Crazy Horse Help

[QueenofHearts]

I have had my horse now for about 2 months. My sister and I both ride him and was wonderful up until this week. We left for about a week and a half and came back and he was a bit up. So we rode him and everyday he was getting better until he was back to his old self. But today we rode him and he was perfect on the flat but when we went to jump he went CRAZY. He was rushing the jump, jumping huge, then sprinting away after the jump. We weren't popping him in the mouth or kicking him over the jumps. We then free lunged him and he was again great until he went over a small X and ended up clearing the standards, which is NOT anything close to what he normally jumps. He is a OTTB but has been off the track for over 10 years now and he was even a lesson horse at one point. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much!

 

[Rose Folly]

Not really sure as you don't say how/where you keep him, how much you ride him etc. But it strikes me that if you AND your sister are both endlessly schooling him he may just be fed up to the back teeth with it and showing it. Can you change his routine - hack him out and do some riding rather than schooling?

 

[QueenofHearts]

Sorry we keep him at a private barn and he gets ridden about once a day. Sometimes we flat him sometimes we jump him and he is outside for at least 6 hours a day but sometimes more. My sister and I take turns riding him so we don't over work him or anything.

 

[labruyere]

in my experience such a sudden change in character is very often a sign that he has tweaked something somewhere.
i'd be looking at getting his back checked and his legs checked.
as i understand it this is happening only when jumping which would definitely have me thinking along those lines.

i assume from what you've said he was jumping fine for you before so it's not greeness.
you seem to be varying his work so not over jumping.
if it had happened earlier i would suggest the classic - now i've recovered from the shock of moving and got my hooves under the table i'll commence 'heirarchy discussions' - but again this would manifest itself more generally, not just in jumping.

it could be the saddle, esp if he used his time off to put on some condition that could now be tight.

and i would also suggest you consider honestly whether now he's thrown in some 'hairy' jumps are you not subconciously expecting, and therefore unwittingly creating, the problem through tension and doubt within yourself

hope this helps
best regards

 

[Ladydragon]

Sorry we keep him at a private barn and he gets ridden about once a day. Sometimes we flat him sometimes we jump him and he is outside for at least 6 hours a day but sometimes more. My sister and I take turns riding him so we don't over work him or anything.

Is that a typo for 'hack' or do you mean flat work/schooling? What's he like for everything else? Rose Folly has a point - my TB gets totally miffed if he's spending too much time in the school 'working' as opposed to heading out...

The six hours - is that the turnout he gets?

I'd also be inclined to agree Labruyere that he may have changed shape with the time of the year and regular work and his saddle might not be as comfortable... It is also early days and a routine is still being established...

 

[Booboos]

To be honest he sounds a little bit lively rather than crazy, so could be that he was feeling well, feeling excited, spring grass, etc. Just put it down to experience!

If he continues being wound up by jumping get an instructor to help you from the ground and assess the extent of the problem.