3yo gone suddenly waaay backwards......thoughts?

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Patterdale

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I have a 3yo sec d gelding, got him at 2 unhandled and nervy.

Slowly built up trust to the point where he was almost like a normal horse, could catch him easily, backed a few months ago and turned away, butstill catching/handling.

Then 2 weeks ago went to see them and he was totally wild again, out of the blue - nervy, wouldn't let me near enough to give a treat/touch. Massive eyes and looked genuinely scared.

Haven't been able to catch him since :(
Very confusing as he'd been absolutely fine for ages.

What are peoples thoughts on why he might have suddenly gone back so many steps? I know what j think, but would be interesting to hear others first thoughts.

:)
 
Who else was handling him? Sounds like a bad experience somewhere along the line...

My 3yo doesn't seem to be able to trust many people yet, as everytime I'm not around and someone handles her, something goes wrong! It's not good as it is accumulating bad experiences :/
 
Has anyone perhaps gone in to field without your knowledge and scared him? Sounds like he has had a bad experience and he has lost trust in people again. Lots of sitting in field just chilling out for you I feel!
 
It sounds to me like someones done something to frighten him, can the public access your fields? I'm afraid you will probably have to go back to the start with gaining his trust. :(
 
This is what I think :(

Sometimes people use the field as s footpath, even though there are signs up, and I know a young girl often goes in to 'see the ponies' although I have warned them.

I think he must have had a clout or something from someone :(

Oh well, I'll get him in somehow and start again from square one!
 
I had a little incident with my Welsh A who isn't nervy but is a highly strung wleshie. She escaped into where I have the caravan and trailers. In the dark and was cantering around and I couldn't catch her. In the end I threw my arms round her neck and got her. It wasn't a major event but I couldn't catch her for a fortnight after. She wasn't really scared more took offence. I fed her for a week and then lured her into the sheep pens and got her no bother. Just saying it may not have been a massive thing that's happened but he has got upset etc. Can you feed him in the field for a little while and don't try and catch him.
 
Honest it could just be him!

One of mine can go wild every now and then! Honest for no reason at all but i can go from where he comes running over to me in the field and friendly loving etc to either trying to kick me with horror in his eyes of just not coming with me and being unable to catch him for days!
 
I got him in earlier and he was a bit better :)
The only way I can do it is to bring his friend in and he just follows - not ideal!
Once he was penned in I could get to him.
Just going to have to go back to doing that each day I suppose :sigh:
At 36 weeks pregnant I well CBA though! :D

Hopefully it's not just him......he will be going after breaking if it is haha!
 
Ooooh good thought Rhino! Have actually heard of that before!

Might try and round up a friendly neighbour to have a try.

Started to happen after he went into a fatty paddock......if I wasnt v sceptical about this kind of thing id say he was just offended...?

:D
 
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