Bloody spanish horse

[drift91]

I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles, I hope you find a way through it but definitely have a look at herbs/aromatherapy, might make a difference, also he may be lacking something in his diet, so forage analysis might be a good idea if you haven't already, to check he isn't missing anything from his diet. Also you could look up Klaus Hempfling, I haven't got any first hand experience with him but have heard he does very good work with stallions and flighty horses and his book dancing with horses is very good. Best of Luck

 

[MagicMelon]

No matter the weather id be having him outside as much as possible, providing he is in a waterproof rug with a bit of wool in it he will be absolutely fine and then hopefully slightly less frustrated in the stable.

I agree. The horse sounds very unhappy and frustrated. Chuck him out full time and hopefully he'll settle a bit, sounds like its worth a go anyway as something in his routine needs to change. I wouldnt be smacking him much, I'd try to find the route of the problem. Often, agressive horses are extremely unsecure. I had one a few years ago who was like that but he was a real woose deep down and once I found a routine which worked for him he began to settle and his mood and behaviour improved.

 

[Elsbells]

I'd move him as a last resort.

Enviroment and even the type of bedding you use can affect a sensative horse more than anything else, believe me cause I've got one. If he's unhappy with his home, companions, his routine and even his people then it all needs to change before he can improve. The trick is to read the triggers.

Good luck with him.

 

[Tammytoo]

If this "hiccup" is down to the lack of calmer, I wouldn't beat yourself up about it - having followed your previous post I'm amazed he has been good for so long. I also think that the zoo-thingy is well worth a try.

Personally I think you're mad - but you have my admiration for sticking with your boy, I'm not sure I would.

Good luck!

 

[traceyann]

Thanks everyone im hoping its a blip and iv ordered the biggest pot of calma i can get. I phoned the company should be with me tomorrow. I suppose competing is out of the question this year. Its just i take the other two would have been nice to take him as well. I am a bit scared that someone will raise their arm to fast or someone will scare him and he boxes them maybe a bit soon for him. He can be good so theres hope and he still nowhere near as bad as he was.

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

Were any of the 7 trainers experienced with Spanish horses? I don't know much about differences but after reading on here it would appear there are lots between them and normal horses, i would expect you'd need a trainer specialised in them.

 

[noblesteed]

It sounds like things are much improved with Spanish and this is just a blip. Don't take it too badly, sounds like you are doing things right, he is just having a bad few days!

 

[showqa]

How old is he?

I have a PRE who was cut late and can be a bit stallion - like, although I have to say that he's never reared or scared me. Look, they are different (I can hear so many people now saying "No - it's just another horse!!!"). They HAVE to be worked and it is more a mental than a physical thing really. They are such thinkers and they need to be stimulated. Even in the worst weather I have to get out there do something with him, whereas my TB is happy having a few days off if the weather is dreadful.

I have a Portuguese trainer who comes over to work with me and I can tell you, those who have been brought up with this breed or those Brits who have trained/specifically worked with this breed, do have a deep understanding of them that helps enormously. I feel that you need to seek someone out with that background.

Whereabouts are you?

 

[dressagedreamer]

Totally agree!

Andalusians do not respond well to physical attack. If I smacked one of mine it would be the slippy slope to disaster. Sounds like there is an issue with him from his past that he is holding on to. Andalusians are eager to please and like to interact, the fact that your boy "boxers" sounds as if he has had to defend himself in the past. I don't know you or your boy, all I am saying is listen to him and try and work out what the problem is and get him to trust you to tell you.........I am not a tree hugger, honest, just learnt the hard way!

 

[samlf]

Not sure if its been mentioned but I would definitely turn the horse out full time, it really really sounds as if he feels threatened when backed into a corner (and think about it, a stable is hardly natural for a horse that is built to roam for miles per day, being stuck in a box especially if hes already very fearful!)
I dont think its fair to blame the horse at all. You've chosen to have him and work with him, if you cant cope then PTS, its not his fault he has turned out like this.
I'd put him on a broad spectrum supplement as it sounds like a calmer works, most just 'work' by balancing minerals (so dont 'calm' the horse... they return it to its normal state).

In my opinion, right now the best thing you can do for your horse is turn him out, put absolutely no pressure on him for at least a month - feed him as little hard feed as possible, I believe spanish horses are very good do-ers so ad lib hay (or soaked hay), nothing molassed/high sugar.

 

[honeymum]

If you are down south have you tried www.turvillevalleystud.co.uk as Diane and Angela are very experienced with Iberians. They may be able to offer some advice, hope it all works out for you.

 

[cathyguernsey]

Dear Traceyann, when I read your post, I knew that I had to send you a reply even though I have never posted before. I too have a,"challenging" Andalusian who is rising 4.He is my second, the other being a freeby twenty years ago who was destined for dogmeat.He was a pain in the derrier but he worked out like a lovely old donkey in the end,(and I kept him for life,R.I.P Lu) This current one has scared me(handling him not riding) at times. I was probably a bit silly and bought an unbacked youngster, thinking I would merrily do the same as before. The only thing was, I was twenty the 1st time, without two kids,a mortgage and wasn't self employed! I don't have transport or a school as yet, so am struggling with difficult behaviour in mud. Like you, I put him straight onto simple feeds with no sugar, which has helped. I have accepted that I couldn't (safely)deal with him by myself, and got some really effective help from Jim Goddard in Sussex. As my horse was initially really headshy and difficult with his head(bashing around and using it as a weapon),he helped me try and maintain some personal space and try to teach him boundries without walloping him. Rosie Jones backed him when he was liveried at Jim's last summer, and he really enjoyed the work and was so brave. He then had a couple of months off when he came back home,(no school or working lorry) which was a mistake as he went backwards. However,this was my own fault. He is basically a bit bored now and herd bound to the other horse. I am trying to save up to at least get a trailer to start taking him to a school and back to the trainers etc. What I am trying to say is don't give up. Mine is now handleable,almost loving at times, although he does have his moments. I have to be careful that he isn't wacked as initially he had almost come to expect it,like a "fix" at his previous home. I have had him about a year and a half and I would just about say we have crossed the line where I know he (mostly)won't take advantage if he gets the upper hand.Myself, my husband or my p/t helper are the only people who handle him for consistency. I think it's an advantage to be in a small private yard most of the time, but do sometimes feel it would be a long time before anyone found me if things were to go horribly wrong. I don't feel inexperienced generally, but this horse has made me question every aspect of how i interact with the horses. If I put too much pressure on, I am sure he would retaliate,but equally, need him to respect me and my safety and behave himself.Good luck and feel free to contact me if you want to sound off!

 

[assuan]

Don't PTS - I'll take it off your hands, can play with my PRM

 

[traceyann]

Thanks for the offer of taking him of my hands but as in previous post iv said he dieds with me weather by my choice or old age I did send him to a trainer he scraped the side of her head she sent him back as found him to dangerous I had a spanish trained teacher my god im not going in to detail but he punched my horse and sent him back weeks with the work iv done took him ages to trust me again. Its got to be me and him to bond and we are getting there its never gonna be plain sailing with him and each day as they come we will get there and my calma turned up today so hopefully he can go back to being good. Hes the only horse i know a vet will not enter his stable without a hat they even bring their own Out of fairness neither do i