Forget_Me_Not
Well-Known Member
This is going to have to be a long post for you to fully understand the situation.
Parkers details; 16HH, Five year old registered Irish Sports horse. Bright chestnut with four white socks.
Details in his passport; 'Lord Avalon', has no breeders details but 'Julie Henderson of Upper lands, Co Derry registered him and had his first jabs done in November 2004 and last jab November 2005. The only other registered owner is Christine McBride of Muck more, Antrim. The next jab, December 2006 is in East Sussex, I would of thought just recently imported so would of been four years old.
History known; I brought him off X, she had him for five months, where she did 'natural horsemanship' to start with to dominate him... Schooled and hacked him hard. She had brought him to rescue her pupil Y. Y had brought him as a first horse/pony for her 14 year old daughter from riding school, within a few days he become so 'dangerous' her daughter couldn't go in the same field as him when she did he reared down on her . He was extremely nappy to ride. Y had brought him from a woman whos part of equine agents. He had gone to this equine agents lady in Kent after being returned from a lady who brought him from Equine agents. Y had been told by the seller that Parker was broken in England. Y has since won her court case over Parker with the sellers, clearly he was totally unsuitable (What five year old thoroughbred is a first pony/horse?) Believed to be drugged; he had had a five stage vetting, in which he passed, sadly there was some mix up with the blood samples, and so the negative drug test on them is not 100% reliable.
*X has medical problems which made her unbalanced and one sided.
Parker at present; I've had Parker two months now, in which I've worked on gaining condition, and now muscle tone and schooling. I try to be as positive and aim for him to be happy hoping to lose this negative attitude he has - although I am firm when it comes to nappiess *, him trying to 'dominate me' - Not sure if thats the correct way to phrase it; when in hand (mainly turning out and bringing in - although can't say I do much else in hand) he lunges up/sideways in which, subconsciously I guess I jab the lead rein to get his attention and vocally tell him that is not on and redeem walking. When X came to say hello (after teaching Y) he was then in the foulest mood :S.
*By nappiness I mean few of following head up, bucking, dead stop and a totaly block of forward movement, side ways and somethings back.
When groomed (although he doesn't show this behaviour so much after being worked) Parker will pull faces, baring his teeth and chew the lead rope, he'l threaten to kick when you groom his hocks. When ypu ask parker to move over he'll pull that baring teeth face and swish his tail (Although he's getting a lot better and doesn't always make a fuss - again not so much after ridden work) He is ok for the Farrier, although can make a bit of a fuss. When pulling his mane he'll try squash you to the wall (all my youngsters have done this to start with, so I don't think anything of it but thought best mention it) and will shake his head once worked through first stage.
Tacking up - When saddled, ears back, teeth out, head around threatening to bit, tail swishing, maybe threating to kick out...and when you do anything to the saddle like change the stirrups etc you get this reaction, now this cant be directly hurting him so this behaviour is likely to be almost compulsory behaviour involving from genuinely showing discomfort. There is white hair around the saddle area, so I suspect hes had a bad fitting saddle at some point. The saddle he came will didnt fit good but he now has a good fitting saddle with a bartl. Hes a little calmer when girthing. I just totally ignore it... One time when he was luckily enough to have hay he was too busy to make a fuss. When bridling he happily accepts the bit, although lowers his head and nods it annoyingly when doing it up.
Parker ridden; Fine mounting. Having girth done up by rider etc. A bit reluctant, nappy, and not off the leg to start with although once worked in he works in an outline although could do with a flash he froths well equal each side. Balanced in walk, trot and canter although not off the leg 100% and rather move up a pace then open up let alone extend in walk or trot. I think his canter is his nicest pace and he will open up when asked however he can throw his head up at a angle, this is his worse pace on the lunge, relucant to break, then breaks back to trot shortly and sometimes on the wrong lead. Parker can do shoulder in, leg yielding, side walk, that thing where they spin around only moving back legs etc etc (Tell I 'don't do dressage')
He seems to enjoy jumping although he isnt the most careful of horses and can do all manor of things with his legs! When hacking, we have to ride about ½ miles a track which he some times is nappy but once in the woods hes lovely to ride. Rides fine with company when hacking but nappy towards them in the school. The only time I rode out on the gallop with company was with his two fresh mad field mates and thats the only time Ive worried about breaks rather then forwardness! (Havent had the chance to ride with those horses again
)
Problem solving; Last weekend I had message therapist, Gina Stephens, come look at him. He was really bad that day so she really saw the worst of him. When she worked with him she was clearly doing something from his reactions, some good and some very bad, some with his head between his feet and as good as gone, he even yawned which hes never done before . and some trying to kill us both! She said he had low pasterns in all 4, bad pastern axel on fronts and wide back hoofs that are pigeon toed (already aware of this). She said he was short behind when cantering and leaves left hind behind when jumping. Spine roll stuck at T8-10 vertebrae and muscles on the left side contracted and tight compared to right side. Gina said a lot of his behaviour seems to be babyish, over the top, anxious, fuss making, and he was pretty defensive of him self and unsure of accepting her massaging him so seems a lot of it is maybe metal now? First time ridden after this session he was still nappy and hard work till worked in and then had best work from him, each time I ride he seems to be getting abit better and yesterday I tried a jump and he throw in a few unseating jumps which makes a change. She suggested a five course programme, one for next week, one a fortnight later, then three weeks and then a month. When you book 4 the 5ths free, shes £40 a session with Im guessing is pretty good however, I have to fund my horses myself, and Im 16 so £160 is still a lot of money for me, but clearly a bargain if it works and the best money Ive ever spent!
So I guess why Im posting is for, advice, opinions, ideas, and feedback of your experience. Everybody says hes a capable horse, but I think people wonder why I have him. If Im honest hes a steeping stone horse, Ill keep him until I I have something the can jump bigger tracks then he can. Although I have come to love him quite dearly, I get a lot of pleasure riding and working on him. He can be affectionate to sometimes and I know he is a lot happily with me - Really hes a soppy old misunderstood man.
PHEW!
Parkers details; 16HH, Five year old registered Irish Sports horse. Bright chestnut with four white socks.
Details in his passport; 'Lord Avalon', has no breeders details but 'Julie Henderson of Upper lands, Co Derry registered him and had his first jabs done in November 2004 and last jab November 2005. The only other registered owner is Christine McBride of Muck more, Antrim. The next jab, December 2006 is in East Sussex, I would of thought just recently imported so would of been four years old.
History known; I brought him off X, she had him for five months, where she did 'natural horsemanship' to start with to dominate him... Schooled and hacked him hard. She had brought him to rescue her pupil Y. Y had brought him as a first horse/pony for her 14 year old daughter from riding school, within a few days he become so 'dangerous' her daughter couldn't go in the same field as him when she did he reared down on her . He was extremely nappy to ride. Y had brought him from a woman whos part of equine agents. He had gone to this equine agents lady in Kent after being returned from a lady who brought him from Equine agents. Y had been told by the seller that Parker was broken in England. Y has since won her court case over Parker with the sellers, clearly he was totally unsuitable (What five year old thoroughbred is a first pony/horse?) Believed to be drugged; he had had a five stage vetting, in which he passed, sadly there was some mix up with the blood samples, and so the negative drug test on them is not 100% reliable.
*X has medical problems which made her unbalanced and one sided.
Parker at present; I've had Parker two months now, in which I've worked on gaining condition, and now muscle tone and schooling. I try to be as positive and aim for him to be happy hoping to lose this negative attitude he has - although I am firm when it comes to nappiess *, him trying to 'dominate me' - Not sure if thats the correct way to phrase it; when in hand (mainly turning out and bringing in - although can't say I do much else in hand) he lunges up/sideways in which, subconsciously I guess I jab the lead rein to get his attention and vocally tell him that is not on and redeem walking. When X came to say hello (after teaching Y) he was then in the foulest mood :S.
*By nappiness I mean few of following head up, bucking, dead stop and a totaly block of forward movement, side ways and somethings back.
When groomed (although he doesn't show this behaviour so much after being worked) Parker will pull faces, baring his teeth and chew the lead rope, he'l threaten to kick when you groom his hocks. When ypu ask parker to move over he'll pull that baring teeth face and swish his tail (Although he's getting a lot better and doesn't always make a fuss - again not so much after ridden work) He is ok for the Farrier, although can make a bit of a fuss. When pulling his mane he'll try squash you to the wall (all my youngsters have done this to start with, so I don't think anything of it but thought best mention it) and will shake his head once worked through first stage.
Tacking up - When saddled, ears back, teeth out, head around threatening to bit, tail swishing, maybe threating to kick out...and when you do anything to the saddle like change the stirrups etc you get this reaction, now this cant be directly hurting him so this behaviour is likely to be almost compulsory behaviour involving from genuinely showing discomfort. There is white hair around the saddle area, so I suspect hes had a bad fitting saddle at some point. The saddle he came will didnt fit good but he now has a good fitting saddle with a bartl. Hes a little calmer when girthing. I just totally ignore it... One time when he was luckily enough to have hay he was too busy to make a fuss. When bridling he happily accepts the bit, although lowers his head and nods it annoyingly when doing it up.
Parker ridden; Fine mounting. Having girth done up by rider etc. A bit reluctant, nappy, and not off the leg to start with although once worked in he works in an outline although could do with a flash he froths well equal each side. Balanced in walk, trot and canter although not off the leg 100% and rather move up a pace then open up let alone extend in walk or trot. I think his canter is his nicest pace and he will open up when asked however he can throw his head up at a angle, this is his worse pace on the lunge, relucant to break, then breaks back to trot shortly and sometimes on the wrong lead. Parker can do shoulder in, leg yielding, side walk, that thing where they spin around only moving back legs etc etc (Tell I 'don't do dressage')
Problem solving; Last weekend I had message therapist, Gina Stephens, come look at him. He was really bad that day so she really saw the worst of him. When she worked with him she was clearly doing something from his reactions, some good and some very bad, some with his head between his feet and as good as gone, he even yawned which hes never done before . and some trying to kill us both! She said he had low pasterns in all 4, bad pastern axel on fronts and wide back hoofs that are pigeon toed (already aware of this). She said he was short behind when cantering and leaves left hind behind when jumping. Spine roll stuck at T8-10 vertebrae and muscles on the left side contracted and tight compared to right side. Gina said a lot of his behaviour seems to be babyish, over the top, anxious, fuss making, and he was pretty defensive of him self and unsure of accepting her massaging him so seems a lot of it is maybe metal now? First time ridden after this session he was still nappy and hard work till worked in and then had best work from him, each time I ride he seems to be getting abit better and yesterday I tried a jump and he throw in a few unseating jumps which makes a change. She suggested a five course programme, one for next week, one a fortnight later, then three weeks and then a month. When you book 4 the 5ths free, shes £40 a session with Im guessing is pretty good however, I have to fund my horses myself, and Im 16 so £160 is still a lot of money for me, but clearly a bargain if it works and the best money Ive ever spent!
So I guess why Im posting is for, advice, opinions, ideas, and feedback of your experience. Everybody says hes a capable horse, but I think people wonder why I have him. If Im honest hes a steeping stone horse, Ill keep him until I I have something the can jump bigger tracks then he can. Although I have come to love him quite dearly, I get a lot of pleasure riding and working on him. He can be affectionate to sometimes and I know he is a lot happily with me - Really hes a soppy old misunderstood man.
PHEW!