Don't know if I want to ride my boy anymore

m3gan

m3gan

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I have just had a really scary ride on my horse today and would be very pleased if any of you can offer any thoughts ideas etc.

My ned is a spooky Arab, and normally I am able to deal with his little "quirks"!

About three months ago he had had a back problem , and needed a couple of sessions with the back lady and he was sorted out. He wasn't ridden much during this time, because he needed to rest after his treatment. He wasn't off work for more than a week, maybe plus a few other days. The back problem occurred when someone else rode him for me and I think they were a bit too heavy for him.I am about 8 stone and the person who rode him was nearer 10 stone. This was entirely my fault as I didn't think the person was that weight! Anyway they stopped riding him and his back was better.
His saddle was checked a few weeks ago.

On riding him after his back treatment on the way home , he wanted to get home very much faster than I would let him, so he sunk back onto his hocks, I managed to get him going forward and then made him go round in circles until he came back down to me.

Since that time he has only once done that again and it was relatively a small incident, not much of a thing . Until today, now ned has been put on to the summer paddock a few days ago and the spring grass is coming through and it is very rich grass. He has only been at the new yard since last April so hasn't experienced the first grass at this new yard until now. Given that the paddock is 4 acres and he shares it with another it is highly likely that he is feeling very full of himself.

It is no excuse for his behaviour today, on the way home we were on a grass verge on a minor road, very near where we turn down to his 'home'. He decided to go sideways then sunk down on to his hocks just as two lorries and several cars came by. I gave him a tap with the stick, and he then sort of twisted, I think! and I lost a stirrup ned is arsing around and I now I am going to fall into the road, the traffic is still continuing to move like some horrific nightmare. Somehow, I managed to stop myself from falling and got my foot back in the stirrup. Only two cars stopped! !

I made him do lots of circles before I would let him go down the lane for home.
I was scared s*****ss

I really feel at a lose to know what to do now, just as I had built back my confidence from the previous time, only to have it all dissolved. Partly I feel that maybe I should find a new home for him, or should I send him away to be sorted out. I don't want to ever put myself in that position I was in today.

Any thoughts or advice gratefully received.

Ps. Does anyone know of a good instructor/problem horse sorter near to Tavistock?
 
My first thought is that the saddle isn't fitting. A slightly heavier rider could make this more apparent but I seriously doubt a 10st rider would be too heavy for you Arab. Arabs were bred to carry men, heavy men upwards of 14st is not problem for them, 10st is not too heavy but as I said if the horse already had a problem with it's back the weight and rider change might have triggered a reaction.

After saddle checking and being sure it's not a pain response I would suggest going out in company for a while. It would help get your confidence back and probably help get his confidence back, I've been around Arabs for over 10 years and I've found a few cheeky ones but they are rarely dangerous to ride (unless you can't sit a fast spook) it normally nerves that make them act up rather than badness.

Another thing I would say is never ride on grass verges...cars will rarely slow down for a horse on the grass verge, they seem to think there is an invisible barrier that stops the horse leaving the verge and coming onto the road infront of them.
 
I don't know about your previous experiences or what level you ride at, but would it be worth having lessons with him - he doesn't sound like a problem horse at all, just one keen to get home, which lets face it they all are most of the time.

one of mine is always difficult and will get keen, sometimes go sideways, jump about - but I've llearnt to ride hime when he is like this so we cope.

Not meaning to sound mean, but it may not all be the fault of the horse - good luck and hope you get it sorted
 
Sorry I've just re read what I wrote and it doesn't sound right!

I mean that if you have had confidence issues in the past (sounds like you might have) then these may be affecting him, he doesn't sound like he's being too naughty, just over eager to get home.

I'd be tempted to have an instructor with you on a hack, to give advice when you need it, as they will be able to see what's happening there and then.

They all test us at one time or another and he may be able to pick up on any nerves you may have, and now this has happened you will no doubt feel more nervous next time.

Have you tried leading him out in hand to see how he behaves, that may help you find out if it is a back problem?

If it were mine though, I'd hack out at the crack of dawn when likely to be quiet and he played up would probably have a quarrel with him, show him who's boss and put him in his place. is there anywhere you can ride him where he may play up that isn't near a road? Just if you could sort this out in a safe place it may be easier!
 
JVB said:
Sorry I've just re read what I wrote and it doesn't sound right!

I mean that if you have had confidence issues in the past (sounds like you might have) then these may be affecting him, he doesn't sound like he's being too naughty, just over eager to get home.

I'd be tempted to have an instructor with you on a hack, to give advice when you need it, as they will be able to see what's happening there and then.

They all test us at one time or another and he may be able to pick up on any nerves you may have, and now this has happened you will no doubt feel more nervous next time.

Have you tried leading him out in hand to see how he behaves, that may help you find out if it is a back problem?

If it were mine though, I'd hack out at the crack of dawn when likely to be quiet and he played up would probably have a quarrel with him, show him who's boss and put him in his place. is there anywhere you can ride him where he may play up that isn't near a road? Just if you could sort this out in a safe place it may be easier!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice,

Yes I have had confidence issues before, mainly it started when my boy was involved in a car accident, which he has not, fortunately been hugely affected by.
Unless this is an issue of him being scared, but I feel that it is unlikely the accident was last May, but I suppose it is possible he is still anxious. I will get his saddle checked again and his back in case it is a problem. Hope to find an instructor as well!
 
It's possible you could both be affecting each other, he may pick up on your nerves, get worried and want to head for home ( his safe place).

Horrible to have been in an accident, I don't ride on the roads as too many nutty drivers, does make finding a livery yard harder as need off road hacking but it is possible, all the best!
 
I am having very similar issues to you with my gelding at the moment. You may have read my post on 'fed up of naughty horse'. All I can say is I totally understand how you feel. I am back to square one with cantering on a hack after his bucking fit on the main road, and so gutted as I've just rebuilt my confidence after a bad fall. I am so close to putting mine up for sale.
All you can do is try to find a supportive friend or instructor to hack out with. Or even someone to walk on foot beside you. He will be totally sensing your nerves. You need to hack in company until you feel like, 'hey we're just off for a hack out, no problems'. And you are used to riding with relaxed hands, legs, seat, breathing. Then go out alone. It's taken me nearly 2 years to be able to hack mine out alone and we still have the odd nap.

Good luck!
 
it sounds to me like its you that has the issue and i don't blame you...riding on the roads is scary :eek: i speak from experience, i got run over a few years ago by some silly cowbag and its majorly affected me ever since. i think i am a brave person/ rider but i hate riding on the road- even a little country lane...makes me really nervous :( its quite possible that these nerves are transferring themselves to your horse and if he's full of it he's then using it as an excuse to act up. i would advise same as above- hack out in company with a friend for a while and see what happens. otherwise put someone else on him to hack out and see what he does :) good luck :)
 
Do you tell him off if he is naughty? A growl, a loud "no" can sometimes be effective.
Also if he is in a 4 acre field I suspect he is full of spring grass, and that can make them silly and nervous. Try some magnesium supplementation while the grass is growing quickly.

Farmers give added magnesium to all their animals when they are turned out onto spring grass.
 
I really feel for you as I have felt the same quite recently. Please dont give up just yet.

I have, as a last resort purchased a 'confident rider' cd. My problem is strangly the opposite to yours as I can happily go for a hack with a friend but was terrified of having so much as a plod around the school.

This cd works on self hypnosis and relaxation techniques. Please dont ask what the cd says or how long it is because I honestly cannot remember a word after 10 mins but it really is working. You have to listen to it everyday for a week and then just as and when you feel the need thereafter. Ive listened to it 3 times so far and have been in the school twice in 2 days!! So there is the proof.

You can get ones for hacking, jumping, road work, dressage, flat work schooling to name a few. I have the flat work schooling one and it has been the best thing Ive done.Maybe this can help you too
 
Spring grass always makes mine a bit loopy, and I do find that magnesium helps so ditto the above.

Just another thought: did the vet look at him when he had the original back problem? I am sure your back person is very competent, but perhaps there was some other underlying issue that is re-surfacing.
 
Hi, not sure if I have understood correctly but do you mean you have ridden him home straight after having his back treated? If so, did the back person say you could ride him straight away because if he has had a back problem and is still under treatment and they have manipulated his back then could this not be the cause of him sinking to his hocks if he is feeling a bit tender - maybe he was feeling a bit sore across his back to be ridden straight away? Forget what I have said if this wasn't the case or the back person siad it was OK to ride him straight away - just seems a bit odd thats all.
 
I am riding my mare who has just come back into work after a tear in her DDFT. She hasnt been out for a year and sometimes is like a coiled spring - shes hanoverian/tb, and so is a little spirited. If we see other horses in fields and especially if they decide to run about, she gets a bit boingy and it can be a bit scary. I have been giving her the NAF Magic calmer and although always a bit sceptic about these working, i have to say that I do think its helping her. We ride out in company wherever possible at the moment, before her injury she was happy to go out solo. We have been out on our own 3 times, today beeing 1 of them . She was very good until we got home and she saw a horse coming towards us, 1 in a field and 1 being ridden in the school in canter. It all became a bit too much for her and I could feel her tense up. I got off and led, the first time Ive ever done it, but did so for safety reasons and to end on a good note.

I wonder if a calmer would help you. Its spring and the horses know it and are excited. Ride out in company and as someone said above, ride on tarmac and not the verges. Izzy was more forward when we had to walk on a soft track than she is on the roads.

Keep plugging away, Im sure it will come good. As for the grass, why not try a muzzle so as to limit the intake your horse gets and the sugars absorbed.
 
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