have I bitten off more than I can chew?

D

daydreamer

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Hi, I guess I am just looking for some opinions/moral support/ideas.

I have been riding for about 20 years but mainly at riding schools. But i have had 3 different share horses for the past 3 years or so, including a stint of 5 months or so this winter when i was in sole charge of one. I have helped at various yards on and off and have my BHS stage 2 complete and stage 3 care.

Last Monday i got a horse on loan, he is a 7 yr old TB who has done a lot of hacking and hunting etc in the past. I tried him a couple of times and he was very laid back although very unbalanced in the school. Since i have had him he is well settled on the yard and i have been doing groundwork with him which is going well. I have ridden him a couple of times but mainly walk and a bit of trot - I have realised I am a wimp! He has been good but occasionally gets scared and just sort of flinches.

I have had more trouble with him lunging - he gets worried and falls in and speeds up etc. This morning i had a go at teaching him "over" and built a square out of poles so he couldn't fall in. This worked but he still went rushing off and we had quite a few episodes of kicking out, leaping etc. Eventually we had some calm walk and trot work but I am wondering if he might be showing his true nature now he is on decent grazing!?

It is stressful worrying about what to do for the best! I guess i also tend to focus on the negatives and I just wish I was braver!

Thanks to anyone who read this far! :)
 
I think if he were mine I would collar someone to hack out with me for long rides. If he has been fit in the recent past he probably just needs to get in some decent work.
Lots of horses get silly this time of year and even worse if underworked.

Groundwork and lungeing will be easier without excess energy.

You sound as if you have good grounding and are just a bit nervous of what you have taken on. Lots of us feel the same way with a new horse.


Jane
 
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Is it just the lunging you are having trouble with?

If your like me and need to get your confidence on the ground first, I can see why this would be upsetting you

however when I first got my young WB he couldn't lunge very well, would panic and rear and take off when asked to canter on the lunge. At first this made me nervous to get on him, as like I said I like to get my confidence on the ground first

I decided in the end not to lunge him and just try riding him. He was really good. LIke you only did walk and trot for the first few times. Then canter was hard as he used to throw his head in the air and leap into canter.

Now a few weeks down the line I realised that is ALL he did, he didn't bu**er off with me or buck much etc

Yes we had a few other minor napping and threatening to rear BUT it was never nasty, always just him being unsure and nervous.

A few months down the line we had built the most amazing relationship and I trust him 98% now (which for me is the most you can trust any horse)

I guess my point is, give it time. If lunging is an issue, do something else for a while.. Once you have built a bond with him then come back to the lunging. some horses need a lot of trust with someone to lunge well
 
He sounds like he gets unbalanced on the lunge which is why he misbehaves. It's not nice for them being unbalanced as they feel as though they might fall over so they panic which then makes it worse!
If he has just hacked/hunted he's probably stiff and unschooled so could need quite a bit of work? TB's are lovely (I have one) but they can look to their rider/handler for reassurance so he will start to pick up on your nerves. They can be very safe for the right person but they are sensitive, it feels like they are reading your mind sometimes! If you think he's not right it's better to give him back sooner then later before you end up on a downward spiral.
It also sounds as if he's not getting enough proper work? Mine thrives on work and he's doing a good hour to two hours per day at the minute including hard schooling, jumping, hacking up hills ect and he needs it as there's lots of energy in spring grass! Mine is really chilled when he's worked lots. :)
 
Sounds to me like you know exactly what you're doing and you're more than capable BUT, I think (like many, including me) you probably lack self confidence? With stage 2 riding and stage 3 horse care you know what you're talking about.
I'd give yourself SMARTER targets with you or your horse.
Here is an example I have for successfully passing my stage 2 riding next month.
* S - goals must be Specific = improve the canter and jumping so I can pass my stage 2 exam
* M - training targets should be Measurable = be able to ask for canter lead and get it - jump course of 70cm on the correct canter lead
* A - goals should be Adjustable = If I need more time, take the November exam.
* R - goals must be Realistic = ask riding instructor if I'm ready
* T - training targets should be Time based = 2 months for May exam
* E - goals should be challenging and Exciting = enter competition for experience
* R - goals should be Recorded = my blog
I recorded my progress on a blog but you could do a diary of your horses progress or use youtube and record him every week. You'll see just how much progress you'll make with him.
Good luck
 
I am NOT an expert, but having just bought a 7 yo I think I expected her to be a bit more grown up, when actually, compared to her new friend who's 10, she's quite babyish and quite green. She doesn't bat an eyelid at cars/bikes/lorries/tractors/dogs/cyclists but plastic bags are most definitely going to murder her dead and then chop her up into tiny little bits... :D :D
 
lydz13, it might not be greenness. I have a rising 9 gelding, bought him 10 days' ago, and he is fine hacking out in company but on his own does all that trying to turn round and run the moment he sees a bag or a bird etc - he is fine on the way home whatever we meet. And is improving day by day. I think he is just seeing how much he can get away with in his new unsettled state. He is a nice calm easy horse otherwise. I would wait and see how she settles over the next few weeks because you might find she matures gradually
 
Yes you're probably right. She's definitely trying it on on the ground!! We will mostly have to hack out on our own, and I'm not that brave a rider, so tomorrow I'm going to grit my teeth and sit it out. To be fair, she has shown no hint of b***ering off when handled. My slightly protective stable mate is concerned but there's no spinning or rearing, she just dances on the spot. The last owner did warn me she's spooky on a ride out on her own..

I was also told she is a 'plod' I don't know what kind of horses last owner had, but this one is not what I would call a plod! In fact, I keep my leg off her! Her mouth is lovely though, and she listens really well so I think so long as I don't beggar it all up she's going to make a great riding horse :D
 
hmmm I was going to try and lunge tomorrow to build on the calm work we had at the end but maybe I will ride instead. Like someone else said I get confidence from work on the ground. I also know he needs to do more work which is also partly why I wanted to lunge him. I will try and ride and do more in trot and do some pole work to help with focus, balance and bend and tiring him out! Think i'll have to buy some rescue rememdy before I try the hacking and find a suitable nanny!
 
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