advice needed !!

P

pkeenan

New User
Joined
14 July 2012
Messages
5
Visit site
i wonder if anyone could help? 7 months ago i bought a horse from ireland from a reputable dealer. i was looking for a potential dressage horse. i ended up buying a 16.3 7yo gelding when i tried him out he was not as forward off the leg as hoped but ended up buying him because of his chilled out personality and how nothing phased him. when i got him home for the first four weeks he was brilliant and we got on superbly after this in the school he started viciously throwing his head up back at me more or less vertical and proved quite daunting. i automatically assumed there must be something wrong with him so proceeded to have everthing checked. had his teeth checked, back checked, sadlle checked, physio working on him weekly, had the vet check everything and had full blood tests with him still being a little bit behind the leg. everthing came back clear and he is in full fitness.
i am now assuming that this is a major schooling problem or a form of napping? i therefore lunged him and just hacked for a month without schooling to see if this would help clear his head but again after returning to the school nothing helped. he even throws his head on a hack when asked to go into a contact and engage behind.

really now stuck and dont know what to do ? has anyone else experienced this and is he just a lost cause that doesnt want to go into a contact which would be such a shame as he is perfect in every other way brilliant to do everything with no vices and a super jump in him

any advice on anything that could help would be really appreciated

thanks in advance
 
yes but still not wanting to work in an outline and engage, when my instructor got on would put up a fight for a while and eventually give in but would be exactly the same when she got back on have not had any more lessons since as i was planning to sell him but would feel guilty selling him and him doing it to somebody else so stuck in a catch 22 would u think posibly sending to a profeesional for reschooling may help ?
 
I'm afraid that you might not like what I'm going to say here: could it be that your contact is the problem? Perhaps your feel of this horse's mouth is is not sensitive enough and he has taken this long to finally say "I've had enough!".
 
Are you asking too much of him, he may be 7 but if he came from Ireland it is likely that he has not done as much actual schooling as you were told.
Will he work properly long and low, going down to a contact rather than asking him to sit on his hocks and carry himself. I would try and go back to the real basics and start from scratch, because he is older you should find he comes right more quickly than if you were starting with a 4 year old he will be stronger and able to progress.
It could be worth sending him to a pro for assessment, they may be able to either get him going for you or help decide how to sell him if that is the route you want to take.
 
but a few other people have rode him and he has been exactly the same. maybe it is me but i have rode up to medium and competed quite a few other horses and never had a problem before ? can you recommend any bits etc that maybe help ?
 
he throws his head when working long and low as well which can be even more intimidating on a loose rein! its so frustrating becuase he is so talented when he gets it its mega ( during our first four weeks first affliated novice scoring 74%!)
 
I also read your OP and thought it sounded as though the horse has a very sensitive mouth so I too would be inclined to go back to very basic schooling before asking him to work correctly. It may be that he's struggling with weak muscles along his back too, hence his resistance when you all ask him onto a contact. I'd start with long and low to get him working those back muscles before you ask any more of him or you may well find he'll drop his nose for you, but without bringing his back muscles into play, which will of course limit his ability to work through as well as he might.

No offense intended to your riding ability or experience, just my thoughts is all. :)
 
if he was fine for the first four weeks then this suddenly started i'd try very hard to think of what might have changed to trigger it
think about if his diet changed ,his turnout routine ,his field companions ,did he change shape ,more/less muscle or anything else
it sounds like teeth but if you had them checked maybe not

have you tried swapping and changing bits ,maybe he's not comfortable in the bit your using ,i'd maybe even think about getting vet to sedate and have a really good luck in his mouth

just a few ideas , hope you get to the bottom of it
 
Perhaps he is a little sore after working in a new frame - Irish horses are not really bred for the dressage market (and certainly not trained for it) and it may be that he is using muscles that he's never used before. What is his breeding?
 
cant help but if any consulation my irish mare has real problems with contact and it took a good instructor and a year down the line to get her working comfortably in a contact, however i did invest in a nathe bit which did wonders for a while :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top