Are you 100% sure she was ridden before? Have her checked for physical issues by a chiropractor, vet or expierenced horseperson. Maybee that is why she "hasn't been ridden in a long time"

Dear dkhuds, don´t ask for too much and put in the long lining! Time is not important - Good horses are. When it comes to the horses Monty and the instructors start in 30 minutes includning the rider - we choose one out of at least 4 - take your time and make sure your horse have fun and that you have fun! Additional, From My Hands to Yours is wonderful!
Warmest CI Ann Lindberg

I am having the vet come out to just check her over, I thought of that also...yes I do know for sure she has been ridden.....hastpedagog when you say Monty and the instructors start in 30 minutes including the rider-choose one out of at least 4 I am not sure what you mean. I am fairly new to this, could you explain a little more...should I try to get on her if the vet says everything is ok? All advice is greatly appreciated!

Ann I am reading your post again....do you mean to pick one thing to work on for 30 minutes, should I do join up again with her?

Hopefully Ann will reply her herself. I think Ann is referring to Monty's demonstrations which take about 30 minutes per horse he chooses to use. Many horses are presented for Monty to choose from for his demonstrations so Monty only picks one horse out of every 4 or so presented with problems. He tends to choose the horses that he knows he can work with effectively in 30 minutes and the ones that will best demonstrate what he wishes to teach to his audience in the session. It does sound as if your horse may have a sore back or otherwise she has been mistreated by previous riders. Perhaps she fell badly in the past and her back now is damaged - the vet should have been able to pick this up but sometimes a physio or chiro is more successful. Can you possibly find out why she has not been ridden for so long and what she was like when she was ridden in the past? Here may lie the clue.

The man that had her used her for a brood mare....he was trying to get another champion reining horse...I have no respect for this man and it makes me angry to talk about him...anyway when I seen her she was in a nasty muddy lot, her tail was so tangled and dirty I had to cut alot of it out when I got her home. He was done with her and just wanted to get rid of her but he did ride her while I was there and I do know that he broke her the cowboy way (that explains alot I know). When I got her home of course I had the vet out and this was last fall. I did not ride her through the winter, just let her be a horse. When summer started I noticed she did not sweat at all, had the vet out and discovered she has anhydrosis so I could not ride her at all. Now that it is cooler in the early mornings I have started to work with her. I realize her past has alot to do with her reaction but I was hoping she trusted me by now to know I will not hurt her....I guess alot more ground work for now? Thanks for listening!

A lot of ground work is definitely needed, especially long-lining. This will teach her to move forward and respond to the reins. I think very few horses know how to rein properly because they are not taught. This type of work will do wonders for her and when you are ready to ride she will be much more responsive.
Good luck,

Hi - interesting that she went to bite your foot; I wonder if she has been 'toed' (i.e. kicked in the flanks either deliberately or throuhg clumsy mounting). Any signs of other issues in her girth area at all...uncomfortable/chewing her side anything like that? Nibbly when you are girthing up? If not and the longlining goes well I suggest introducing some articial legs if you have access to any/can make some (not always practical I appreciate) to see how she reacts to those.

No other signs of issues in her girth area, she was fine githing her up, no problem mounting up but the minute I sat in the saddle her whole body changed, ears flatten....she was not the happy relaxed horse I know. I am going to take your suggestions and do longlining with her first.

If she was to be used as a brood mare it does sound as if she has some serious issues. Disappointing I now but take her slowly with more ground work and see how she responds. Perhaps try her with join up in the saddle as Monty does and watch how she moves. Good luck with it.

Have you thought about using a dummy rider? There is another post on here about making one, and the Horse and Country TV Horsemanship Essentials series with Monty and Kelly Marks has a great video showing how to work from the ground with a dummy rider in the saddle.

Hi again! Sorry I was not that clear about the whole thing. I mean: Give the horse the time he/she needs, it is no rush and better you figure out what or were the problem is so to be safe. Sometimes it is easier to put the camera on while working with your horse and then you can assess yourself after - figure out little things that the horse reacts on and then go back to study the book and films from Monty again - often our horses becomes our mirror and figure out things before we know it - many times this happens because we are very emotionally attached to our horses. You will figure it out! One step at the time! Thanks to your horse you will learn so much about Equus and traumafree training! Good luck Warmest Ann Lindberg

Hi again All - I´m having a DEMO first week in october and a horse is signed up with the same problem as yours - I will film it - knowing it is pretty long till october, yet there might be some tips for you.
Warmest Ann Lindberg