Help, Just Don't Know What To Do?

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mongy46

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I bought a 10 year old TB about 2 years ago. When I bought him he was competing, and winning at BE90, and ridden by a professional.
I have been taking it slowly getting used to him, and improving his flatwork, although my strength is jumping.
I have been having lesson with Carol Mailer, jumping 1.0 , never spooking or stopping.
When I go to a show, whether it be jumping / clear round, he rears and naps going into the ring, then his eyes are on stalks like he has never seen a fence, and won't go near any of them. If its clear round I eventually get him round ( as I have time) normally after the second attempt.
He is also the same xcountry, he naps at the start, first fence, spooks at the fence judges, and just doesn't pay attention to the fences at all. Unless another horse is ahead.
The sad thing is he is very talented, when I xcountry school he jumps all the pre-novice fences without looking, but again its once he has got going after napping.
I do hack him out on his own sometime, but he's not that confident, so can only go on certain rides, and yet he's great in traffic, tractors.
He is very cocky in the field, being the leader, and goes straight up to people with their dogs etc, and would thing nothing of steeling tools out of a dumper truck, so I just don't understand!
He can be abit jumpy in the stable if you go straight up to him.
I have given him calmers, but he's no different.
Can anyone suggest what I could do?

Thanks.
 
How do you act round him? Are you anticipating him to act that way, or are you nervous yourself? Some horses act very differently round different people.
 
Do you have the luxury of being able to take him to shows just to ride round without doing any classes?

Failing that maybe try to recreate the atmosphere with the help of some volunteers at home or perhaps take him to some indoor evening shows where there is less to gawp at
 
I agree with the above, may be worth taking him along to a few shows just to soak in and re introduce the show atmosphere.

The core of the problem sounds like he has seperation anxiety and perhaps you anticipating his behaviour magnifies the problem.

I believe that it is usually the dominant horse that struggles the most from being separated from other horses as they have the most to lose, their position, status etc.. Within the herd.

I would try and do more work a pt home, hacking alone etc.. To allow his confidence to grow.
 
2 years is a long time to still be napping if you are a confident and capable rider I am surprised you have put up with it this long. It sounds to me as if he is looking for you to be the leader, not hacking alone is part of the issue that is preventing you moving on with this horse.
The nervy behaviour in the stable would suggest his eye sight could do with checking to ensure there is not a problem.
I would suggest getting out as much as you can, hire an arena the day before a show that has a clear round the next day and have a lesson over a full course, get to the venue early and try to go in first, pay for 2 or 3 goes and continue until he goes forward properly. Then come out and go straight back in for your final go, if you have someone with you they could lead you in at first.
Go to some hunter trials and do pairs, that often helps to get the blood up, then go round afterwards on your own in the next class, it will take time but needs some serious work now if you are going to go forward with him.
 
ImmyS said:
I agree with the above, may be worth taking him along to a few shows just to soak in and re introduce the show atmosphere.

The core of the problem sounds like he has seperation anxiety and perhaps you anticipating his behaviour magnifies the problem.

I believe that it is usually the dominant horse that struggles the most from being separated from other horses as they have the most to lose, their position, status etc.. Within the herd.

I would try and do more work a pt home, hacking alone etc.. To allow his confidence to grow.
Click to expand...

Thank you, good advice
 
Sounds like, perhaps, the reason he was sold initially was because he'd either thrown the towel in, or was simply too much hard work.
 
thank you. I think I will go to some shows and not compete, do more hacking on my own, and hire the place I am having a problem with. I will keep you all informed. Thank you all for taking the time to give your advice.
 
I had a similar problem with my horse - before I got him he was doing quite high level jumping comps, in the 5 yr old classes, and was doing really well.

When I got him I was a bit frightened of him if I'm honest, he was only 6 and is a big boy. He has super head though and I doubt that we would have had any problems if I hadn't convinced myself that the world was a very scary place for us as a pair. He started spooking and napping at competitions and I made excuse after excuse for his behaviour. Eventually my instructor told me to 'strap on a pair' and stop letting him get away with being a plonker.

Now I pretend that nothing is scary at all and he believes me :D
 
To me it sounds as though he is lacking confidence in you as his leader, for whatever reason.

I also would suggest you go back to groundwork working him in hand at home (there are some excellent groundwork books on the market eg Olliver Hillberger's). Try long-lining him at home, and leading him out by hand on hacking routes first to give him confidence before building up to riding them.

Build up gradually, then take him to as many places as possible to expose him to the sights and sounds of a show (without actually competing).

He is going to be a long-term project, but he sounds as though he's talented and will be worth it in the long run.

Good luck!
 
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