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Re: [RC] Mare/confidence/rider safety/help - Long - abigail MaddenMel,
Wow!! Big plans and lots of goals. Good for you!! : )
In my opinion, all the things you want to do are attainable, but I think you need to take a different approach. I'm not sure if you were being facetious when you said that your mare hasn't been ridden in 5 years, but if you weren't, any horse that has had that kind of lay off needs to start over from the beginning. Before you climb aboard and try to go, make sure she still knows all her basics. For your safety and hers. Lead her, lunge her, make sure she will move away from pressure on the ground. Work on her collection. Does she break at the poll? Get her top line back in shape before you ask her to carry you around. Imagine starting yourself out on a work out routine after a long lay off. Now think of doing it with a full back pack on. Ouch!!
Once you make sure she can still do all of those things, then you can worry about the conditioning, saddle fit, etc. I have no knowledge of this mare, so please don't take offense to what I'm going to say. Maybe her ealier behavior problems are not related to saddle fit. Most horses would rather stand in pasture all day and eat. Some prefer this to such a degree that they will throw tantrums to get out of working (riding). They figure out pretty quick, "Hey, if I buck and rear, they get off my back and I can stand around with my buddies." Before you throw down a bunch of money trying to find that perfect saddle, make sure that she knows the rules and abides by them. You can do a lot of this from the ground. If she's being a brat, it will show through.
If you don't know how to start her over from the beginning, get some help. And not just from one person. Check out several folks until you find one that can explain things to you so that you understand.
Lastly, while I have no experience with breeding personally (just helped friends and assisted the vet.), I do know that you're only helping your mare by getting her in good shape before breeding. Being fit will assist her with carrying that baby around. If you've never been involved in the breeding process before, do lots of research and ask lots of questions. That's a big responsibility with a lot of potential for stuff to go bad. I know, horses have been having babies on their own for a gazillion years, but when you add human involvement you dramatically increase the "Oh sh#%!" factor.
Good luck!
abigail
Chico, CA
PS Where are you? I've got a 2-horse trailer in my driveway that would love a free-lease job.
Mel Copeland <brio_gal@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: My big plans for my Paso Fino mare have fallen through. I am still wanting
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