Bringing on a green horse....advice and possibly a hug needed pls

[Hippona]

My new horse....5 yo arab, very green.....is very giraffe like at present
He also takes a good 10-15 minutes to settle down and stop being like a space-hopper ...then he will walk out nicely and start to stretch down.

He's a bit of a rusher...he's rather unconfident but strangely enough walks out much nicer when I take him off the yard for a wander around the next field ( he had never been hacked out alone before, so I'm taking it steady to build his confidence up). He's unbalanced as well. For instance....my field is on a (very slight) slope and going downhill he always jogs/breaks into a trot rather than stay in walk, under saddle and when lunged also.

He is very, very light in the mouth and at present isn't taking up much of a contact- he is in a NS verbinend which he finds really comfy. I tried a french link-hanging cheek snaffle at the weekend ...and he hated that....head tossing, jogging and general reluctance to work. So back to the NS.

So....am I doing the right things?
Plenty of walk-halt-walk transitions. Half-halts. Circles. I'm trying to get his head lower by playing with the inside rein a little until he softens ( this can happen easily, or not at all - certainly not this weekend when I was trialling the new bit). Walking over poles.

Then- take him for a walk around the field next door- crop field with a path around it, bordering a road- he's seeing stuff and interested and coping well bless him.

Anything else I should be doing? I remember going through similar with our Highland, but this horse has not had a great education so far and is pretty much being started again...I don't want to get it wrong....

He's come so far...he wouldn't be tied up, tacked up or mounted when I got him in September- I just want to do right by him.

Cheers ....kettles on

 

[DellaMoon]

Don't forget lots of leg! It sounds like he'snot going forwards into the contact. It's very easy to be fooled by a flighty horse into thinking they are going forwards. Had exactly the same problem with my friends warmblood. Because he was trying to jog and popping into trot and seemed forward when in trot I thought he was going forward and forgot my leg! As soon as I remembered it he softened and worked through from behind. He's probably better out because he's naturally going forwards more.

 

[frustrated]

Hi, you are doing all the right things. How long have you had him? He will need plenty of time to settle into a new home. I think that on average 3/6 months. One thing that might help is lunging in a chamdon this will help him stretch his top line and drop him head, just make sure that its not tight. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[soulfull]

Don't forget lots of leg! It sounds like he'snot going forwards into the contact. It's very easy to be fooled by a flighty horse into thinking they are going forwards. Had exactly the same problem with my friends warmblood. Because he was trying to jog and popping into trot and seemed forward when in trot I thought he was going forward and forgot my leg! As soon as I remembered it he softened and worked through from behind. He's probably better out because he's naturally going forwards more.

echo

 

[Faro]

Ditto DellaMoon too. Yes, remember to use your legs. I too made the same mistake with a young Arab who sounds remarkably similar to yours. The horse was very forward going so I never used my legs. The difference when I did have the confidence (and yes, I deliberately choose to use the work confidence) to put my legs on was incredible and we moved on in leaps and bounds (not literally!) from there onwards.

 

[pip6]

He's an arab, keep things interesting & stimulating or the mind will wander. He wont want to circle for hours, been there done it lets move on mum will probably be the order of the day. Don't be surprised if he is bored lunging, so trying to add some of his own variations. He will learn much faster than a Highland. Try & control his speed with your seat & use the leg to encourage him forward into your hands. One of my arabs totally objects to any kind of snaffle joint touching the roof of her mouth, could be the same with your boy. Stick to something that doesn't have that level of bend when used. Try & stimulate him as much as you can, if he is interested he will be calmer. Don't mistake taking time to settle with time to get bored. Use loads of poles. diffrent obstacles & jumps (yes they jump very well, but they have to think it's fun). Why aren't you hacking him out? One of my girls I got at 4, started 2 weeks, was hacking out in compnay within a month, in 4 months on her own. Keep them short, go a circular route so you don't 'turn for home'. If he does start to rush back be prepared to sit quiety in a halt & wait out any tantrum. I rode out for 20 mins, took me 2 hours to get back as each time she tried to rush off we halted for 5 mins. Very tedious but she never tried it again. No fuss, no raised voice or impatience just wait them out, they will get bored & twig!

Patience, patience & patience is what you need with a young arab. Ne begrudge the fact he is bright, that is who he was bred to be. Enjoy it, enjoy hacking to build balance & surefootedness. Stimulate him, & have fun finding new things to do with him. Get it right & he will be the most loyal loving friend you could hope for. Never lie to him, be honest (if it's scary say 'okay it's scary but we've still got to deal with it & I have the confidence to deal with it, borrow some from me')& he'll be there for you every time.

 

[millitiger]

tbh if he was mine i would do lots and lots of hacking and not worry about where his head is.

if you want to do schooling i would go back to something like long reining so he can find his own balance.

 

[Hippona]

True about the leg lol! He's so forward, and light in the hand I'm almost floating around on him. He is better if I wrap my legs around true. He is very responsive to weight

As for hacking out.....his previous owners were almost scared of him, they didn't give him any sort of reaasurance and therefore he was scared of his own shadow. He has never been hacked out on his own at all. I treat him the same as my other horses, he is much more confident and relaxed now and less jumpy. He's fine being hacked around close to the yard...much much better than I thought he would be TBH. I guess I should ignore what I've been told about him as I think that is colouring my decisions with him and just go for it.....

 

[JanetGeorge]

True about the leg lol! He's so forward, and light in the hand I'm almost floating around on him. He is better if I wrap my legs around true. He is very responsive to weight

Forward and light in the hand is good. I would get this chap back on the lunge (with NO 'training' aids) and teach him voice aids - particularly walk, trot and - most important - whoa! Once you can stop him within two strides with your voice, you're laughing! And ALWAYS use a neckstrap - a pull on the neckstrap and 'whoa' to stop or slow down so you can use only the LIGHTEST of rein aids and NEVER pull.

Once he learns you're NOT going to pull on his mouth, then he'll be happy to go forward into a contact.

 

[tristar]

if you're not sure about the hacking out , why not take him out in hand and show him the sights i find they love this can relax and look at things, stand and stare, which is natural to young horses, with you on the ground he will feel confident, wear gloves, use a bridle and chose a quiet time of day, i find walking round a village is a good one after the quiet lanes with verges
i had an arab many years ago that was one bit so i change it for another and he was fine
i find lunging is invaluable, if you do a little jumping on the lunge it reduces the monotony, i never use side reins or any training aids.
the young horse puts its head where it is most comfortable and uses its neck to balance itself, you have to hold yourself in balance and be reponsible for your bodyweight, while following the horse with a gentle loose shouldered contact on the bit, as you ride out and about go through the transitions gently, this is the first stage of schooling, the horse will become a little fitter which will help when you start work in the manege, keep everything large, circle loops etc, to maintain the forwardness, the school movements will with correct transitions train the horse, never pull back, think in months and years not days and weeks

 

[miskettie]

He sounds very much like my PBA when first got her. She was scared of her own shadow and could never walk straight.

My main advice is to get a good riding instructor, my pba had the "attention span of a gnat" (direct quote from an instructor )...because of this she got bored very easily. It really helped me to have someone telling me what to do, so that I could concentrate on that and not having to think where I wanted us to go next.

I also think we need to see a picture of your arab (as I am an arab fan!).

 

[Flame_]

Its great to hear you're doing well with him.

Do you have a good hacking companion? Flame was a very buzzy hack with a high head carriage and the worst thing to do with her was short hacks trying to get her to walk and settle. She was much more relaxed if you set off (ideally with another horse who will stay in a nice rhythm at whatever pace) on a good long ride with lengthy trot sections. Never do any short bursts of cantering (too exciting), always long stretches of trot or canter so the horse is having to work at keeping the faster pace and when you ask for walk the horse is glad to relax and have a rest.

If he's now confident with being mounted and ridden (well done!), I think give him some work to do and have some fun with him.

 

[Hippona]

Hi there

Update time.....well, I got yet another saddle- one we are both happy with ( Ideal WH )...the difference in him is amazing.

Flame...you would not believe its the same horse- he is a chilled out boy now- comes to call, stands to be groomed, feet done- tacking up no problem. He's still a bit shifty when it comes to mounting- he just wants to get going- but 100% better than he was.

I do have a hacking companion....my friend comes over on her TB and we go out and about together- but even better I've started hacking him out on his own....he is actually a little star. Not spooky at all- just having a look at stuff and a bit lacking in confidence but really - he is less spooky than my old horse. He copes fine with random kids in pushchairs, dogs, people mowing lawns- gangs of kids on bikes- but in typical arab fashion had a panic attack at the white lines on the road

I got a comfort poll for his bridle and really wrap my legs around and support him...you can literally feel his back coming up and his neck stretching down...he marches on now with a really good contact. Not consistently - if he gets excited the head and tail go up but we work through it and its still early days.

He's fine cantering and trotting on open fields now too......its just all coming together nicely

Gratuitous picfor miskettie..haven't got any recent ones- he's all fluffy and scruffy but he's put loads of condition since these pics were taken ( the day I brought him home)....will have to get some new ones uploaded.

having abit of a snooze...

 

[spotty_pony]

He looks lovely! Sounds like you are getting on really well with him now too, well done!

 

[Kenzo]

Sounds like you pretty much doing the right things, if he's improving leaps and bounds, just take it easy, let him him enjoy his training and learn to trust you.

Better to take it slow than push for too much, also at this age there will be changes in his mouth so woudn't worry about how much contact he's taking, as long as you have control, thing is the more he relaxes the less tension there will be and he'll drop his head carriage and eventually take the contact from you, so personally, at this stage my view is' leg means forward' and thats all and if he's going forward then that's all you need to worry about, if he's unbalanced and still learning a lot then trying to ride him like a schooled horse is not going to work, you'll just confuse matters.

Keeping his mind off the things that may worry him, so simple changes of direction always keeping on them move, too many stops and starts can wind them up, better to have him walking it off using your voice to reasure him and keep him as relaxed as possible while he soaks things up.

He looks lovely, sounds like your doing the right things though anyway.

 

[Hippona]

, if he's unbalanced and still learning a lot then trying to ride him like a schooled horse is not going to work, you'll just confuse matters.

QUOTE]

Thats the thing I'm guilty of Kenzo....my old horse was very well schooled and its difficult to adjust. I've stopped worrying about contact and whatever- that will come, and he is improving greatly- considering the amount of time I've not been able to ride cos of saddle issues and the snow we had.

Had a lovely canter on a hack at the weekend.....cheesy grins all around

( apart from almost trampling OH on the way out of the yard)

 

[miskettie]

I didn't realise it was an old post - sorry! It sounds like things are going well for you.

He is gorgeous! For some reason I had him as a chestnut in my head.

Do you know his breeding?

 

[Hippona]

I do yes...he is by Cas Ravel out of Summers Place Miss Daisy.....he has a famous Gt Gt grandsire ( All Nations Gold Cup winner). His parents and full sister do very well showing......

He was born bay (like his dad) but his mum was grey and so is a lot of his dam line.

Probably wasted with me but hey- so what?

 

[Flame_]

Ha ha, I didn't read the date of the thread either! You've done amazingly with him Poppymoo, it will be great to see the recent photos, and don't think for a minute he's wasted with you, you saved him from being well on his way to screwed up and I'm so pleased its paying off for you both.

 

[Hippona]

Ha ha, I didn't read the date of the thread either! You've done amazingly with him Poppymoo, it will be great to see the recent photos, and don't think for a minute he's wasted with you, you saved him from being well on his way to screwed up and I'm so pleased its paying off for you both.

Aww thanks hun....thats really nice of you to say so.
Especially seeing as you saw for yourself what a nobber he was - and not really through any fault of his own. Its not been easy....but he's very rewarding