Calming the Thoroughbred fever?

[QueenDee_]

I currently have a lovely boy, however at 17.2hh there is a lot of him. 90% of the time he's a complete dope, however being a thoroughbred he does have his 'special moments', and I was hoping some of you may have some advice as to how to handle these?

There isn't usually a significant reason for him fizzing up whilst hacking, sometimes he'll see something and get a bit joggy, then the head tossing starts and really he just winds himself up, leading to some impressive piaffe and sideways movements down the road. He has been in the family his whole life, and as I know he doesn't buck or rear these hissy fits don't worry me, its more the frustration of having him jig jogging and plunging about, usually for about 15 mins before he calms down again. Telling him off gets me nowhere as it winds him up more, so I tend to just relax and let him get on with it, sometimes using things such as leg yield to try and draw his focus back to me.

Apart from this does anyone have any suggestions as to how to calm him down? The spring grass doesn't help as he is clearly feeling well in himself, but as I said 90% of the time his halo remains intact!

 

[stormox]

Its not only TBs that have these moments- i have an Irish draught that does just that, and as for my sisters Welsh cob, he can piaffe and passage for England at unexpected moments....

 

[QueenDee_]

Its not only TBs that have these moments- i have an Irish draught that does just that, and as for my sisters Welsh cob, he can piaffe and passage for England at unexpected moments....

Oh gosh obviously not, they can all have their moments. It would be great if he could re-direct these passage-moments into our schooling sessions!

 

[Mrs G]

How old is he? If young it cud we'll be something he will grow out of eventually, otherwise, if it's the worst thing he does and it doesn't give you a scare/just annoys you I would say count your blessings, continue as you are and accept that jiggy 10% of his personality!

 

[QueenDee_]

How old is he? If young it cud we'll be something he will grow out of eventually, otherwise, if it's the worst thing he does and it doesn't give you a scare/just annoys you I would say count your blessings, continue as you are and accept that jiggy 10% of his personality!

10 now so unlikely to grow out of it anymore, yes I have accepted thats probably what i'll habe to do, only issue is my Mother sometimes hacks him out for me, and although a competent rider (and actually his breeder) the jigjogging silliness does worry her a bit.

 

[oldie48]

I've got one of those, he's 3/4TB and 1/4 ID and he does it for the last five or ten minutes of every hack. Like yours, I know he won't buck or rear but it is exhausting because he has very big paces. He can also get a bit "het up" if when schooling he's asked to step out of his comfort zone. I try to keep him really soft in front by flexing him, if I can get him to stretch and give me some bend I can get him back with me, but I'm sometimes defeated! I'm also inclined to think, if it's the worst he does, then I'm better to ignore it!

 

[Tobiano]

Last time I rode a TB was about 40 years ago! so I am not well qualified to comment, but I have been advised in the past that if my horse wanted to jog rather than walk, to make him do a proper collected trot (or as you say, passage!) rather than keep fighting for walk. Sorry that is so lame but best I can come up with!

 

[forelegs]

Mine does this, normally if something spooks him and then he winds himself up for about 10 minutes, but sometimes just completely randomly.

I think you just improve your stickability and your sense of humour - with mine its something that isn't going to change, so you just need to know how to deal with it.

 

[GeorgiaEllie]

my TBxwelsh does this quite often and the only way to get him over it is to push him forward rather than holding him back. Usually he regains concentration and returns to plodding along again.