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SummerPullet asked in PetsHorses · 8 years ago

Tips to correct herd sourness?

A year ago I got a Qh-TB-Arab cross mare who was neglected for four years. She's always been a little herd sour, but it seems to be getting worse. I do groundwork with her at least once every week (normally 2-3 days per week) to assert dominance and let her know that I'm her friend. She is very friendly in the round pen and trusts me (she bows, nickers when I come, join-ups, bridleless) but when you take her out of the round pen and refuses to turn left. She will turn her head but not her body, no matter what cues you give her. Only on her left turns, though. I've had her teeth checked, saddle fitted, and looked at by a chiropractor, but she still acts this way. I ride her in a Mullen mouth Myler bit with 5" shanks and three rollers as well as a Myler comfort D-ring snaffle with a port. I've tried making the pasture a place of work and the arenas a place of rest, but it doesn't seem to be working. Does anybody have any tips to correct her herd sourness?

2 Answers

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  • 8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Make her realize wether shes in the round pen or out in a field, she still has to listen to you..

    get her out of the round pen.

    1st, stay close to the round pen, lunge her. get her feet moving. make her yield her hindquarters. don't be afraid to use a whip if you have to. slowly progress away from the round pen. 10 feet. 20feet. 30 feet. and so on. She will start to realize the rules in the round pen are no different than anywhere else you may ride her. and she has to listen to you reguardless.

    Good luck. God bless!

  • JoAnn
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    I'm confused by your question. However if the main problem is that she won't turn left try this. When you turn her head left, use a crop to tap her left flank to get her hind legs moving. Use soft aids first and move up to as much as necessary. If you control the hind legs you control the horse.

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