I got a new project horse named Cricket. She is a 5 year old QH mare about 14.3-14 hands. She is totally inexperienced and was originally ridden by a little girl who knew zip about riding.

When I went to test drive her, her reins weren't even connected to the bit correctly, but the bridel itself! So this tells me she hasn't been pulled on her mouth too much. And it shows. She's ridden in a snaffle D ring and is very sensitive. But when you go to stop she hauls to a stop reluctantly and dosen't like to stand still for long. She also just hangs her head idolly when we ride. I'd like her to be balanced and more collected-ish. Another thing is she dosen't like to turn right. It's really weird but you have to really crank her head around and I REALLY don't want to inadvertantly mess up her already relatively softish mouth.

Today just to see what happens, I rode her in a straight bar snaffle and she did maybe even better. Is a straight bar more harsh or less harsh or equivalant to a reg. snaffle?

I'm very pleased to see how responsive and such a QUICK learner she is! 30 minutes in the ring and she was already responding very well to my leg cues (right, left, go, etc).

I really like her. She seems to be very docile and willing to try whatever is in front of her or what I ask her.

So the questions arise:

-I'd like to get her balanced. I've asked this question before, but didn't take everything quite so seriously because Sunny is gaited and 'collection' is really different in the gaited world. So how do you get a trotting horse balanced? Is it along the same lines?

-She is iffy turning right as mentioned. Do I just continue to turn her getting her used to flexing? Serpentines, figure 8s, etc?

And here are a few pictures of her. My riding was the pitts so I covered myself up entirely. Maybe if I can get some better pics later of us in sync I'll post them.

 < Head 'set'. This is how she holds her head. I know horseless hates that word, but I can't think of another word...

 < I rode her in my Aussie because it fit her better than Sunny (his back is a bit better by the way). I wasn't sure if I should be applying contact to her mouth or not so I left it neutral.

 < Again.

 < Unfortunately, this is the only confo shot I could get. Her stupid hoof was ticked and she wouldn't 'unitck' it. If you can't critique it, no worries, I'll get a new one tommorrow (my camera's finally working!). Is she a bit fat?

Please help :)  Any comments, tips, etc are appreciated!

I might just have to sell Sunny, lol!

i♥myhorse:)

She's a doll. Totally different on the trail than in the ring.

^ my bestfriend ^

Very proud to say how quick this horse has learned how to be a gentle, child friendly horse, and a loving bestfriend who's always there, no matter what it is. Horses never bail on you <3

"The horse wrote the history"-unknown.

Please help? Anybody?

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She will brace and keep going sideways.