Feeling extremely spoilt and don't really deserve it!!! *Advice?*

Eriskayowner

Eriskayowner

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I have now managed to get TWO horses to ride, at least for the next few weeks!

I have taken on Jazzy (my little "problem" horse with no brakes who actually needed compasionate and careful riding), but have "volunteered" to ride Horse as well now. I am the only one (apart from the YO) allowed to ride him now - not even his owner will get on him.

Any ideas to explain his behaviour? I will call him "Horse"...

Horse has been on the yard for about 18 months. He came from a yard run by a famous event rider (he was her grooms horse), but looking at his BE competition record he's been overfaced. His current owner took him on only 4 months after he left this yard after he clearly didn't want to event anymore. I don't think his owner was really told much of his history.

Horse was a good hack for his owner, but has got increasingly difficult. It doesn't help that his owner has major back issues so cannot use her legs effectively but Horse is now majorly taking advantage. He now chooses where he goes on hacks and if his owner doesn't want to go there he rears up and spins round. This has put his owner off riding him as she is not overly confident and he has put her off. (Her other horse also started doing this and she had to sell her).

Horse was taken hunting but he was kept at the back of the field on his own and freaked out - ended up burying his head in the hedge and not going anywhere.

Horse has also now managed to get someone else off - he refused to wait whilst a gate was being opened so jumped in a ditch (this is a common theme when he has a tantrum) and ran the rider along the fence and into a tree to unseat her. Then, when she was out of balance, jumped out of the ditch which had her off. Horse was then led home - he wins again!

I have ridden him this morning with no issues. He was lovely. BUT I put Jazz's bridle on him (myler MB02 hanging cheek and grakle noseband) as felt that his bridle gives no control if an issue occurs - typical "hunting" bridle - jointed eggbutt snaffle with flat cavesson noseband.

Any ideas on what to do with him now?

Horse now has three options according to YO - Potters, Market, or hunting (and hopefully someone might want him as a hunter). He has done a season in Ireland apparently, and I think he will be fine at the front.

On the ground he is a dream - really easy to handle - perfect gentleman. His flatwork is outstanding - I felt like I was in an armchair this morning.

Any advice? Any ideas? Any buyers?!

Many thanks for reading the essay. I do feel very lucky - I love problem horses and generally get them sorted but I am really worried that Horse will fall into the wrong hands as owner doesn't want to know anymore
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It sounds as though, as you say, he was doing a job that wasn't for him, and did not get out of it until he totally threw his toys otu fo the pram, which means he now knows how to get to do what he wants. It would appear to have been reinforced by his current owner.
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I think it's going to take someone with a lot of stickability to say No!, mean it, and stay on whatever he throws to get the rider off
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Not knowing his character it's hard to say how one would ride this horse. Some would say use the stick and argue, whilst others would sit calm and wait it out.

If I were to use the stick and argue with Dizzy, there is a good chance she would have killed me. When she has a hissy fit, which is pure 'I don't want to do it/I want to go another way' temper tantrums, I sit tight and deep and keep my hands quiet but forward, so she has head freedom so long as she's going roughly in the right direction; I also make great use of Thelwell kicks. I don't use a stick on her, other than simply lying down her shoulder when she tries to lead of with it. I have to qualify the statement abve re. using a stick - I have whapped her once on the bum as I really didn't want to be backwards into a barbd wire fence, she was so surprised she went forwards (at some speed, but no bucks).

It sounds like this horse has the trust on the ground, it's under the saddle that he needs to learn that humans aren't out to harm him. What about walking out long-reining him? Short hacks where he's asked nothing, other than to walk fifty yards and back again. Maybe he is like Dizz in that he needs constant brain activity - if Dizz is on one, I ask her constantly for flexion, transitions, changes of direction, yieilds, and it all helps to get her switched onto me and what we should be doing together.

Hugs hun. Hope you get somewhere. Will be interested in your updates
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Thanks Mrs M - that's really useful.

With Jazzy (who has his own major issues) I have just sat tight and gone with him pretty much. I can now get him to do pretty much I want.

The issues with Horse is that he is for sale, but unsellable in this state. I "have" to ride him to get him hunting fit, so that he might sell as a hunter - I can imagine he would be fab.

I have a feeling that when he was the event yard (seriously famous event yard groom's horse) he would have been majorly whalloped if he'd argued, and I *think* it'll probably make matters worse. However, he still needs to learn that he doesn't get to choose where to go and how fast etc. If I'm working on a horse, then I prefer to hack alone so that I don't feel as if I need to go a certain route or speed etc but YO won't (sensibly and I 100% agree with her) let me hack alone.

The long reining idea is a good one, but yard is on the side of a hill, and I'm not very fit!!!
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but really good advice.

The hugs are great - many thanks xxx
 
Hacking out with someone else is, I think, the way to go. You need someone who will support you and your wishes 100%. I was lucky in that Daughter or Friend would hack out with me if I asked and go at the speed and the direction that I wanted. Also, hubby and/or Daughters walked on the ground whilst I rode the Dizzy one. That extra support was invaluable
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I'd go for the ask of very little and major praise when he did what was asked. And by 'very little' I mean just a turn or a walk in the direction/speed you want and simply build it up, being ready to plateau every now and then. If he does something he shouln't, sit calm, aim quietly for what you want, then praise like mad (quietly of course lol) when he does the tiniest bit right.

Sorry, I feel like I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs (though why my grandmother would have wanted to suck eggs...
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Have drawerful of hugs and save some for later
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Forgot to say, long reining on a hill - brill way to get fit lol


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LOL - true!!! Maybe....! (Him, or me?!)

The girls on the yard are great, and will do everything to help me out (they know what Horse is like) but it makes me feel really selfish (I always try to please everyone else!)

I did a few things with Harry on the ride - lots of transitions on command etc, and wait whilst the girl I was with carry on down the hill etc. He seemed fine! He got lots of praise and didn't seem to bat an eyelid, but from what I've heard he's OK 90% of the time, but it's like a switch and he flips.

Odd
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Sorry, I feel like I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs (though why my grandmother would have wanted to suck eggs...
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).

Have drawerful of hugs and save some for later
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Egg sucking is one of my weak areas - any instruction is welcome!!

Hugs - again, still grateful! Will put some in a drawer for those not-so-good days! x
 
I would say he sounds very much like he needs some consistent riding but taking small steps according to his confidence levels etc. How is he to school? sounds like a longer term project and might not truely come good til 6 months or so down the line..

Perhaps schooling sessions finishing with a little walk up the lane and back to cool down might be a nice way to do little bits of hacking, gradually building up the distance etc.
 
I would think that he's great to school - I nearly took him in the school to find out this afternoon, but thought, as he was soooo good on the ride, that I'd leave it there.

He certainly felt nice on the ride - seeked a contact and worked really consistantly.

The issue is that the owner wants him sold ASAP but he's unsellable at the moment. She has a conscience and doesn't want him to hurt somebody, so he needs re-educating but quickly! He's at full livery ATM so will cost lots to keep, especially as she's not getting any use from him!
 
He sounds like a horse one of my friends took on. He was evented and hunted too young and his little brain couldn't cope with it
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She bought him as a project and after a year of solid routine and consistant riding he's turned into a really nice horse
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Sadly he seems to have OCD and even a minor change in his routine upsets him tho he doesn't flip out anymore. She does stressage on him now - he has an amazing jump on him but anything more than the occasional schooling session over jumps stresses him out
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From what she's managed to piece together he was hunted from teh age of 3 and evented from 4 - she got him when he was 7 and apparantly he never had a season off so it's no wonder it blew his brain
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Jesus! Why do people do this to these poor horses? It's beyond me.
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I think there would be some hope for Horse if time was on our side, but I think the owner wants rid ASAP and I'm certainly in no position to buy him. I also don't really have time for Jazz, let alone a second (full-time!)
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I will try to do as much as I can but am just really worried he'll end up at Potters as owner has lost interest/faith in him completely
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Wish i could buy him off you! It sound like he needs what mine has just had. 18 months with one person doing everything with him, turning out, feeding, bringing in, schooling, hacking, and free schooling. I have a fantastic instructor who is a real animal person rather than a "lets get the pictue" person. He can read the horse better than anyone i have ever known.

This putting his head in a fence is the clue for me - that poor animal was soo stressed on that occasion he took the "i cant see it so it cant hurt me positon" - and that is truely pitifull. This to me means no quick fix, he needs a sympathtic home, who will give him all the time in the world. He is going to be a little **it at times and yes he will need firm handling, but when he gives his heart he will be awesome.

I would - with a couple of very experianced people - free school him - and i mean properly - not the usual horriffic excuse for free schooling - where the poor thing has not got a clue and is just blindly running from the whips ! and see just how bad things are - you can tell so much from free schooling. Depending on this i would then free jump him - again that will give you some clues - let us know how you get on with this and then we can have another think about what can be done.How old is he?

Must say my heart really goes out to the poor chap - ive seen the shivering reckage of a "pro eventer" before!
 
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