybe her saddle

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