How to help my sour horse?

I've had my horse for about 2 months now and not long after i got her she started this thing where she decides she doesnt want to work at the beginning of our session. At first we thought it was tack or back problem had both of those checked out and am sure its not either of those things. I notice it mostly when we've been working in the same ring (we have 3 arenas) for 2 to 3 days in row which is why i think she has some kind of vendetta against that ring. But whenever and wherever she does it this is what happens.... she tries to stop at the gate no matter what we are doing and if you squeeze or kick she stops dead like shes mad then when you smack her on the rump with the crop she bucks then moves forward. I always make sure that I come out winning the battle but sometimes it takes 10 to 15 minutes to win it because she will keep on doing it until I smack her pretty hard with the whip and say "Move On"! My trainer got on her and fought her and got her working in like 5 minutes and once shes past it she loves to go to work, its so weird... so we think shes just doing it to see what she can get away with...my problem is that we only work about 25 to 30 minutes in each session and we spend 10 to 15 working out the sourness and jitters, is there anyway i can get her to stop doing this or at least cut the fight time in half, any ideas? (this horse is an absolute pleasure to ride when she is being good)|||You are doing good with her. It is very imporant that you dont let her ever get her way. U may also try getting off of her walking her in the arena and lunging her in there either way she has to work. REWARD her as soon as she goes. She will eventauly stop doing that she may have gotten her way with her past owners. She will stop in a few more times. The thing you have to rember with horses esp sour horses is PATIENCE!|||U will get throu it just dont give up! shes sounds like a great horse. Time will tell! U can do it!

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|||Keep doing what you are doing. Dont ever let her win :) Plan extra time for riding that way you can still get a good workout in after her little temper tantrums.|||You're doing what you can do. My only suggestion is plan for the battle and go for your lesson early.|||Are you riding horse through the gate? Horse may have a fear of gates. Maybe something bad happened to horse in the past. If horse fears riding through the gate with a rider on it's back, then you need to respect this problem. Beating horse will only cause more fear!!! Take some time out. Take horse with halter and lead rope out of barn with or with out the saddle on. Take a few treats in your pocket, like horse cookies. Open gate, walk horse with you on the ground beside horse walking through gate. Coach horse with pleasant voice when you get horse to walk through the gate with you at her side. (Not on top of her).


When she does what you ask pet the horse and reward with treat. Repeat several times a week. Keep it up through out the year. Soon horse will understand what you are asking and learn to trust you. Horses are like children, that can't talk you have to show them what you want. It's like sign language.|||As Parelli says, there is no thing as a sour horse, their just trying to tell you something. If you visit www.parelli.com and go to solve my problem, then have a read through the ones on napping etc, I found it soo interesting and helpful, and it just made sense!





It sounds like you need to play the 7 games with your horse so they know your the leader, so have a look on google for them aswell (parelli 7 games) and also sounds like she's bored in the school, so make it fun for her! Loads of polework, transitions, circles, only a lil bit of jumping as they get bored with that. Maybe some games etc.





Anything they enjoy. Take her in twice a week for a lovely groom, then turn her out again. She'll start to associate it with something pleasurable.





You don't say if she's good out hacking?





But it sounds to me that she's a lil bored and lost respect for you a bit (you won't get respect by smacking her, horses don't understand anger)








Good luck and I hope this helps! =]