Hating the new forum, tis useless!

Sol

Sol

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I joined the forum so I might get the odd bit of advice and talk to lots of nice horsey people :p The advice part due to new forum doesn't seem to happen.... sorry for being boring? But surely there are a few other people out there who don't really get to talk to many 'horse people' (who actually know what they're on about) face to face? Forums like this are my best hope for getting some decent advice - until my not-so-interesting post ends up disappearing because it just isn't interesting enough :/
Rant over. Hope not too many other people feel the same.

So, will try to keep this as short as possible.

- I want to start by saying no, I'm not looking to get rid of Danny no matter what anyone says, as I did that with last horse and then came upon a situation that would have been perfect for both of us and really regret it. Would rather not repeat.
- Danny has, generally speaking, been coming on really well with both flatwork & jumping.

We have some issues though.
- He still takes off in the outdoor school occasionally, rather randomly.
- He's taken to being rather more spooky than usual out hacking and spinning round and trying to run off (not fast, just taking a hold) with a few half rears when he sees something 'scary'.

Neither of these things scare me, they're just off putting and if anything, more dangerous to other rides/people on the roads etc. than they are to me as he will run into other horses and doesn't really care for cars.

Where would you start with this horse to improve his manners/general behaviour/confidence etc??
Just basically want to know if I'm thinking along the right lines.
 
Sorry if this isnt much help but I would just say the following :

Your post title will mislead as you want advice but have entitled it this forum is useless.

As to Dannys behaviour its either pain related or Diet related.
 
How he's like on the ground, I know people will yawn at me saying this but sometimes going back to basics and doing lots of ground work, building up respect/trust ...works both ways, does really help with ridden work, improves their attitude and behaviour when it comes to horses taking the mick or playing up because there scared of something etc

Do you have regular lessons, not saying that you need them of course, but sometimes it just helps to have someone there to point out a few simple things that you may be overlooking or just deal with things in slighly different way, as well as focussing on the postitive things that your horse is good at and channeling his energy and mind into something your horse enjoys.

Is he ok physically? sometimes little things that niggle them can spark them off, could be why he occassionally takes off if he's running away even a little twinge?

Have you changed his diet or anything that could be making him a little more sharper?

You say he's been coming on well, perhaps its just time and work and he'll improve as you go along?
 
Its not a miracle cure, but sticking to hacking with a bold horse and competent rider for a while is the best and safest way to improve your horse's confidence and behavior. :)
 
Flibble - It's likely to be my last post anyway. And I'm fairly sure it's neither as we've been down the pain route and the fact it only ever happens in the outdoor schools? Unless he has some strange reaction to being outside. And he's basically geting hay and grass. Can't feed him too much less tbh. Thanks though.
 
Thanks

I do agree with the groundwork, and plan on doing a lot more with him as he can be a little... ignorant at times. Not rude, just not always paying attention to me.

Yep, have 1 lesson a week, and my instructor rides him once a week also :) However thinking about it, I might ask if I can have my next lesson and/or when he's next schooled it be in one of the outdoors, as this seems to be where most of the behaviour issues occur.

Had all the physical checks done about 4 weeks ago now since he started kicking out when ridden which turned out to be down to a combination of rotated pelvis & the point of tree in my dressage saddle having broken! All sorted now, vet should be checking him over again soon when he's out for microchipping.

Hoping that it might just be time, but I'm always doubting myself! :o It's nice to hear what other people thing too (:
 
Going to have a word with one of the new people who just came onto the yard who *apparently* has a sane horse! Hopefully we might be able to do just that, even if it's just once a week :D We usually hack out alone as most people horses seem to be either just as loopy or can't keep up with Danny :o
Thanks
 
OK see your point about forum order I seem to kep falling out the grooms door and coming back in sideways through the front unload on a tea trolley (weel thats how it feels).

Dont know what to suggest for your horse as I am moving my lad hoping he will be quieter and less spooky!
 
Good luck!
I'd have thought that after a year at the yard we're on, Danny would have got used to people coming and going and horses everywhere etc. - apparently I'm wrong! :o
Hmm, I think he can go to horsey boot camp for a few weeks..... more brain work, make my mum stop feeding him sugar (apparently my horse is addicted to iced gems...joy!) and hopefully he might learn something! :p welll..... I live in hope anyway! :D
 
In my experience, a huge amount of 'bad' behaviour has its route in fear (the horse's!). They may appear to be being a 'git', playing up, naughty, as that is partially how they respond to escaping the situation. They may have, in our eyes, NO REASON AT ALL!!, to be afraid, and therefore we dismiss it. This is a mistake I've made and I'm sure its quite common. We just can't fathom why now, why here, ffs!! But horses generally aren't planning to act up to thwart us, as I'm sure you know. It just seems like it.

So, the next stage is to work out what you can do to help the horse not be so scared. Short of psychotherapy we're mainly left with adding in a steady equine companion (tied up with haynet beside arena?) and then habituation to the task you want with the horse's adrenalin levels lowered.

It also helps to habituate the horse to scary things at home of course where again, their adrenalin levels are low. In fact, I find the best way is start in the stable, where they feel safe, especially if horse mates are near. Then, move to the yard, rather than big open arena, as again, they often feel safer near their stables. When the horse is accepting calmly new challenges like plastic bags, walking over tarp on the yard, move to the arena. Break the steps down from baby steps to foetus steps! If a horse is acting scared, it IS scared and needs help to get brave. I don't underestimate anymore how cravenly cowardly horses can be!

Just my take on the situation, might not apply but hope it helps!
 
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