Help new horse rearing and spinning in school

This happened to me with my mare last year. The saddle had just been fitted so that was the first thing to be checked and it was fine. Mctimoney lady out, shoulder, back and pelvis all out!! She said was from trauma, possibly slipping in the lorry when delivered.

I had teeth checked for good measure and she was full of ulcers. Gave her a week off and she was a dream to ride again.

Well apart from we have no school so I ride in the field, turns out she had never been worked outside an area before and she was hard work sometimes.

Has he always been ridden in the same kind of environment?
 
Ditto above and I would be getting his back checked as well. I know you saw him ridden before hand but I would certainly get his back checked because you never know. I hope it turns out all good.
 
He was ridden in a field when prev owner first had him and then moved to a large equestrian training centre. I did think of having his back checked to see if any issues but he was 5 stage vetted the other week and back was ok. Glad your mare is now going well.
 
I hate to say it but I would be sure that you aren't going to get much help from the previous owner. My husband works with this type of thing, solving horsemanship problems and helping people to work with their horses. Before we take on a horse, we ask that the teeth get checked, the back be checked to rule out any issue etc. If you are going to go down the route of getting some help, rule those factors out first. Don't panic, see it as a new journey and an adventure with your new horse and building a bigger better relationship. There are so many people out there that can help you and you will enjoy it on the way. I wouldn't ride at all, you are clearly concerned and this concern will be passed onto your horse. Unfortunately, he has learnt that the rearing is his way out and he has beaten you. See this as a challenge to beat him! You will eventually have fun! ;)
 
When I first got one of my horses his behaviour was awful broncho ing, rearing, running off. I had his back checked by a mctimoney person and they found nothing. A while later having gone back to basics and still not getting anywhere I got someone else out and there was back and pelvis pain. I'm not saying your vets wrong I'm just saying maybe get a second opinion. This behaviour is normally always a result of something which can be pain/discomfort.
 
The owners reply speaks volumes. SEND HIM BACK!

I battled for three years with my old horse, I took him to an XC clinic with a very well know eventer. Her parting words to me..?
"There are thousands of easy horses out there, it's up to you if you spend time with a difficult one."

Two years later I replaced him with something else, the best decision I have ever made,, I actually enjoy riding again! :D
 
I agree with that above. Unspent time because I'd known that horse for years yet wasn't ever mine to own at that time. Whatever the issues it takes time. If you don't have that maybe send the horse back so you can enjoy yourself. If you have a fondness of this horse already then the bestest of luck :)
 
Thanks all the teeth are deffo ok checked during 5 stage but were apparently poor when prev owner purchased (if I can believe anything that was said) I do have a record of a dental visit in July in his passport. I may get his back checked. My instructor thinks its just napping not pain as he was ok to ride for saddle fit and first schooling session. My feel is it's fear related but napping all the same.

Thanks for positive vibes Pantha I just dont know if I have it in me to trust a rearer, in the future if we ever had a squabble would he do it again, it would always be at the back of my mind At the moment I dont feel that there are so many people to help me or that I will enjoy it.... but it was nice to read that you think it is possible. :)
 
Definitely possible! I know From
Experience. Get someone with a good reputation to check his back and go from there.
 
Hi Shivvy personally I would get an EDT and back person out - never mind what the 5 stage says. Vets are great but they are not full time dentists or physios/back people. Get back person to also look at saddle on the horse - these guys work as a team (or should do) and only then can you rule out any physical probs. After that, Id get some help. This is a time a good event rider comes in handy :D fully explain the problem and see if they can help. My friend is one such person and is gental and considerate to the horse, but won't take crap and can sit on almost anything!
 
Im sorry to say I agree with Dizzle!! Seller sounds dodgey & would bet the difficulty you are having is possibly the reason she has sold him!

Dizzle said:
The owners reply speaks volumes. SEND HIM BACK!

I battled for three years with my old horse, I took him to an XC clinic with a very well know eventer. Her parting words to me..?
"There are thousands of easy horses out there, it's up to you if you spend time with a difficult one."

Two years later I replaced him with something else, the best decision I have ever made,, I actually enjoy riding again! :D
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smiffyimp said:
Hi Shivvy personally I would get an EDT and back person out - never mind what the 5 stage says. Vets are great but they are not full time dentists or physios/back people. Get back person to also look at saddle on the horse - these guys work as a team (or should do) and only then can you rule out any physical probs. After that, Id get some help. This is a time a good event rider comes in handy :D fully explain the problem and see if they can help. My friend is one such person and is gental and considerate to the horse, but won't take crap and can sit on almost anything!
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Just what I was going to say! And I too know a fab event rider who would most certainly be able to sort your boy out, if he has the time to take him on at the moment :) Where are you based?

I hate to say it but that's horses for you! They are unpredictable. Even the best horse can have it's moment and you just need to decide, if everything turns out to be ok, if you can live with his behaviour. I personally would draw a line at rearing and bolting but that's just me.

I really wish you the very best of luck and would strongly advise, again, to get a qualified EDT and Physio out to look at your boy (and poss a 2nd opinion on the saddle fit). You need to do this sharpish though so that you still have some comeback on the seller if things don't turn out well.
 
Get tough with the previous owner. She signed a piece of paper to say he was quiet to ride and didn't rear etc.

If she comes and rides him and he is fine :),
if she rides him and he plays up and she rides him through it then it is new home nerves :)
if she can't ride him through it but is genuinely puzzled :( look to saddle, his management, your riding, your instructor's riding etc as something is troubling him.

If she won't come at all - start legal proceedings and get tough as you have that bit of paper - was he an expensive horse and/or the correct price for his type?
 
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Many people look for physical reasons why new horses misbehave & often they are factors but psychologically some horses find change really unbalancing.
Is it possible to long rein your horse in a field or arena until you build up a rapport & have physical factors eliminated.
Your horse' s whole routine, way of being ridden etc has been changed.
Trust has to work both ways & takes time.
But do not put yourself right out of your comfort zone
 
Thanks so much all for constructive suggestions as prev owner is a useful as the sheepskin nose band she suggested!!! He was quite expensive but ok priced for his type ISH x Holstiener ready to affiliate or RC activities.

I will do back and teeth - I'm based South Yorks / North Notts / Lincs borders and would want to try an event rider or horse whisperer etc but not someone who would think that beating it out of him will solve it.

At the moment my feel is that if I do something with him it wont be for me as I cant cope with rearing but to give the chap a chance at not being passed around as a problem:(. Very angry at the moment with previous owner can't believe she just thinks it's ok to sell a rearer and walk away she should have been over like a shot to show us there was nothing wrong and help anyone decent would be.:mad:
 
Shivvy said:
Thanks so much all for constructive suggestions as prev owner is a useful as the sheepskin nose band she suggested!!! He was quite expensive but ok priced for his type ISH x Holstiener ready to affiliate or RC activities.

I will do back and teeth - I'm based South Yorks / North Notts / Lincs borders and would want to try an event rider or horse whisperer etc but not someone who would think that beating it out of him will solve it.

At the moment my feel is that if I do something with him it wont be for me as I cant cope with rearing but to give the chap a chance at not being passed around as a problem:(. Very angry at the moment with previous owner can't believe she just thinks it's ok to sell a rearer and walk away she should have been over like a shot to show us there was nothing wrong and help anyone decent would be.:mad:
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Not far from me - I can recommend a fantastic EDT and Physio and there are quite a few eventers in the area who would probably take your boy on - Matthew Wright would be a good place to start if you can get him (I will also ask the eventer I mentioned before though he's super busy at the moment).
 
You need either to return the horse at once and get tough with the owner this will involve cost as you are almost bound to need legal help.
Or you commit to sorting it out it's a hard call .
My first call would be my vet get him out and if it's possible get him to see the behaviour .
Get the bloods from the vetting tested and look for metacam as well as the older anti inflammatories I am not sure if they test for sedation as well ask the vet get as full a screening done as possible pronto.
You have to decide fast if you are going to return him so I would get a good event rider on him to asses the situation as quickly as you can arrange it.
If you commit to sorting it out I would be
If poss using a vet with dental training to sedate get a gag on and have a good look inthe mouth .
Get an equine physio to do a full assessment and I would use one who works with your vet a lot .
It's awful that you are in this situation I hope you can resolve it happily .
Try to keep him in some sort of work I makes it's easier for the vet to assess the situation and whoever rides him to.
Good luck take heart worse situations than this have turnout well in the end.
 
To be honest i would be getting bloods checked and seeing what comes back, then trying my hardest to send him back. His previous owner clearly doesn't want to help and i can honestly not see the point in spending money on a horse that you feel will worry you with the rearing habit he has. You bought him for a purpose he clearly isn't fit for that and to be honest having bought horses for over 30 years i do not hold with the settling in period. Yes a few little worries but not rearing and napping. I also think if you do start spending money on hm in other ways and then try to send him back the previous owner may say you have caused these issues, can be a very grey area. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
Thanks s much all I'm having blood checked as we speak and will sort EDT and back person prior to an eventer trying him next week. If nothing else it gives me a basis for taking action if I have to if the prev owner doesn't man up and ride him etc.
 
Shivvy said:
Thanks s much all I'm having blood checked as we speak and will sort EDT and back person prior to an eventer trying him next week. If nothing else it gives me a basis for taking action if I have to if the prev owner doesn't man up and ride him etc.
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I would not trust an EDT in this situation I would want the horse sedated and you need a vet for that,if you are thinking that this might end up going to law then you must use an equine physio approved by your vet for the assessment .
 
Get the blood checked from the Vetting then you will know where you stand. Tell the seller that you are doing this. I once had this problem, the horse could have starred in the movies so impressive was the rearing & could hold it for so long too. Once the seller was told that blood was to be checked the seller agreed to the return.
 
Goldenstar said:
I would not trust an EDT in this situation I would want the horse sedated and you need a vet for that,if you are thinking that this might end up going to law then you must use an equine physio approved by your vet for the assessment .
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I will have a problem with vets if it goes to law as my normal vet was the vet she was using so I couldnt use them for vetting and used my old vets Minster who recently closed their doncaster branch. I will have to use Minster if they will come because her vet feels too close for comfort as she is still working at the Riding centre.
 
Shivvy was it dealer or almost a dealer type seller ? If so have you considered that they may have withheld water before you tried him ? That's some thing I always check if the horse is tied up or there's no water in the stable when I arrive to try.
 
Shivvy said:
I will have a problem with vets if it goes to law as my normal vet was the vet she was using so I couldnt use them for vetting and used my old vets Minster who recently closed their doncaster branch. I will have to use Minster if they will come because her vet feels too close for comfort as she is still working at the Riding centre.
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It gets worse that's difficult , Minster should cooperate and be helpful as they did the vetting and should want to help out as much as possible.
 
Oddly, I wouldn't dismiss the sheepskin noseband. Most rearers and even nappers have their little routine and often have a little quirky thing they do before starting it (even if they look like they just go "plant" 'boing' and up) and the noseband may just obscure his vision at the vital moment.

Sounds bonkers I know :) but I was asked to ride a rearer (reluctantly I must admit) that had everyone running for cover. So there we were full on nap and rearing away out on the road :o and after about the 5th rear I realised he leant slightly to the right prior to going up through his right shoulder, it was so slight you could miss it in the kerfuffle (he went up bolt upright). So, next time he went to go I turned my fist over and dug my knuckles in hard just in front of the shoulder and almost held him on the floor. He was so surprised, went 'oh' and walked on to much praise, he tried again later because he thought hang on I'm out here on my own but the knuckle trick worked again. His owner carried on the knuckle thing and he gave up the rearing (thank goodness because it was lethal). So point on this long story is maybe, just maybe the noseband is the key.
 
Goldenstar said:
Shivvy was it dealer or almost a dealer type seller ? If so have you considered that they may have withheld water before you tried him ? That's some thing I always check if the horse is tied up or there's no water in the stable when I arrive to try.
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He was fetched in from the field each time so I couldn't see field water. Come to think of it I didn't see water in his stable but didn't look. Mad at myself for not checking because that doesn't show in bloods and is a really old calming trick.
 
How about trying a new instructor? Did yours ride the horse at the viewing? You say the horse was fine for a while, when you first got it home. Did instructer ride it during this period? If they're not experienced enough to help you through this then maybe you should try somebody else. If,as you say , you were sold a tester- why didn't it nap or rear during the 4 times you saw it ridden? Or shortly after you got it home? No doping substance would work for that long. Your instructor should recognise a sedated horse, vet certainly would have done at vetting.
 
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