HELP!!! horse fly leaping

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beanie_boo

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we've had tamar for 4 months and havent had major problems with him until recently. I took him to a local show for the first time last month and in the warm up ring he started fly leaping into the warm up fence. he's never done it at home so it was a bit of a shock but he wasnt to bad on the actual course.

I hacked him out with my mum today and asked him for a canter and he started the fly leaping unseating me a bit. telling him off just seems to really upset and worry him as well :S

He has recently had his back done, new fitted saddle and is ridden in an eggbutt snaffle. he fights the contact alot as well when you try and slow him down.

He's been extremely well schooled and has evented at novice level with his previous owner. when we tried him we had no problems at all, its almost like he just cant cope. he spent alot of his time in draw reins as a youngster as well. mums done alot in the school with him teaching him to relax and stretch his neck down as he hollows through his back when he gets tense.

i was wondering if anyone has any advice they can give or have experienced something similar as he is mums horse and she loves him to bits but just wants a fun but safe ride
 
Hi, if you've had all the checks done on him and everything is ok, I would probably think he is just testing the boundaries a bit, as horses do! Do you have an instructor who you trust to help you? If not, find one pronto! You need help and support to get any problems ironed out sooner rather than allowing them to drift and grow. Best of luck , he sounds a lovely sort to have with and you want all that experience he has working for you, not against you
 
Just be careful you aren't hanging on to his mouth. If he feels like he can't go forwards he will go up to release his tension.
Make sure you are soft and relaxed on him (or your mum) :)
 
I think you need to get a good instructor out for a series of lessons, pretty much six or seven hours over two weeks.
Check that the girth is not nipping where the saddle and girth meet.
He may have previously been in a strict professional environment, and is a bit unsure as to what is happening. or it may be that he did this fly leaping before, but now it has re-surfaced.
I would cut his hard feed right back and reduce sugars in diet.
Egg-but snaffle sounds like a very kind and mild bit, but generally not the best for this type.
 
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I would try a french link type bit and get some lessons to see if a good instructor may well be able to tell you what is going wrong
 
My old tb used to fly buck if he was excited in canter, if another horse came up behind him or in the opposite direction iat great speed if we met any traffic bigger than a car!!. Sometimes he would do it til he got me off which didn't take long as they were sooooo scarily high and he came down with such a jolt each time. I had no control whatsoever, it was more of a blind panic thing. He was a complete git some of the time but was the gentlest, kindest horse ever to handle.
If I had him now I wouldn't ride him - got soft or sensible in my old age.
If its a new thing then there is probably a reason for it or maybe he's just feeling very well.
 
How much work was he in when you bought him, and how much have you been doing with him?:)
If he was very unfit when you bought him, and you've been doing a fair bit with him since you've got him, it might be that he's just getting quite fit now, feeling a bit well in himself and finding jumping/cantering a bit exciting.:D

The only other thing I would suggest is getting his teeth looked at, if they haven't been done recently, especially as you say he fights the contact a fair bit too.
If his teeth are fine I would try changing his bit, probably to something with a french link/ lozenge. :)
 
Mmmm, sounds interesting!!! As well as the "normal" checks i.e. back, teeth etc., I'd also be looking at feeding.

Remembering the old saying that "the best whip is in the cornbin", maybe he's eating just a bit too well??!!!

With mine, some haylages in particular can really fizz him up, I have to be so careful.

Anyway, just a thought!
 
Hi everyone. Beanieboo is at work so asked me to jump in and answer you all. Thank you for so many comments. He is a lovely horse. We have had lessons with my instructor and she has also ridden him. He has no hard feed as he is out 24/7 and is ridden in french link eggbutt snaffle. He was totally unfit when he arrived and done nothing all winter.
 
maybe a bit with more movement, eg, a loose-ring french link, or a bit with a roller centre if he's fighting the contact...

maybe when jumping use a set of trotting/canter poles before the fence to steady him up.

TBH i think he may just be testing you and feeling good as he is fit again. When mine came back into work after winter when i first had him he was bucking all the time and only stopped when i worked him more, just perseverance x
 
Redlet the nedlet x I think he is testing us out. When he came he did not like working up into the contact at all. Instructor has helped us sort that one out. She said a stronger bit may well make him worse as he isn't 'strong'. Just being norty I think. Think a schooling whip and velcro on my breeches is needed! He is a strange creature! Want to take him autumn hunting but not if he's gonna do that!!
 
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