Anyone had to take their horse right back to basics?

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thespanishmane

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My previously well schooled ( by me!) horse has now turned into a monster! He seems to dominant, nappy and fizzy at the same time!

Now, he has had his teeth done (nothing wrong) saddle refitted (sue Carson) and a vet check to make sure there was nothing amiss, so is being an A**e!

He is a very hot Spaniard who has now decided to say NO to everything and always wants to go at warp speed, so, I have taken him right back to square one with lots of walk- halt transitions. Just to get him to go into walk instead of knees up jog has taken 5 sessions!

So, any tips from anyone- he was so reliable previously and is now so challenging!
 
Yep me, infact I posted a thread about it the other day.

My boy was backed over winter, going great til spring grass, bucked me off a few times and scared himself so gone right back to basics, I.e just lying in him!

It's frustrating isnt it? I can't wait for the grass to die so I get my nice boy back!

No real advice apart from just keep going. Can you reduce hours at grass? Im giving my bit a calmer but not sure if it's making a difference. I think you are doing the right think returning to basics before it becomes too much of an issue. Hang in there!
 
I'm looking at going that way too with my TB. Like yours, she was at one point, fabulous. Now she's a nightmare (scuse the pun!).

I started getting her moving away from the leg today (in a respectable manner, without running away from it!), by doing some simple leg yielding etc, and as you say, walk/halt transitions.

I always find mine goes a *bit* better when with/near another horse, so just for her benefit at the moment, we try to go out with someone where possible as she is calmer.

Good luck with him, remember any progress is good progress.
 
Yes, I fell off my 4yo and it completely blew his mind for three months, he was a nightmare, not much info about his past so don't know if he had a history of freaking out? Anyway ended up sending him away to be backed as couldn't think what else to do for the best. It has worked so far (touch wood)!!!
 
He is now 9 & he is a gelding, but wasn't gelded until he was 51/2, just before I got him. He was very green & no idea how to canter. Since then we have established collected & medium canter, collected, medium & extended trot, shoulder in, half pass, rein back & walk to canter. Somehow all this has gone to pot. He is hysterically sensitive to my leg, and over reacts if you merely touch him! He wants to stick his headin the air when he already is naturally built 'on the bit'. He likes to bounce his back end up and down to tip you forward, and then stops dead, rears & spins! He hasn't yet unnerved me or unseated me, but all this idiocy is seriously getting on my nerves!

He is very good in all other respects, but is getting more stupid to hack out ( on his own or in company, he is just the same). He was always the reliable one, you could have put a child on him, but certainly not now! I can hardly say I have ever overtaxed him or made him do something he really isn't ready for, but he is being so 'dominant ' it's driving me mad! I want him back as he was!
 
Two more probably obvious questions (sorry!) - what has the vet looked for and have you tried having someone else ride him to see how he does?
 
Vet looked for any signs of discomfort or soreness, watched me lunge and ride, so no physical problems. Had lesson & instructor thought he was just trying the whole volume of tricks ( needless to say she declined to ride him as she felt he was a millisecond away from blowing a fuse!)

My husband rides him but he is as awkward for him as has is for me!
 
Did the vet see his acting out? Has he taken bloods or checked for ulcers etc?

Have you got an instructor who is brave enough to ride him? I'm not sure I'd be happy with an instructor who expected me to ride something he/she wasn't prepared to (sorry if I've misunderstood your post here :) )
 
Vet felt it was more behavioural than physical. Instructor did witness all the antics, in particular the vertical stand ups when he decided he would no longer go forward but backward instead. He reversed the whole way round the arena, and only went forward when I reversed him in a small circle. I have to say if I was an instructor I wouldn't want to get on him either! The only good thing about the antics is that he is a very comfortable horse, so they don't feel half as bad as they look.

Looking back, this all seems to stem from the Suffolk show last year - he seriously panicked in the warm up - coaches and four, hounds, donkeys and helicopters all in about five minutes, we just couldn't enter our class he was so pent up and dangerous, yet we had been there twice before and regularly took him out!
 
Then FWIW I think going back to basics is probably all you can do. If it were me, I'd be inclined to treat him like an unhandled youngster and take it from there, slowly-slowly. Does he have any particular triggers?

Sorry I can't be more help. I'm sure others will have better suggestions for you :)
 
Has he had a break (holiday) at all?
Maybe he needs a little time out, couple of weeks or something.
Sounds like you've tried everything else :(

Any changes in his companions?
 
I agree he may possibly need a break, back to basics, and some hacking in fields or trails for a bit of a freshner and different scenery.

Look, I can't blame an instructor who won't get on horses that are rearing up ect. Most aren't trainers. They deal with higher education for both horse and rider. In general these kind of horses aren't going to be productive in a lesson. One person can't be everything. I'm sure they can deal with small antics but they don't need to deal with things which can get them hurt and lose their business. You don't see many top riders starting young horses from scratch for the same reason. Most have a team of people which is invaluable to each part of the process. This horse might be better suited to someone who can get the point across. He's been through all the checks, he's being a prat. It needs nipped in the bud NOW! If not, he will continue to do as he pleases.

If this were my horse I'd get my husband on ASAP. His sense of no self preservation has it's advantages at times. He does not beat one but he can get all over one like a cheap suit and get the point across that this behaviour is unacceptable. If horse needs a well timed, usually once, damn good smack, they get it. While many of you will think it cruel or he's an abuser, I can tell you I dont remember the last time he had to reprimand one with a smack. It's very rare, but we get horses like this from time to time because people are out of options. I'd advise this type of person to get the point across, get him going sweetly, and then give him a break.

Flame suit zipped
Terri
 
A couple of extra thoughts to add to the previous good advice.
1) Magnesium deficiency. The majority of UK pasture is deficient in this mineral and one of the symptoms is over reactiveness. Its not that magnesium (often found in calmers) makes a horse docile and relaxed. Its that a lack of this mineral makes them highly spooky and reactive. It also has an effect on the metabolism which is why it is often found in laminitic supplements. If this is the case you have several options. You could get your grass analysed here http://shop.forageplus.com/ and address any other mineral imbalances. Or you could buy a bag of calmag from you agricultural merchant or Magnitude from an equine supplier and give 50g a day and see what happens. He will need a feed to carry the magnesium and I would recommend this http://www.thepurefeedcompany.com/products/pure-easy
2) During coat change a horses hormones go into overdrive. Adrenaline and insulin levels rise (and maybe others,I don't know) This is probably the main reason why horses tend to be spookier in spring and autumn and why cases of laminitis increase at these times. Its not so much the grass flush as the hormones! Combine this with a magnesium deficiency and you double the trouble!
3)If you have a safe area to do freeschooling,I would recommend doing so before you ride. Try without tack at first,then add the saddle with stirrups flapping,then add the bridle with reins removed. Be dominant and assertive with your body language. Have a clear plan. Turn him frequently. Add poles and jumps to encourage him to free up his back(may involve bucking!) and keep him moving forward at a pace you have chosen. It is a great way to re-establish command and remove excess energy.
Good luck and let us know how things progress.
Going back to basics is something that I have to keep doing with my WB. The foundations are getting stronger and stronger because of this so now my returns are less frequent and shorter and progress is generally better for these interludes:)
 
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