ImmyS
Well-Known Member
Im at a complete loss with Arlo at the minute. As most of you know he was nervous when I bought him, but he improved so much and up until mid August he was super easy to catch, do and ride, if you didnt know him you would never know he was a nervous type!
Anyway a few weeks ago I went to catch him in the field wearing a hi vis jacket (god forbid... may I add he has worn hi vis himself and I always ride in it, but it was a new particularly bright one) and I got his head collar over his nose but as soon as reached round the other side to flick it over he freaked and ran and then wouldnt let me anywhere near him. I had no choice but to run him round until he was knackered and then I managed to catch him but he acted absolutely terrified of me.
Since then he has been really awkward and I really cant figure it out as there seems be zero pattern. As some days hell come over and be friendly but if I go to touch him hell run away, other times he wont come over at all, some days I can catch him zero problems at all. Sometimes if you have food you can do absolutely anything to him and he wont give a care in the world, other days food doesnt mean anything and hell act scared again. He acts terrified if I go to take his head collar off in the field but if I swap head collars/put bridle on on the yard hes absolutely fine with it. Nothing has changed in his routine, he isnt fed hard feed, just hay grass and salt. It doesnt seem to be weather dependent although he can be bad in worse weather, but can also be bad on a perfectly still sunny day. I just dont get it, its so demoralising when I have done nothing different in his routine/the way I handle him and he snorts at me and flinches like Im going to kill him.
Hes had his eyes checked, poll checked as hes intermittently sensitive around that area and cant find anything. Its really starting to get me down as he had come far and he seems to have regressed to even worse than when I first bought him and I just cant fathom why? My other half who is horsey but not been around horses for a while thinks hes putting it on as one minute he acts terrified then the next you can touch him all over and he doesnt seem bothered. I dont really believe horses putting things on, but he does seem to be very over sensitive at the minute. Its exhausting and frustrating.
Dont know if Im asking for advice really or just need a good old moan and to persevere. Ive tried tough love, doesnt work, Ive tried lots and lots of praise doesnt work, Ive tried food rewards which hell learn something with and be absolutely fine with it, such as being caught then one day hell just suddenly regress and act terrified again for no reason. Head and brick wall comes to mind.
Just to add hes had a field safe head collar on for a while which I could catch with but had started to rub so took it off this evening for a break, which was terrifying apparently. God knows whether Ill be able to catch him again! All his problems seem to be a lot worse in the field, hes easier when on the yard.
Ahhh I hate horses sometimes
Anyway a few weeks ago I went to catch him in the field wearing a hi vis jacket (god forbid... may I add he has worn hi vis himself and I always ride in it, but it was a new particularly bright one) and I got his head collar over his nose but as soon as reached round the other side to flick it over he freaked and ran and then wouldnt let me anywhere near him. I had no choice but to run him round until he was knackered and then I managed to catch him but he acted absolutely terrified of me.
Since then he has been really awkward and I really cant figure it out as there seems be zero pattern. As some days hell come over and be friendly but if I go to touch him hell run away, other times he wont come over at all, some days I can catch him zero problems at all. Sometimes if you have food you can do absolutely anything to him and he wont give a care in the world, other days food doesnt mean anything and hell act scared again. He acts terrified if I go to take his head collar off in the field but if I swap head collars/put bridle on on the yard hes absolutely fine with it. Nothing has changed in his routine, he isnt fed hard feed, just hay grass and salt. It doesnt seem to be weather dependent although he can be bad in worse weather, but can also be bad on a perfectly still sunny day. I just dont get it, its so demoralising when I have done nothing different in his routine/the way I handle him and he snorts at me and flinches like Im going to kill him.
Hes had his eyes checked, poll checked as hes intermittently sensitive around that area and cant find anything. Its really starting to get me down as he had come far and he seems to have regressed to even worse than when I first bought him and I just cant fathom why? My other half who is horsey but not been around horses for a while thinks hes putting it on as one minute he acts terrified then the next you can touch him all over and he doesnt seem bothered. I dont really believe horses putting things on, but he does seem to be very over sensitive at the minute. Its exhausting and frustrating.
Dont know if Im asking for advice really or just need a good old moan and to persevere. Ive tried tough love, doesnt work, Ive tried lots and lots of praise doesnt work, Ive tried food rewards which hell learn something with and be absolutely fine with it, such as being caught then one day hell just suddenly regress and act terrified again for no reason. Head and brick wall comes to mind.
Just to add hes had a field safe head collar on for a while which I could catch with but had started to rub so took it off this evening for a break, which was terrifying apparently. God knows whether Ill be able to catch him again! All his problems seem to be a lot worse in the field, hes easier when on the yard.
Ahhh I hate horses sometimes