Shantor1
Well-Known Member
My horse is going through a spooky-explosive-panicky mode one day then co-operative and calm the next, mainly if lunged. He's had his teeth done, shod regularly, saddle is due but I can't see or find any pressure or tender points.
Tonight it was pouring with rain, but he was rugged up so not like I put a saddle on a wet back. Went to get on him, usual mounting block as too big to get on from the ground, humped his back; then started to boggle eye at something in the bushes around the arena, gave a small buck and nap when I pushed him on. He felt like he was going to explode so I decided to untack and loose school him to watch him.
Boy oh boy, when I led him into the arena he half reared, nearly came on top of me and got away, cantering down the yard slipping on tarmac. By this point I admit I was struggling to keep temper. Friend caught him but I calmly got hold of him and turned him in the school, he went off bucking, leaping and squealing. I took no notice of him but sent him on with lunge whip held low. When he saw I wasn't getting cross - as in the past - he settled.
Did some loose schooling, no signs of stiffness etc (not judging by the acrobatic, cartwheels!!) so tacked him up and remounted. Now his back was sopping wet but used a thick numnah. Gingerly mounted him and tactfully but assertively asked him to walk on. All was well.
One of the things my trainer friend does with him is to walk a few strides and if he starts to spook or get silly, she puts him straight into trot of 20m, 15m and 10m circles, figures of 8, then canters. After 10-15 minutes he is so much calmer, maybe this expends his energy. She is much quicker at mounting him and is lot more confident than me.
He's fed haylage, turned out 12 hours a day, fed D&H leisure mix, loads of chaff and small amount of speedibeet. Don't think its excessive sugar.
He was clipped 10 days ago and tonight with the rain, maybe feeling arsey and rebellious. He has that streak.
Be interested if anyone else's horse is going through a similar phase!
Tonight it was pouring with rain, but he was rugged up so not like I put a saddle on a wet back. Went to get on him, usual mounting block as too big to get on from the ground, humped his back; then started to boggle eye at something in the bushes around the arena, gave a small buck and nap when I pushed him on. He felt like he was going to explode so I decided to untack and loose school him to watch him.
Boy oh boy, when I led him into the arena he half reared, nearly came on top of me and got away, cantering down the yard slipping on tarmac. By this point I admit I was struggling to keep temper. Friend caught him but I calmly got hold of him and turned him in the school, he went off bucking, leaping and squealing. I took no notice of him but sent him on with lunge whip held low. When he saw I wasn't getting cross - as in the past - he settled.
Did some loose schooling, no signs of stiffness etc (not judging by the acrobatic, cartwheels!!) so tacked him up and remounted. Now his back was sopping wet but used a thick numnah. Gingerly mounted him and tactfully but assertively asked him to walk on. All was well.
One of the things my trainer friend does with him is to walk a few strides and if he starts to spook or get silly, she puts him straight into trot of 20m, 15m and 10m circles, figures of 8, then canters. After 10-15 minutes he is so much calmer, maybe this expends his energy. She is much quicker at mounting him and is lot more confident than me.
He's fed haylage, turned out 12 hours a day, fed D&H leisure mix, loads of chaff and small amount of speedibeet. Don't think its excessive sugar.
He was clipped 10 days ago and tonight with the rain, maybe feeling arsey and rebellious. He has that streak.
Be interested if anyone else's horse is going through a similar phase!
