Hi everyone, this is my 10yo mare. She has always been very ‘difficult’ to ride and especially to show. Classic mare stereotype. She is generally unwilling and wants to hollow out instead of go around collected. She is incredibly sweet on the ground and extremely easy to lunge, going around completely comfortable at every gait and showing no signs of lameness or stiffness when on the ground. When you are riding her, however, it is a different story.

This is how my horse starts off loping on a lead. She DOES work out of it and go around more comfortable, but I feel extremely suspicious of the fact that this is how she starts out. I am completely aware that she is not pushing through well, she is refusing, she only starts to lift herself and go around more collected once she’s been loped around for a minute or two. I only showed the worst video, I can include her going around well also. This is her being ridden for the first time after 1 month of rest with only turnout and lunging. She is, in general, very pushy and is a horse that you have to ‘make’ do something, she’s not broke and automatic whatsoever, she will often actively fight you especially in the show pen. She can be lean-y with her shoulders. This is NOT a problem that only I have had with her, this is with every trainer that has had her and person who has ridden her.

I have consulted with multiple vets about what to do for her. She has gotten acupuncture, chiropractic, cleared from the possibility of kissing spine (just took x-rays), has been on ulcer medications (ulcer guard and gastro), is on multiple supplements and receiving pretty much the highest care you can give, UTD on teeth, just got SI and hocks injected. My vet does not know what her problem is. I will be having a saddle fitter out soon however she has had lots of different saddles on and had the same issues. I’m really at a loss of what to do with her.

This is a mare that has been the most difficult horse in the barn pretty much at every trainer I have taken her to, she was always this way, just generally unwilling. She can’t buck (too stiff) but will raise herself off the ground in a half rear when she refuses and frequently throws her head and gaps her mouth. Can get rushy on lead changes and really leans her shoulder trying to refuse them on a certain lead. She chews the bit anxiously and will open her mouth when she’s not wearing a noseband and even when you are not applying pressure to the bit. Speeds through transitions if you try to go from lope>trot>walk, etc., doesn’t like slowing down and will run off with you if you don’t stop her. Really want to help her but I don’t know what to do.

Hoping someone else has had a similar situation and found a solution. Thank you for any help. This is not the worst video I have just the most recent after her break