What it's like to ride a slightly stubborn and anxious mare and be a novice rider at the same time! Love my mare Ziggy. Tho it starts off slow we had an awesome ride and she got a nice shower and hay after!
People I've talked to recommend spurs. I don't use regular spurs but I do use something call bumper spurs. I alternate with them on vs. off. She gets used to them so it's a good idea to alternate. I've also been warned to get ready for a rodeo of you kick with regular spurs. Spurs require some experience and you should try to roll them up the side of the horse instead of kick. Jody Swink also didn't have us kick our horses. I can tell you for sure kicking does not work on Ziggy. I used to kick quite a bit and with bumpers too. She bronc'd once and I was off LOL!
You probably do/don't want the advice but i always look to share some if someone hasn't already in hopes that someone can continue to become the best rider you can be! No hate here at all.. just support. (: - So spurs arent really ever needed once you know your horse and yourself.. Pressure, feeling, touch and go is all you really need. There has to be a level of a bond and understanding to have the respect needed between rider and horse and that takes time but mainly effort and the want to know your partner under saddle. - Horses that trust their rider are more willing to go through things than other horses who might have to be bribed... So giving her that treat was never going to be a good idea because you were rewarding her not going forward; the treat will never give her courage to go forward.. Try to save the treats for later or after big learning moments if you like. - When she kept wanting to go back to the barn (right) I'd have kept my pressure of the reins on going left and released pressure the moment she'd give the slightest give to going left instead of right. I also do not use bits lol.. I find there is a lot more response from the horse to rider when not using bits because bits mainly cause pain and uncomfortableness in the mouth so I use pressure point rope halter with reins.. The message of right, left, stop; especially your one rein stop is just translated so much smoother/more natural to the horse... but I also know my horse, what to expect at times of anything, and in so what to do to be able to counter the situation that might occur. - I don't think Ziggy is so much stubborn as she is acknowledging that you're still not as far along in riding as you need to be with her and in that she does not feel the leadership in the situation and wants to try and take charge herself when she doesn't feel comfortable.. hence her trying to stay near the barn. So being in the big wide open as the only horse compared to being with another horse sure can be a lot; she is a prey animal after all. - So good luck in your adventures with ziggy and Id say work on having better direction in leading where you want to go and only change directions if it means you're putting more pressure/movement in going back towards the barn than you are going away from the barn.. She'd definitely learn that it's less pressure to just go then to try and return to the barn. Both of those things should help.
@@wolfbaneking Much appreciated. I can always use constructive advice as yours. Will try some of the pressure-release you mention. I agree I think that will work more than treats! And agree to save that for the big stuff. She does better in a group ride when going out. She also likes to explore new trails and protests more on trails she's ridden over and over again. But, can't always find a new trail so she's going to have to learn that we can explore after we get past those sticky point. Thanks much!
From the UK. Not sure how I stumbled across your vlog but I'm not upset about it haha. This was lovely to watch you work through Ziggys moments, we call it napping here where they do everything but go forward as want to be home. The mind set 'they can never win' really boils my piss(makes me angry) having your calm quiet mind set to work through her napping making the wrong choice more work by quietly backing her up, side pass etc so that her choice is to pick the easier option of going forward in the direction you would like is refreshing to see. Builds a better partnership and trust with them for sure, especially getting off to help negotiate with them I like that your trainer promotes walking off at the end of a ride🫶
@@caesarchaves4978 yeah whips are a forcing tool and are for people who don't do ground work or really any work with their horse to build a bond and just want the immediate response/option when faced with a hurdle. Good on ya !
