i feel like an....

[hoovesfirst]

idiot! i am going to ride a horse at the stable that i have permission to exercise while my horse is still healing. I was told i should lung her because she is supposed to be really calm but hasn't been ridden a year. Well i lunged her and she just took off! she ran and ran and ran! and ran somemore faster and slower and bucked and pranced well i feel like an idiot because i couldnt control her she completley ignored me and i was scared sh***less!(excuse my language)i dont know how ill be able to ride her:( it took me 10min to get her to me then she spooked again andwas off and i yelled formy dadd for help sohe helped me take her back to her stall. So i feel like a retard but im determined...

[mandyicequeen14]

Omg im so sorry that happened. But the only idiot is the person who said that she would be quiet after a year of not being ridden, or worked w/. Its a good thing u lunged her, otherwise there could have been a serious problem.

[DawningHope]

You are NOT an idiot. Horses are unpredictable, even a "bombproof" horse can have an off day. I would start small. Work with her, keep lunging her until she improves. If she takes off in the arena she has to stop sometime. Just give it time! Oh! Always end on a good note, even if that means getting her to walk once around the arena with you by her side, its important not to end badly b/c then she'll get her way.

[ForeverEquine]

Sounds like to me she needs a good lesson in dominance. She's been without authority so long that she feels she can bully whomever she wants. Do you have access to a round pen? If so, I would free lunge her until she submits. Basically just make her run circles around the pen until she settles down and will come to you with her head lowered. It's the same treatment wild horses give new members of the herd. This way, she will learn respect for you and see you as the more dominant "mare". I would definitely have someone assist though if you've never done this before because horses can definitely be unpredictable. I've had amazing results with this strategy. Definitely don't get on her until she respects you fully on the ground. This will ensure both your safety.

I wish you the best and good luck!

[painthorsegirl101]

it's good that person trusts you enough with that horse, but they WERE stupid to tell you that she was calm. If i were you i wouldn't ride her until sh eshows u some respect. I'm having to do sort of the same thing with fedex everytime he acts up. just make her run for as long as she needs to her mind straight. But, ALWAYS end on a good note, so that she will try at it again and not be even worse.

What breed is the horse? If it's a high-spirited breed that might be part of the problem seeing as how they are unpredictable most all the time. Stay alert with her at all times, because the second you let your guard down, she'll try and do something crazy. Don't let her win the fight, because then she will learn that she can get away with whatever she wants.

[Sheza_Angel]

Agreed. This horse has some obvious dominance and behavioral issues. My mare once did this and I couldn't figure out why until I noticed that she was eyeballing something and had actually done it because she spooked. Do try free longeing. It works miracles sometimes. It didn't take long at all for me to get the mini I helped train in my class last semester for a college course to respond to my cues. This little gal was a bit dominant at first since she hasn't been made to do anything in a while.

[StarGirl]

There are very few horses in this world that can go a year without being ridden and still be the same, sweet horse they were before. You're not an idiot, these things happen in the horse world...don't worry, with more time, the horse will get back into the swing of things.

[mandyicequeen14]

I suggest just watching video's on how to gain trust, and dominance, and also on free lunging (or how ever u learn best, I learn best by watching) I would also do it but I dont have access to a round pen, or an arena just yet.

[hoovesfirst]

im a big believer in join up (free lunging natural horsemanship),the mare is an arabian, and i own an arabian. Now the thing is that i am 12 and she is a un worked arabian that is 15.2hh! and the truth is im not comfortable letting her loose in the middle of that:(i do know what you mean though. I have been for the past few days getting her into a roughtine of being turned out with a friend for 30min then walking her and then i tack her up and do a little more each day. I also got my dad to help me and just be there in case i need him which helps alot! the truth is im just feeling scared of her i guess and thats why i felt baD because i am usually not very scared you cant make a horse submit to you if your scared ill try the loose approuch when i feel more...comfortable thanks for the help! :)