Has anybody ever had a horse that, the more you ride it, the worse it gets?

It sounds as though there is more than one issue at work here. First of all, I agree with the idea that you need to have Chika examined by your vet to rule out potential medical problems. The mare needs to have her back, legs, feet, and her teeth and mouth checked to rule out conditions which may be causing her pain. The next thing to consider is the tack which Kaylee is using- has it been checked by an instructor or a professional to be sure that it fits Chika and is adjusted correctly? A saddle or cinch/girth that pinches or rubs will not only cause pain and make the horse sore, but it can contribute in a major way to behavior problems. I have a mare myself, and I must use a neoprene elastic girth on her if I want to keep her from getting girth galls and sores.

Once medical and tack problems have been ruled out, there are some other things you need to pay attention to. One of these is Chika's diet and living situation. Is she confined in a stall most of the time, or is she outside at all during the day? What is she being fed- and how often is she getting it? Horses which are stabled and have no chance to get outside for exercise are going to be much more hyper and silly than horses which are either turned out or which live outside the great majority of the time, the way our horses do. As far as diet goes, you will want to have Kaylee cut down on the amount of sweet feed ( assuming that's what you are feeding Chika) that the mare is getting, as well as switch from say, an alfalfa hay to a timothy or grass hay, which has a lower energy content. Sweet feeds are normally loaded with molasses, which itself is a by product of the sugar refining process. There are some breeds of horses, such as Arabs and Thoroughbreds, along with some Quarter Horses, which lack the ability to metabolize the sugar that molasses contains, and if they are fed large amounts of sweet feeds, it tends to make them hyper,crazy, and hard to ride and train. At Chika's age, she may very well need to be on a lower sugar diet- and it wouldn't hurt her to keep an eye on her for signs of Cushing's disease as well. (Ask your vet about this when he/she comes to examine Chika for medical problems.) I would also recommend that the mare get as much time outside of her stall, with other horses, as possible. She needs to have something to do besides stare at the walls of her stall- that would drive any animal nuts after a time, and it also would make most people I know crazy.

Now, as far as riding goes, Kaylee definitely needs to take some lessons with an instructor who can help her learn how to work with Chika productively. Riding and training a horse is NOT just a matter of "showing the horse who's boss" as you put it. The horse and rider are a team, and are partners to each other, and in order for the relationship to work, they must learn to communicate and cooperate with one another. If Chika wants to buck and play while being ridden, having Kaylee smack her with the reins won't solve a damm thing. It would be better for Kaylee to longe Chika first, before she gets on the mare, so that Chika will have a chance to run her energy off and will be more patient and willing to listen and do what she's told. The mare needs to work for a good 30 minutes on the longe line, EVERY DAY, before she is ridden by anyone. This will take some of the nonsense and excess energy out of her. Another thing I'd strongly recommend ( and this is based on my years as a certified riding instructor and manager of a large, 40 horse herd) is that Kaylee carry a crop or whip when she rides, and that she learn to use it when the mare acts up. Chika NEEDS discipline- she is lazy and spoiled to some degree, and the bucking that Kaylee saw was an attempt to get out of working very hard. When Chika bucks, or tries to buck, the only reward that should ever bring her is more WORK, and A LOT of it !!!! Smacking a horse with the reins is ineffective, and it can be dangerous, because most bridles are NOT made with reins that can be effectively used as a whip. By smacking Chika with them, Kaylee was also inadvertently yanking on Chika's mouth, and I am sure the mare didn't appreciate the sharp jolt she got in her mouth when Kaylee did this. Most horses hate being pulled on like that- and the fact that Kaylee found it necessary to do this tells me that she is still very much a beginner rider and needs to be in lessons with a good coach. Chika's behavior problems are related to the fact that she has been ridden by a beginner for long periods of time, not her age or hormones. Up to now, she has been able to get away with behaviors that a more experienced rider or trainer would never tolerate- and now that Kaylee has aquired some skills and is asking more of the mare, Chika resents it. Hence the bucking and evasive behvavior, which is just the mare's way of saying that she doesn't want to put up with being yanked on or being made to work any harder than necessary.

I would encourage you to try some of the things mentioned here- and very definitely, have your vet come and examine Chika to make sure she's not in pain or sore somewhere. Have Kaylee try longeing her before she rides her- if she doesn't know how to do this, she needs to have an instructor show her the basics of longeing correctly and safely. Check the tack, and have an instructor check it as well. Good luck to both you and Kaylee, and I hope this helps.

i think this could be true. when the horse feels that the rider is intimidated or does not show the horse who the boss is, the horse feels like doing anything she wants to do. i had a horse who was just like that...well kind of. the horse would kick everytime somebody whipped her. the best thing to do(acording to me) is to wear spurs.but if your child is a begginer, than maybe let her wear it after she has had more expirience. when Kaylee rides Chika and if Chika bucks, Kaylee should try to hit her once with her whip(on the back, not on the neck) and continue to ride normally, as if noothing happened. if thehorse does it again, Kaylee should stop it, make it go backwards(by pulling both rains simutanisly, about 3 stepps) and keep riding. making the horse go back wards is meant to be a punishment for the horse. Kaylee should feel confident and strong while riding, the horse will feel it and in time Chika will realise who the boss is, and she will be the fine horse she once was. just be patient.

hope this helps!=)

Sounds like the horse is making fun of your daughter, but the horse may be in pain...I know alot of people say it but you really need to have her back/legs/teeth checked and make sure her tack fits.

If everythings ok, Is it possible to have a experienced rider ride the horse and see what the problem is?

It would be worth getting a riding instructor out to watch your daughter ride the horse and asses the problem...

It shouldnt have anything to do with age, but maybe the horse just doesnt like having to do more work than before, and like you said, prefer beginner riders who just want to walk around quietly.

Good luck.

Sorry. I always know where the horse is going so that I have no regrets. Once the van leaves the driveway I never try to find out anything about the horse. Whoever buys the horse next or where he goes or how he is treated is out of my hands. To make that my problem would drive me insane.

Hmmm, Have you checked to see if the saddle is rubbing this causing discomfort for the horse and sometimes makes them play up especially bucking, the other reason she may of bucked is because she wasnt expecting the whip on the bum seeing as it was the first time your daughter did it. She might be playing up in the spring/summer because of the freshness in the grass. try using a whip, a short one, not to hit her hard with, just to carry and sometimes if she is naughty to give a slight tap on the SHOULDER with it.

Hope this helps