Do horses go through naughty phases?

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nedzy

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I have a seven year old ISH, which I bought as just broken at 5. He was a real dope, could do anything with him - bomb proof - which is why I bought him! Two years later, he is fitter, more educated obviously, and completely changed. I have checked all physical causes first so am coming to the conclusion he's just having a laugh at my expense!
I can ride him indoors fine. He works really well and will do anything. However outdoors, either hacking or schooling he hops around bucking and prancing like a mad thing. Almost seems like just too much 'joie de vive' however he is now seriously denting my confidence. Advice has been to get him out seeing more stuff, competitions etc, but I am worried that I won't be able to control him when I get there! Is it just a 'teenager' type phase or have I created a monster?!
 
Yep! Or at least mine do! Here are some of the more 'popular' causes:
- spring, loopy on the new grass
- winter, loopy on the limited turn-out
- less work, loopy with excess energy
- growing up, loopy through stages of trying it on!

I would try a good instructor who might be able to give you some new ideas on how to deal with his behaviour and if all else fails he/she can hop on and fix the problem. With a young horse I would put it down to trying it on and he should grow out of it with consistent and firm handling.
 
My rising 7 yo ISH was quieter at 4/5 than she is now and my confidence has taken a bashing lately too having been dumped a couple of times.
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I've been putting it down to newfound confidence but I'd be very interested to hear what others say.
 
I think some horses are a bit dumb when they are young, not meaning to be rude - I know mine have been!! And then why they grow up a bit they realise how fun life is and just think wahey!

How much work is your horse getting? Some need lots to keep them sane and sensible, whereas others don't really care.
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My boy is nearly 11 and I've had him since he was 6. He goes through a different phase about every 6 months but soon gets over it when he realises he doesn't win. It can be not standing still to cross back over the road to come home when hacking, not standing still when I first get on, being a beggar on the lunge, having little mini fits with baby rearing and hopping about, just about anything but he seems to get over it when he realises he's not going to win.
Perserverance is the key to my boy.
 
They definatly do!

Youngsters tend not to be very strong or confident, and also willing to learn when 4-5/6ish (depending on breed). I think people then tend to take it easy with them, treating them like a baby...

A few years down the line they start to test you, and they will be much stronger and start to play up.

I know of lots of big horses who were difficult to handle and work due to people treating them like babies due to their age.

Horses need black and white set boundarys from the start, then they both know where they stand.

Good luck, work through it and if needs be get help if he is denting your confidence! x
 
I think the term my instructor used for him when she first met him was 'backward', as in mentally! He is a bit slow on the uptake, but now he's 17.2h he's scaring me to death! Can see what you mean about treating him like a baby - as he was so big we really took our time with him, and I think somewhere along the line he's got ahead of us!
 
Yes they do, my horse hit seven and turned into a spooky idiot. Like yours, inside he was fine, outside he was a nightmare. If you are like me you have decided to stick with indoors to have a nice ride. However, I decided one day to bite the bullet and get on with it in the outdoor school. I lunged him until he was tired out there to start with before getting on, soon the lunging time got less and the riding time got more until now, i just get on and ride out there. He still has the odd moment but 99% of the time he is fine. He is also fine at shows and hacking out now as he knows he is not getting the better of me.
Also, try to react to the stupidity, ignore it and ride through it. Make sure you work him hard and do lots of different school moves, lateral work, transitions ect to keep his mind occupied.
Do plenty of canter work with lots of transitions within the pace.
If you still feel worried about him, keep a lunge line nearby so you can hop off if he is being naughty, lunge him until quiet then get back on.
Make sure you lunge in side reins so he isn;t just messing about.
 
Sounds like he now knows how big and strong he can be and is using it to his advantage!

Dont let him scare you, get help, do lots of lunging before you ride if needs be, keep his concentration when you ride, dont let him amble along... horses find that as a great excuse to spot a monster in the distance!!

Good luck with him... the cold weather wont be helping either!! x
 
Yes my 8 yr old ISH is going through a naughty phase right now. He is ridden every day, being turned out and no change to his feed. At the min I'm having to walk him for around 40 mins before I can even ask to trot without an explosion! I know that he'll get over it though so I just keep getting on. As above says try lungeing before riding etc!
 
Check his feed - leave out anything molassed and up the fibre content. Remember to only feed according to the amount of excercise he is doing. Friends wb turned into a loon - bolted when out hunting and scared her silly. Changed his feed to all fibre and no molasses and was a changed horse in 3/4 days - no longer feels like she is sitting on an unexploded bomb! Was basically feeding him as if he was hunting every day when he only hunts on a saturday!
 
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