Grumbledor
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I need some help or at least find out if anyone has experienced the same behaviour in a horse...
My horse has developed a fairly intermittent behaviour that has become a problem in the last 6 months, following a free walk, or walk break, when asked to work again he pins his ear back as though a bug has flown inside or something. Now I do remember this behaviour on occasion over the last 3-4 years but it has become much more frequent since January.
It can be either ear, usually the ear on the outside, so after a free walk across diagonal, when I then have to collect to a medium walk and then ask for canter, he can be pinning the ear back to the outside, tensing his neck and therefore get the wrong canter strike off. I have tried giving him more rein, trying to barely use any rein and only the seat, I have tried being firmer, I have tried telling him off, I have tried patting him and praising him. Usually towards the end of a session, he won't do it, and I praise him very much when he doesn't do it, but then, next session, he will do it again (he never does it right at the beginning of a session either, usually when he's starting to work a bit harder).
I have had physio, which is routine anyway, physio has known him since he was a foal and says he looks the best she's ever seen him. I have had saddles checked by a fitter who works closely with the physio, I have teeth done every 6 months, I have had vet look inside the ears. He is in no way head shy, I can very comfortably touch, play, even stick my fingers in his ears (not too far of course!!). His ears were scoped by the vet with no sedation and nothing seen inside. Have also changed bits, he does it in various snaffle/double combinations. Both bridles are padded comfort bridles. I have also given him a month off in April.
He has also done it out hacking, when asked to come back onto more of a contact following walking on a loose rein. Once he has done it for no reason at all, when I have been walking on a consistent contact. I had a grid work lesson about a month ago and he was fab, not a hint of the behaviour at all, but I often ride alone and regular jumping sessions are difficult.
Sometimes he doesn't pin the ear back, some times he shakes the ears. This shaking is very similar to what he does just before he pulls back on a rope when he is tied up (an 'I'm bored of standing here' kind of behaviour).
It is so frustrating, we have really made progress recently, its just this little problem, and it passes after about a minute of riding him through it, it is just enough to ruin 4-5 movements of a test following the free walk. I really feel it is a sort of resistance.
Next steps are physio under sedation, bute trial or blood tests - but just wanted to ask if anyone has experienced anything similar?
Sorry for the essay - just to add he is 9yrs old, Dutch WB, Gelding. Had surgery on kissing spine as a 3 year old, now works lovely across his back, stretches well, as I mentioned, physio said he's the best she's ever seen him, and when he wants to scratch a difficult area he can comfortably contort his back into all sorts of flexible positions! Physio has worked on poll and neck flexions and found no resistance. I always stretch thoroughly before asking for more work in a schooling session.
Thankies
I need some help or at least find out if anyone has experienced the same behaviour in a horse...
My horse has developed a fairly intermittent behaviour that has become a problem in the last 6 months, following a free walk, or walk break, when asked to work again he pins his ear back as though a bug has flown inside or something. Now I do remember this behaviour on occasion over the last 3-4 years but it has become much more frequent since January.
It can be either ear, usually the ear on the outside, so after a free walk across diagonal, when I then have to collect to a medium walk and then ask for canter, he can be pinning the ear back to the outside, tensing his neck and therefore get the wrong canter strike off. I have tried giving him more rein, trying to barely use any rein and only the seat, I have tried being firmer, I have tried telling him off, I have tried patting him and praising him. Usually towards the end of a session, he won't do it, and I praise him very much when he doesn't do it, but then, next session, he will do it again (he never does it right at the beginning of a session either, usually when he's starting to work a bit harder).
I have had physio, which is routine anyway, physio has known him since he was a foal and says he looks the best she's ever seen him. I have had saddles checked by a fitter who works closely with the physio, I have teeth done every 6 months, I have had vet look inside the ears. He is in no way head shy, I can very comfortably touch, play, even stick my fingers in his ears (not too far of course!!). His ears were scoped by the vet with no sedation and nothing seen inside. Have also changed bits, he does it in various snaffle/double combinations. Both bridles are padded comfort bridles. I have also given him a month off in April.
He has also done it out hacking, when asked to come back onto more of a contact following walking on a loose rein. Once he has done it for no reason at all, when I have been walking on a consistent contact. I had a grid work lesson about a month ago and he was fab, not a hint of the behaviour at all, but I often ride alone and regular jumping sessions are difficult.
Sometimes he doesn't pin the ear back, some times he shakes the ears. This shaking is very similar to what he does just before he pulls back on a rope when he is tied up (an 'I'm bored of standing here' kind of behaviour).
It is so frustrating, we have really made progress recently, its just this little problem, and it passes after about a minute of riding him through it, it is just enough to ruin 4-5 movements of a test following the free walk. I really feel it is a sort of resistance.
Next steps are physio under sedation, bute trial or blood tests - but just wanted to ask if anyone has experienced anything similar?
Sorry for the essay - just to add he is 9yrs old, Dutch WB, Gelding. Had surgery on kissing spine as a 3 year old, now works lovely across his back, stretches well, as I mentioned, physio said he's the best she's ever seen him, and when he wants to scratch a difficult area he can comfortably contort his back into all sorts of flexible positions! Physio has worked on poll and neck flexions and found no resistance. I always stretch thoroughly before asking for more work in a schooling session.
Thankies
