Hate to admit defeat but... slowly losing it.

Vindaloo

Vindaloo

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I've thought of posting this before but have kept plugging away hoping that I'll have a breakthrough and that all my worries will go away but after yet another explosive ride am wondering if I should throw the towel in riding over here and wait till I come home.

I am leasing two thoroughbred ex racers. Sev is a 16.3 grey gelding 6 yr old and Sumtime a 16.2 chestnut stallion also 6. Both have been re schooled by their owner who is hugely successful over here in eventing, showjumping, polo pretty much everything and has represented his country no less than 12 times (pretty experienced to say the least).

My problem is this, Sev is a bit of a git in as much as he will throw bucking and rearing at you whenever he gets a chance. He had me off a few weeks back, stood bolt upright having stopped dead from a good jumping canter, dropped a shoulder, spun and up he went quite literally in seconds. I had no blooming chance and found myself in the horrible situation of wondering 'oh god is he coming over' before losing it totally and coming off. Gave myself a nasty shock to the base of my spine (no lovely surfaces out here, just good old baked mud) and a whack on the bonce (yes I do wear a hat).

The other lad is a bit of a dream on the whole BUT as the weather is turning colder even he is getting sharper than a damn razor and with every ride on each I am losing a little more confidence.

These animals are lucky out here, they are treated like kings BUT they get no turn out at all, only exercise under saddle. I cannot change this, it's put up or shut up, this is the way in India and in any case, they do not belong to me. I love them dearly and can't imagine not riding but am doubting my ability to be honest.

On the whole I do manage and I prevent the rears if they are threatened, keep Sev going very forward but it's just the odd moment he catches me out. To make matters worse, it was Diwali recently so there are firecrackers going off all the time.

Ah, not sure anyone can really help me with this but I don't have a sympathetic ear out here so just needed to let off. The chap I lease from is so blooming good, I just don't think he can understand nerves. Just advises riding for a little longer and don't react when they explode :-(

Any tips would be great.
 
Could you give up the lease on Sev and just have the stallion? Then you could give him a bit more work and you wouldn't have the anticipation of bucking and rearing constantly planted in your head by Sev. Sharpness on its own doesn't hurt, and with more more work it should decrease anyway.

I'd just lease the stallion if you can. :)
 
What Flame_ said :)

If you only had Sumtime to ride could you perhaps exercise twice a day? Either ride twice, or lunge / freeschool once and ride once. Although he would get fitter, which isn't necessarily ideal, it would be better for his mental health and I think you would have a calmer and happier horse.
 
Really don't want to give up on Sev (glutton for punishment) since I have had some real breakthroughs with him. However I think the point of lunging is a good one. I'm lucky in as much as I have LOTS of time sooooo, can easily fit riding the two but for longer periods. I hope I can also arrange it that they are lunged in the morning and then ride in the afternoon.

Don't mind sharp but it's getting a bit beyond a joke especially as it's getting cooler out here.

Right, tomorrow will ride a touch longer and speak to HO about the poss of lunging in the morning. Might try to ride earlier too and take advantage of the calming effect of a little more sun.

Thanks all, really just needed some positive feedback. I truly would die out here without the horses and the thought of giving it up is worse than the frights the buggers are giving me. For now at least...
 
Well, good luck and stay safe :) Sometimes the most challenging horses are the most rewarding in the end, but take care of yourself too.
 
It sounds really hard to keep a horse sane with no turnout. Some thoughts:

- Ditto lunging and magnesium supplements/calmers.
- If you have a school, can they be turned out in the school for a little while every day?
- What about their feeding in general, may be worth checking if there is something you could change which may help (certain grains could make them more exciteable, or it may be possible to reduce hard feed and have more hay?)
 
In good old Blighty I would be able to act on all of your suggestions.... There is no turn out at all. Owner has over 20 horses which he takes from the tracks, re trains and then sells on. All of them have to be exercised daily and there is only the one field (no school sadly) so turning out is a non event.

Supplements don't exists out here. It's not that advanced here yet. I can't even order on line since there isn't a postal service you can rely on (it's very, very basic stuff. Generally we get deliveries from a chap in a tuk tuk) whenever something has to be transported for any reason. You should see the way horses are transported. Not for the faint hearted.

I will ask about the feed, they get ad lib hay, really nice stuff actually. I think though, there is a lot of corn going in the feed. It's bound to be heating but there are few options.

They were not so bad a few months ago when it was really hot but now they are clipped out and the temperature is late 20's during the day which is gorgeous. The horses are definitely appreciating it as much as us humans.

I can't help but feel for them having no liberty, it's hard on them for sure but then I drive out of the yard and see the most appalling animal abuse you could imagine and think, well, they are so very lucky not to be out there pulling a cart of bricks with blown tendons and worse. If I could, I'd give them all homes but for now have only managed the dogs.
 
found this on natural horse supplies:

*** Calming Herbs Having said all of the above, some horses are just rather nervous and excitable by nature. Also, certain circumstances can cause anxiety such as travelling, vet visits, shows etc. For these horses, herbs known for their calming properties can be useful. HERBAL CALM is a blend of three herbs, Valerian, Vervain and Chamomile, which are all known for their calming effects. This is a useful blend for those horses whose anxiety is not helped by a magnesium supplement, as they are either not low in magnesium, or their behaviour is not caused by this. It should be noted that Herbal Calm contains valerian which is banned by the Jockey Club and FEI. Therefore it is recommended that owners check the ruling on valerian with the competitive organisation when competiting.

Each of valerian, chamomile and vervain can be bought seperately. I also have valerian in liquid tincture form which is more quickly absorbed.

I now also stock Herbal Calm Compete which is a equal blend of Chamomile and Vervain. This is an alternative to Herbal Calm that does not contain the valerian that is banned under many competitive bodies.

BREWERS YEAST has also worked well as a calmer in some horses due to the B vitamins is contains.

*** Liquid Herbal Supplements can be useful when a calmer is only needed in certain circumstances, such as when going to a show. Because they are in a liquid tincture form, the active ingredients are more readily available. V-CALm contains valerian whilst EQUI-CALM contains Zizyphus and Wild Lettuce.

*** Homoeopathic remedies can be useful for calming anxious horses. There are various remedies depending on the type of horse, symptoms and situations. For instance, KALI-PHOS is very good for horses on box rest, whilst ACONITE can help with show nerves.

dont know if you can get any of this over there? (if not, if you wanna get me a flight sorted i'll bring you some over......!! ;))

Definatly try the lunging either on its own in the morning or just before you get on. And see what they are getting in their feeds and how often! Maybe they can cut on of the feeeds out?
Good luck with them :D
 
Thanks Rowenna, I'm home for Christmas so am going to speak to the owner and see if he agrees to supplements and will grab a load to take back with me. Failing that, i'll get you on the next flight over... very kind of you to offer to come all this way :-)

I keep looking at your sig with that lovely gallop track, think you could bring that with you too?
 
OP I am not surprised your confidence is shaky after the ride you have described, good grief! What does your trainer say? He has "reschooled" this horse, yet its done this to you - is he giving you any help/fixing the horse?
 
Dougalsmum said:
Thanks Rowenna, I'm home for Christmas so am going to speak to the owner and see if he agrees to supplements and will grab a load to take back with me. Failing that, i'll get you on the next flight over... very kind of you to offer to come all this way :-)

I keep looking at your sig with that lovely gallop track, think you could bring that with you too?
Click to expand...

Yeah, no problem! Might need to pay an extra luggage allowance tho....:p
Talking to a friend who does a lot of showing and they used to make valarian tea and put it in the horses feeds to chill them out. Worth trying, tescos etc sell the tea or you can get seeds easily to grow out there! Make sure its the common valarian not the cultured type, its supposed to be better!:D
 
That's a very valid point Skewby. The lease did state that the horses would continue to be schooled by the owner if need be.... He just doesn't have the time I guess since he's got so many others to ride.

I've had a good couple of days, they have both been pretty good all things considered; increased the time riding and ride earlier in the afternoon which means I have the field to myself which has proved helpful. Riding in the same vicinity as the youngsters who frequently explode is really not helpful when you are sitting on the equivalent of an unexploded bomb yourself.

I might just mention that he has a sit on Sev though if he gets naughty again.
 
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