My Equine Problems. A Cry for Help.

Are you an equestrian that is limited in any kind of way? Are you unable to afford a trainer to come out and give you lessons at least twice a month? Is your main source of equine knowledge the online articles, social media, and youtube videos?

    Yes, yes, and yes! I swear I'm limited in almost every way a horse owner can imagine! Recently I have been getting my horse to build muscle. Her hind end looks really nice, but her topline hasn't changed. I want to start an exercise called long and low. The only thing is...how the heck do you start it?

    I swear there is only one video out their on youtube and that is only ONE method. I want to see SEVERAL methods to try on my horse to see what works best for the BOTH of us.

    Well, guess what? I came across a video by ArttoRide. The man (I cannot recall his name) said once the horse accepts the bit and becomes relaxed, he'll actually began to seek ...I'm pretty sure my horse doesn't accepts the bit at least not completely. At the walk with little to no she's relaxed, engaging hind end until the trot. She raises her head semi-high( it really just depends), and her her hind feet don't step underneath her like they do at the walk. She just tenses up the second the my legs on to get her to trot. I don't really care too much about what the head is doing because I know as long as the hind end is doing it's job, the rest will follow. This isn't all, she actually tries to avoid the bit at the trot at times. She shakes her head (that might be happening due to the nutcracker effect though. I do ride her in a snaffle) when turning left and she wants to go right. There's so much going on, and all I want to do is build her topline!

    It's like before I can do this, I have to do that, and in order to do that step, I have to something and it just goes on and on and on! Does it ever feel like that with anyone else? Don't you just want to scream? I sure do. I actually got a headache at one point. I wish there was someone that would come out and just tell me what all I need to do to. But no. Life is not like that.

Man, I feel so much better after ranting.

But seriously guys. I need help. Where should I start with her so the end result is a good topline? My mare does need a new bit, but I'm not quite sure what would be the best for her. Here's some info on my horse and I. I may repeat some of the stuff above.

Marley

She's a moody mare

What bit is she on?: D-ring copper snaffle bit

Discipline: None. We mostly just trail ride since I don't have an arena

Age: 14 will be 15 in a few months

Gaits: Nice walk typically good pace, trot is extremely choppy and tense, lope is fast and tends to lead to galloping...

Best side: Right

Does she lunge?: Yes, but we both need improvements. I'm still working with her and we just started a few weeks ago.

Any bad behaviors?: Yes, she eats grass while on ride. Sometimes I can't even get her to move or she moves really fast in a hurry to get to the grass. She actually runs home now because green grass is home and everywhere else, the grass is dead.

Me

I'm not very confident, but have gained a lot of confidence recently.

I'm pretty balanced at all gaits, but I feel heavy in the seat a sometimes.

I haven't quite mastered feeling a sudden change of pace in Marley, or when she drops her head to eat grass. I takes a lot of focus for me to notice and correct her.

I do occasionally give in to her and let her get away with things. Again, not very confident but I am working on that.

I have been riding for about 2 years now.