A1fie
Well-Known Member
Apologies for posting here - I just thought I'd get different opinions than from The Tack Room.
I have a 7 yr old warmblood. V well bred - show jumping lines. He was very difficult to break and was tried and turned away at three and then at four. Long break at four and then backed successfully at five. This was all before I got him.
My difficulty with him is that he is always behind the bit. It is more than laziness I think - it is a nappiness. He just won't go forward willingly. If you put pressure on he will rear - not bolt upright but enough to make his point.
He is worse in the school, which I knew before I got him but he is a pain out hacking as well. Sometimes he is fine but others he just spends the whole time yanking the bit. Nothing seems to make a difference - giving him a yank back, making him work on the bit or chucking the reins at him. It almost seems that he wants to start an argument.
I just can't figure him out. He is like a big dog on the ground. Comes to call. Soppy in the stable. In the saddle he is completely different. Almost ungenuine. He doesn't seem willing, if that makes sense. I am always putting more effort in than him. Yet his ears are always forward. I took him on hound exercise and he did step up a gear but was completely focussed on the hounds and almost oblivious to me on top.
I have no grand plans for this horse. I would just like to hunt him but I think it is not unreasonable to ask him to throw a few shapes in the school every so often and hack out a few times a week.
He is not highly strung and not at all spooky. He will hack out on his own on the road without batting an eyelid. But it's like he is the horse equivalent of a teenage boy. Sullen, lazy, unwilling with flashes of good behaviour!
If anyone has some insights or advice I would be very grateful. I do think it is more of a personality thing, than a tack, back or teeth thing but any suggestions will be taken on board.
I have a 7 yr old warmblood. V well bred - show jumping lines. He was very difficult to break and was tried and turned away at three and then at four. Long break at four and then backed successfully at five. This was all before I got him.
My difficulty with him is that he is always behind the bit. It is more than laziness I think - it is a nappiness. He just won't go forward willingly. If you put pressure on he will rear - not bolt upright but enough to make his point.
He is worse in the school, which I knew before I got him but he is a pain out hacking as well. Sometimes he is fine but others he just spends the whole time yanking the bit. Nothing seems to make a difference - giving him a yank back, making him work on the bit or chucking the reins at him. It almost seems that he wants to start an argument.
I just can't figure him out. He is like a big dog on the ground. Comes to call. Soppy in the stable. In the saddle he is completely different. Almost ungenuine. He doesn't seem willing, if that makes sense. I am always putting more effort in than him. Yet his ears are always forward. I took him on hound exercise and he did step up a gear but was completely focussed on the hounds and almost oblivious to me on top.
I have no grand plans for this horse. I would just like to hunt him but I think it is not unreasonable to ask him to throw a few shapes in the school every so often and hack out a few times a week.
He is not highly strung and not at all spooky. He will hack out on his own on the road without batting an eyelid. But it's like he is the horse equivalent of a teenage boy. Sullen, lazy, unwilling with flashes of good behaviour!
If anyone has some insights or advice I would be very grateful. I do think it is more of a personality thing, than a tack, back or teeth thing but any suggestions will be taken on board.