Network Forum

Hi, I'm new here and I need help with my mare.  She actually belongs to my mom. We have owned her since she was 9 mos. old.  She is now turning 3 this year. April is a paint, she is very curious about everything, and hardly anything spooks her.  She has more of the fight than flight in her.  She accepted the saddle with no problems, and as far as that and mounting and dismounting her she acts as if she's a veteran 10 yr old.  We had no issues out of her at the beginning, so I knew she would end up picking up something stupid later on. I know one of my problems is that I don't work with her nearly enough.  When I ask her to go forward she either:a.) goes forward with no problemsb.) starts backing upc.) rearsShe bends around nicely, and when she is moving forward she whoas almost directly after she is asked, gives to pressure on the rein and from leg.  It just seems sometimes that she hits a mentle block or forgets what we were doing before she saw someone or something she wanted to go visit.  When this happens it is almost like she is aggitated and confused so when I ask her to move forward again she does b.) or c.). I do not use a bit as I feel this would almost more of incourage the rearing plus I really do not feel she needs one.She is very mouthy everything has to go in it.  We have been working on her not biting (she used to be incredably bad about that).  When I am mounted she turns and trys to bite my leg.  I push her away and tell her no.  Sometimes this works sometimes she thinks I'm playing and comes back more aggressively (which in that case I pop her on the neck and tell her no).  I know she is still young and my other mare does not play with her much (she'll be 11 this year and is a great baby sitter but not a great playmate, she's too serious and lazy).  I need a way to make it seem like we are trying to play with her without her playing with us .thanks a bunch