Beating my head against the wall ahhhh!!!

annunziata

annunziata

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Its been ages since I was on here so be gentle with me!!! I lost my horse rocky (horse in signature) last year and took on a problematic horse. I have had a lot of problem horse and re school a lot for people and took the most beautiful grey gelding on as no one could get on and ride him.

Right I am riding him now (nightmare to mount but I can get on him now in a fashion, something terrible must have happened to him in the past) but his is just naughty I feel like I have ironed out the problem and he throws another one into the mix.

I have not taken him to any shows yet or to anyone's houses to ride in the schools because my car broke and now he is too big for my trailer!!! One day I will have everything working at the same time.

Right Saturday had a lesson with my instructor he was perfect could not ask for anything more from him really felt like I had finally got somewhere. She actually said we were ready to start jumping I was hugely excited to hear those words!!

Sunday got him out did the usual lunge to see what mood he was in, he was all fine got on, and the mare had just been turned out. he started to nap towards their field got him round and carried on he then stood straight up three or four times with me and I got off him as the rears were just getting larger (he is 17hh). He then bogged off across the school and I eventually caught him lunged him for a while and then got back on and rode him and he was amazing, he was doing everything but there was no need for it all!! I rode him again last night just to inforce it all and he tried again (no horses out as it was the evening!) he thought quickly and carried on fine after one attempt. I have never smacked him as I feel this will only make the probblem worse.
Does anyone else have horses that they sometimes feel like they get three steps forward and then go back 4???

I have achieve loads with him I can lead him around which I could not without him trying to kill me and can load him and he follows me around like a dog.
Sorry rant over!!!
 
How old is your horse? and yes mine does exactly the same but he is still only 5 and green so I expect it. However while mine is also 17 hands he is fundamentally a very kind horse, just has a rather heightened sense of humour. He is like the small child who keeps poking you to see your reaction and when that doesn't work, will try something else.

Oddly enough with him, when he starts to play up he gets an immediate and sharp tap with a whip. For him that will stop him immediately but if I don't do this he gets worse and worse. My mare would never ever forgive me if I took a whip anywhere near her and would be very upset. I even had to have a short whip in my hand at one stage when putting on his boots as thought it was a great game to keep lifting up his legs. whip in hand and he stands still!

Just on the difficulties with mounting - Billy did go through a stage of being silly so actually I tried something I had seen on a Kelly Marks programme. Got on, told him well done and got off. Did it several times and now don't have a problem. He did try the backards at a mounting block but I stopped that (RI advice this time!) by backing him up and then leading him forwards to the block.

Yet when I clipped him on Sunday I was expecting idiotic behaviour but he was pretty well behaved - very suprising. Needed a twitch to finish off his face and was very careful on his stomach but he is probably the easiest horse I have ever had to clip!
 
My horse is similar. He is 4 and nearly 17 hands. I'd say just be firm and fair and consistent. Youngsters are very trying, but he'll be worth it in the end ;) :)
 
Ohh I am glad I am not the only!! Moose is 7 now!! But he was only backed as a late 5 year old/6 year old!! Very late I know. Le most amount of work he has ever done is with me. I have tried the get on get off thing and treat and he is still a twit to mount unless my instructor or someone holds him which as you can imagine when I ride no one is about as I ride after work grr.
I actually have to get on him while holding the lunge line as he will rear spin take the reins out of my hands and leg it. It is a massive game to him but not funny when you are standing on the ground. he knows he can not do it when I hold the lunge line so gives in!

Maybe Moose is on the text to your horse asking how to poke me!! See I have to say the same about Moose clipping him he was a doddle I am just hoping it is the fact he is green and one day he will come right. I think if he wanted me off I would be off. he is very kind and looks after me in when we attempt jumping but I think he is very insecure???
 
Stick with him. Sounds like he's just trying it on.
Have you tried mounting him with his face in the corner of the school? Also mount from the 'wrong' side. It can confuse them for long enough to get on with no problem.
 
thanks guys I feel better about this now!!! Silly I know but I was soo down on sunday and cross!! I will try the getting on from the wrong side to see I bet it will catch him out good and proper!!! I will post some pics of him and I have not shared any of him, and I have had him almost a year and yes believe it or not he is heaps better now than when he arrived! I will test out the getting on from the wrong side tonight thank you guys again
 
My horse is 6, but at the stage you would expect of a 4 year old.....long story- won't go there. He also had the standing still and mounting issues.

I strongly believe this needs to be sorted before you can go on and really get him sorted- if he won't stand and be mounted then the basics still really are not in place.....its a real foundation.

It took me 2 hours to get on my horse when I first got him.....so I feel your pain.

I took a few months ( yes, really) to teach him to stand and be mounted and not dash off like a loony - to be frank- its not safe otherwise.

Now.....he will stand and be mounted from anything- fence/block/floor - saddler was out yesterday and he stood for a multitude of saddles/pads being tried on- then several rides with different saddles- there's no way that could have happened when I got him.

Have you had a look at the methods of the likes of Michael Peace/ Richard Maxwell and Guy Roberston? All very similar in that you need to control your horses feet in order to control them - build up a partnership whereby you are the respected leader etc....I've used a bit of each of them and its made a massive difference to my 'problem' horse:)
 
I know this feeling all too well. I've been told to ride the horse that I get out of the stable, not the one I rode the day before. Sometimes it's 2 steps forward 1 step back, sometimes it's 1 forward and 3 back.
 
I have a reject pony too, mine doesn't do anything like buck or rear but yes, we make huge forward steps, then have a day when I feel like he hasn't heard a word I've ever said, like the day he bolted home down the middle of the road into oncoming traffic, previously hacking lovely! Or 4 days in a row schooling on a loose rein, relaxing his head down then 1 day tearing about with head in the air stressed and panicky for no reason. Also had issues mounting, has to be from the ground and better in the stable block, though I don't need to shut him in his stable anymore to get on!! I'd get on in his box then he used to explode out of it when someone opened the door. When I went to try him 2 people pinned him down and OH legged me up!

Had him 2 months though and his 'meltdown days' as we call them, are getting more spread out (I'll probably have one tomorrow now I've said that!) and when it goes well he really feels like he's trying. From what we can figure he's been battered but rather than get timid he's got angry so any kind of dispute can make him explode, I tend to gently test the water and if he really objects I get off to force him as he is a lamb on the ground.

Be safe, be patient, maybe set a time limit and if he's no better then and no fun, you could find someone better suited. I am resigned to having meltdown days but doing what I can to make myself safe, ie held off hacking while I work on the schooling, investing in a stronger bit to give myelf a fighting chance if he does go again (only for use 'out'), calmly returning to square one over and over, on meltdown days we just walk and trot, I've told him I'm going to love him into submission and so far it's working, a stern 'sonic no' seems to work far better than anyone trying to smack him, he will flatten you on the nearest wall or fence if you show aggression. Firmness he seems to respect though.

If in doubt I make myself safe, ie get off (which has never been my MO previously), then walk him through whatever the issue is on foot or the lunge before trying again. Similar to what you're doing I think. Would be interesting to see how you get on with your reject pony and compare it to mine!!!

I look at the positives, he's so gentle and easy to do on the ground, amazing with very little kids around him, family in the next couple of years so that is important, he jumps anything I ask him to, or tries anyway, he lives on fresh air and my other horses like him, he loads, travels well and is a general pleasure to handle which for me outwieghs being able to hack (though I will try again when he shows lasting improvement in the school) or stick to a schooling plan daily. I do have another horse though who I can hack and plan with.
 
poppymoo said:
My horse is 6, but at the stage you would expect of a 4 year old.....long story- won't go there. He also had the standing still and mounting issues.

I strongly believe this needs to be sorted before you can go on and really get him sorted- if he won't stand and be mounted then the basics still really are not in place.....its a real foundation.

It took me 2 hours to get on my horse when I first got him.....so I feel your pain.

I took a few months ( yes, really) to teach him to stand and be mounted and not dash off like a loony - to be frank- its not safe otherwise.

Now.....he will stand and be mounted from anything- fence/block/floor - saddler was out yesterday and he stood for a multitude of saddles/pads being tried on- then several rides with different saddles- there's no way that could have happened when I got him.

:)
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Thanks for this!!! I have done the join up and we play games in he school I can get on him bareback no problem which is weird?! Its almost like he assosicates work with the saddle?? I have just gone out and had one made for him all sing all dancing to make sure I know that is fine!!! i will have a look at all the methods and have a go!! thank you all again for all your advice and I feel a lot more possitive about it all now!!!
 
annunziata said:
Thanks for this!!! I have done the join up and we play games in he school I can get on him bareback no problem which is weird?! Its almost like he assosicates work with the saddle?? I have just gone out and had one made for him all sing all dancing to make sure I know that is fine!!! i will have a look at all the methods and have a go!! thank you all again for all your advice and I feel a lot more possitive about it all now!!!
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'Join up' to me sounds suspiciously like Parelli?:eek:

Not a personal favourite of mine but many swear it works...

Possibly his saddle caused pain in the past and he's still associating saddle=pain?

I'm sure you'll get there - as someone on here said to me.....'they are more special when you 'make' them yourself':)
 
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