“Someone in our yard recently purchased a 15hh TB mare for use on trial rides. This horse was sold as being quiet and suitable for children. However, we only discovered a couple of months down the line that this is not the case at all and one needs hair on their teeth to ride her. She is absolute great when ridden alone on an out ride - totally bombproof, but in company she is a nightmare. She wants to be at the very front and if held in will start rearing and leaping until she gets her way.

Unfortunately this behaviour was rewarded by a rider who kept on jumping off each time she threatened to rear. Cantering her in a group, even at the front, is impossible as she then goes faster to ensure she stays in front and if the other riders are not fully in control of their horses this leads to her bolting. Despite all this she is the sweetest mare on the ground with the most impeccable stable manners. Her bad behaviour only surfaces when she is ridden with other horses. This horse needs to earn her keep and cannot be sold on in good conscience unless the problem is resolved. Any advice on how to overcome this would be welcome. Regards, Nevilene. Cape Town, South Africa.”

H&C expert Jenny Rudall replies: “Nevilene, it sounds like you do have a rather difficult problem on your hands and, like most things with horses, it is going to take a lot of time and patience to put right.  It sounds like your mare needs to be ridden by a more experienced rider for a while and to start with training her just going out with one other horse.  I would possibly put her in a stronger bit and practise making her go behind and in front, alternating between the two and keeping her moving forward the whole time in the different gaits.  By having a more experienced rider who has the confidence to stand their ground and by keeping her at forward and active pace she will soon realise she is not in charge and hopefully the bad behaviour will lessen.

When she has become accustomed to going out with one horse try her with two other sensible horses, again alternating her position in the ride and praising the good behaviour. Still keep her moving forward and give her other things to think about like flexion or some lateral work.  Build up the number of horses slowly and do not rush into putting her back into work, I understand and agree she has to earn a living but you need to look at the long term plan.  If you put the ground work in now she will hopefully give you years of problem free riding in the future.

Good luck, Jenny.”