BorgRae
Well-Known Member
Please offer me some advice
I seem to be getting absolutely no where with my lad. Hes so inconsistent and resistant, Im becoming very disheartened.
Ive had him 5 years (since he was 3), hes a stubborn sod, and if he doesnt wasnt to do something, hell fight me every inch of the way. But I just cant help but love him (although its beginning to wear thin!! Lol!).
He gets tense in his neck when he fights, then gives up, takes a contact for about 2 mins, then fights again, leaning on my hands, grabbing the bit in his jaw and pushes through his shoulder.
He regularly get physio checks, last one was in January (all fine), saddle re flocked and re fitted in February, teeth in February. Gets his shoes done every 5 weeks, I have lessons once a week with the best instructor Ive had so far
Two weeks ago, during a lesson, he was my dream horse, so light in my hands, really forward and working through. The next day we had a dressage comp, I was actually quite excited as I though we might just do ok!! (dressage has been ridiculously inconsistent!!) Well,  no such luck!!! He just pulled and grabbed and pushed through his shoulder, needless to say the test felt horrific!!
What can I do? Im getting really quite deflated by the whole thing.
Do I:
A) turn him away for a month or so for him to get his head into gear
B) just keep going, hoping eventually itll click and hell start to go well
C) try something different with him, some new tactics
D) suggestions welcome
I guess my question is, have you had a horse that just refuses to learn, and is constantly inconsistent? If so was this purely behavioural because they were a sod, or was there a deep down underlying condition?
P.S. Hes been like this since he was broken
I seem to be getting absolutely no where with my lad. Hes so inconsistent and resistant, Im becoming very disheartened.
Ive had him 5 years (since he was 3), hes a stubborn sod, and if he doesnt wasnt to do something, hell fight me every inch of the way. But I just cant help but love him (although its beginning to wear thin!! Lol!).
He gets tense in his neck when he fights, then gives up, takes a contact for about 2 mins, then fights again, leaning on my hands, grabbing the bit in his jaw and pushes through his shoulder.
He regularly get physio checks, last one was in January (all fine), saddle re flocked and re fitted in February, teeth in February. Gets his shoes done every 5 weeks, I have lessons once a week with the best instructor Ive had so far
Two weeks ago, during a lesson, he was my dream horse, so light in my hands, really forward and working through. The next day we had a dressage comp, I was actually quite excited as I though we might just do ok!! (dressage has been ridiculously inconsistent!!) Well,  no such luck!!! He just pulled and grabbed and pushed through his shoulder, needless to say the test felt horrific!!
What can I do? Im getting really quite deflated by the whole thing.
Do I:
A) turn him away for a month or so for him to get his head into gear
B) just keep going, hoping eventually itll click and hell start to go well
C) try something different with him, some new tactics
D) suggestions welcome
I guess my question is, have you had a horse that just refuses to learn, and is constantly inconsistent? If so was this purely behavioural because they were a sod, or was there a deep down underlying condition?
P.S. Hes been like this since he was broken