Reader: I have a Thoroughbred mare that I bought for my daughter. She is about 10 years old and was used for jumping. I was told she was out of competition for two years because she was bred. My daughter wants to continue using her for jumping. However, when my daughter rides her she sometimes bucks and rears. Can you help us?
Charles: I have had a similar experience training a horse like that. Her name was Molly and she had been used for Eventing and was an outstanding jumper. Molly was then bred, which caused her not to be ridden for about two years due to giving birth and weaning.
From listening to what Molly’s owner was telling me, I surmised there was a combination of issues that caused the horse to react this way. First when a horse has not been ridden for that length of time, it starts acting like a horse again. I believe this combined with the horse’s Thoroughbred breeding, which caused it to be “hot,” was causing the problem. I knew if not handled properly this could become an even more dangerous situation for the rider. Though the horse was experienced in Eventing, because it had been out of training so long, I decided to reschool it. In other words, I would need to start over with the basics.
For the first two or three days, I worked on teaching Molly how to lunge. I used a 14’ line, cowboy halter and horsemen’s cane/small lunge whip (for more detailed information on this exercise and others, see my newest book, Starting Baby Jaz). I also put boots on her legs to protect them. When I started lunging her, I was surprised to find out that the mare did not know how to lunge, even though she was 9 years old. I started with lunging for two reasons: first, to take some of the freshness off her and secondly, because I wanted to teach her to pay attention to me. When I first took her out to lunge she was paying attention to everything around the arena but me!
I decided to work with her on a line instead of a round pen. The reason was that not many horse owners have round pens and I wanted the owners to continue the training at home. It does take a little longer to teach a horse on a line. Your goal is to be able to eventually lunge the horse on a 25’ or 30’ line with the same results. I want her to work with her nose slightly to the inside and, depending on the size of the circle, for there to be an arc to her body. Also each time I ask her to stop her feet, I want her to pause and look at me with both eyes. The reason is it gives her an opportunity to pay attention to me. This mare may not want to give me her attention in the beginning and it may take two or three days before she is willing to. But by being consistent and persistent, I knew I would get the desired effect and that once I got her attention I would have a more willing student who will learn.
It took me about four sessions that ran from about 20 to 30 minutes each to get her to start looking at me after I stopped her feet (I had to limit the time because the mare was out of shape and the work was demanding for her). Once I saw a 30 to 40 percent change in her attitude - in other words she was paying attention, her eyes were soft (not white-eyed and buggy) her head was down (not up in the air) and I could stop her feet on a light cue - then I started sacking Molly out. First I sacked her out with just the horsemen’s cane, by rubbing the stick lightly on her legs, hindquarters, head and neck.
Next, I attached a plastic bag to the cane. For most horses, a plastic bag represents something scary and threatening. I used this to sack the horse out until it was quite comfortable and relaxed and I could touch every part of her body with the bag. Next, I went into my round pen and taught her to lunge with a 5’ tarp on the line dragging. I then progressed to the tarp exercise where I placed the tarp on her.
In addition to these exercises, I taught the mare ground manners and how to tie, not only at a hitching post, but also in cross ties without pawing.
Once the horse was comfortable with all these exercises, I put a saddle on her and went into the round pen (I recommend doing this in a small confined area). Even though the horse was ridden english, I put a western saddle on her. I find if anything does happen I am more secure with a western saddle. Now some english horses are not used to a rear cinch so I had to get her used to this.
Usually, by the time all these preliminary exercises are done, I find the emotional level of most horses has improved by 80 percent and that now I have a willing student.
Next month, I will continue talking about this horse, the additional training exercises I did and the positive results of all this work!
If you have any questions, please visit me online at www.charleswilhelm.com.

God Bless,

Charles Wilhelm
It’s Never Ever the Horse’s Fault