Down in the Dumps

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Witchy

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I've been doing some very light work in the school on my cob just to help my confidence; I've not been doing much, mainly walk halt walk trot walk transitions. I was really doing ok, I'd ridden four days on the run before I went away for a long weekend.

When I got back, with some encouragement from friends, I decided to have a lesson with a proper instructor, joining a friend in her lesson. We started off ok and was after a couple of minutes was asked to trot (not that confident here) but I did - Joe was being awkward and teacher asked me to take up a tighter contact on him (I generally work quite loose).

Anyway I continued to try trotting and he kept slowing to walk and I kept pushing him back into trot etc and eventually on the forth lap Joe decided he'd had enough; we turned down the back length of the school heading back toward the gate and he shot into canter and then fly bucked all the way down the length of the school with me popping on and off the saddle and hanging on for dear life. The only reason I got through the bucking was because I had hold of a bit of mane which I do when I trot. Bythe time we got to the gate he turned sharply and I gave up and came off.

I did get back and continued the lesson but just walking tight circles around the teacher. She then grabbed him and we trotted round with her holding lightly on the reins. A couple of times he attempted to make a run for it but between us we stopped him from doing the same thing.

Last night, I decided I'd lunge him in the round pen and see how he was, with the intention to then have a ride after. Well, it was like full on attitude! He hardly got into a decent walk and when I did get him going reasonably he'd throw a total hissy fit and turn his bum at me and buck. He done this a couple of times, I changed rein and the same thing happened - when he got near the shutters of the round pen he decided to rear up too.

I'm just on such a downer at the moment. He is a nice horse generally but he's a happy hacker and god help you if you ask him to do anything else. I refuse to take him out on hacks as he's just so strong and I can't honestly say I'd be capable of (knowing how to) stop him. I really don't think he would as it's not really what he's about as a horse and I'm quite confident in that.

My teacher suggested a Pelham which I now have - I had a french link snaffle which I was told was a disadvantage compared to the size of his neck and so need something stronger.

I know that I'm up for another fight once I get on him back in the school. I'm just totally unconfident about the whole thing. When the fly bucking happened, I was totally buzzing because he generally only does this to really good riders, the teacher said that 'I'd got him and he didn't like it'. I felt confident and inspired and almost like I'd got a gold star from my horse for riding him well - just that the reward is fly bucking!!

GRRR!! :(
 
Oh lovey =[ chin up. Keep going with the lessons.

The only words of comfort I can offer is when you're riding a beautifully schooled well behaved horse, you'll have come alot further than others who never had problems!

Hopefully some people on here will have had similar experiences and will be able to help xxx
 
Well done for getting back on and continuing your lesson. It sounds like he is throwing his toys out the pram when he doesn't get his own way. Keep at it! So long as you can keep your nerves ok, if he does this I would then give him another load of work. If before you finish what you planned he does it again, then it's another load of work! The message gets across! My mare sometimes has a full on tantrum during lunging, so she just gets harder work for longer (I'm not talking ragging her, just we don't finish as early as I planned, more transitions and work). She used to do this in the school too (bucking was her thing too), but fortunatly gave up on it pretty quick when she twigged that more work resulted. If you worry about it, perhaps having someone on the ground for encoragement, and sticking with regular lessons would help. Good luck, you will get there and as long as you stick with it I bet it doesn't take half as long as you think!
 
Thanks guys I really appreciate your words - It's the not knowing how he's going to be or how long I have to put up with him doing this that gets me...
 
I really do know how you feel havign to learn to ride on a very cocky, strong, sulky cob.
I have weekly lessons now, ive been having them a few weeks - i did used ot practice in between - first only in walk and i had someone watching us - in case.
With help and support from my instructor i learnt how to stop him spinning and bolting - also every spook he did helped my confidence because i didnt fall off!!!!
So when i felt ready we moved onto practising alone - very slowly - sometimes for only 10 minutes at a time .
Dont push yourself too much - have weekly lessons and go at your own pace - set yourself little goals - ps wehn i was really really nervous i (after reading some tips from hunters on here :D) had a little swig of the strong stuff before our lessons - it did help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Witchy said:
Anyway I continued to try trotting and he kept slowing to walk and I kept pushing him back into trot etc and eventually on the forth lap Joe decided he'd had enough; we turned down the back length of the school heading back toward the gate and he shot into canter and then fly bucked all the way down the length of the school with me popping on and off the saddle and hanging on for dear life. The only reason I got through the bucking was because I had hold of a bit of mane which I do when I trot. Bythe time we got to the gate he turned sharply and I gave up and came off.

I did get back and continued the lesson but just walking tight circles around the teacher. She then grabbed him and we trotted round with her holding lightly on the reins. A couple of times he attempted to make a run for it but between us we stopped him from doing the same thing.

Last night, I decided I'd lunge him in the round pen and see how he was, with the intention to then have a ride after. Well, it was like full on attitude! He hardly got into a decent walk and when I did get him going reasonably he'd throw a total hissy fit and turn his bum at me and buck. He done this a couple of times, I changed rein and the same thing happened - when he got near the shutters of the round pen he decided to rear up too.

I'm just on such a downer at the moment. He is a nice horse generally but he's a happy hacker and god help you if you ask him to do anything else. I refuse to take him out on hacks as he's just so strong and I can't honestly say I'd be capable of (knowing how to) stop him. I really don't think he would as it's not really what he's about as a horse and I'm quite confident in that.

My teacher suggested a Pelham which I now have - I had a french link snaffle which I was told was a disadvantage compared to the size of his neck and so need something stronger.

I know that I'm up for another fight once I get on him back in the school. I'm just totally unconfident about the whole thing. When the fly bucking happened, I was totally buzzing because he generally only does this to really good riders, the teacher said that 'I'd got him and he didn't like it'. I felt confident and inspired and almost like I'd got a gold star from my horse for riding him well - just that the reward is fly bucking!!

GRRR!! :(
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Had to check Dex was still in the field! thats exactly the same kind of rude behaviour he tries. Including bogging off when being led (s*d nearly pulled me over yesterday as he shot off) I get my husband to lead / ride when he is like this as its much harder to pull a bloke over and Dex respects him. I have made a lot of progress by upgrading to a really strong bit. a sam marsh pelham BUT i ride with a very soft contact unless he locks his neck and tries to be horrid- then i can bring him up short and he HAS to obey me. I only use it in situations where i can anticipate us having a "discussion" Everyone agrees that Dex is truely the most opinionated horse they have ever met and his magnificent neck is a powerful weapon against his rider.

Just remeber you will never outgun a cob but you can out smart them ;)

*Hides from snaffle freaks who have clearly never been truely bogged off with*
 
If I were you, I would have private lessons not shared ones. That way the instructor can work and a more suitable pace and you do not feel pushed into stuff. Give yourself time, theres loads of stuff you can do in walk to get him thinking, he sounds like he's one of those who need to be thinking. Leg yeild, 10 m circles, serpintines etc etc. Then just trot 20m circle and come back to walk and increase the trot more and more until you feel confident.
Hope that helps
 
I was messing about doing leg yeilding with him one of the days I rode on my own, one of my friends said to try it and he really concentrated.

I don't know that I'm ready for instructed lessons, or if I want them, most people on the yard are so up for them and kept banging on at me to have one. I'm sure it is good and something I should do but I thought she would have at least asked me my capabilities/worries before the start of the first lesson..... maybe I'm being too precious.
 
Don't worry about having lessons (I could have written your excuse!!), they will def be a big help. Have a good chat with the instructor first so they know what you want to achieve and the problems you are wanting to work on. He might be getting bored, but it is no excuse for acting like that. If out of trot he canters and bucks, then he will fall back into trot when he's done. Kick him on and keep him cantering until YOU choose. When it is harder work for him it will become a whole lot less fun! You just have to make your way the happy way!
 
This is probably not what you are going to want to hear but bolshy cob and very nervous rider are not the best combination and if I know cobs, which I do, he will get worse if you get less confident due to his actions. He probably needs riding occasionally at least by someone who isn't scared of him and is quite happy to push him through his naughty behaviour. Otherwise this is going to end up being a real problem horse

Blitz
 
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