Help with my horse please!

[MyDappledConnemara]

Hi everyone,

My 6 year old Connemara (who I've owned for four weeks) is much greener than I thought! He is very good when he wants to be, but he spins around towards the gate, and naps, before doing a large rear which tends to deposit the rider. He has had everything checked recently (having passed a five stage vetting) so I am unsure where to start. When I am confident and assertive in the stable this seems to work, but I don't want to shove him around all the time. What should I do?

Please help me!

 

[LCH611]

He's pushing the boundaries to see how much he can get away with. Cut out all hard feed, give him as much turn out as possible and don't be afraid to be quite bossy with him. Insist on good manners on the ground, if necessary lunge/long rein before you get on and work him hard. Are you just riding him in the school? Have you got a steady hacking companion that can escort you out on some hacks which will hopefully keep his mind busy and tire him out a bit.

 

[AdorableAlice]

He is being a teenager and trying out his new owner. You need to keep shoving him around and mean it.

Get some help with the ridden work before he totally works out how to gaffer you.

 

[Shay]

He's worked out how to get you off. As others have said - he is testing his boundaries. This is far more likely to be naughty than green. You need to be as assertive as you need to be in the saddle until he accepts your leadership - just as you are on the ground. That is not to say being aggressive (which is counterproductive anyway) or hitting him or anything like that. Just proving that you are the leader and he will do what you want; that he can't get out of work by bad behaviour. You might find it helps to get an instructor to help you?

Don't despair - all new ponies / horses do this to some extent. The first time it happened to us I was horrified at the monster I seemed to have bought. Now many years down the track I have learned to call it the "new pony horrors" and move on!

 

[MyDappledConnemara]

Thank you very much everyone! Will definitely use your advice

 

[Bigbadbill]

I am in a similar position. I have bought a 16.3hh warmblood in May and now for the first 2 weeks he was amazing, exactly what i had bought and then out of nowhere this monster appeared. spooking at absaloutley everything, napping, slamming the breaks on when being worked, rearing, planting, refusing to jump, just everything and we are 6 months down the line and even with regular lessons and help on the yard and a very firm hand we are no further forward so i am thinking about turning away for winter and then trying again in spring. he has also had eveything checked recently and passed a 5 stage vetting when bought.

 

[ycbm]

I am in a similar position. I have bought a 16.3hh warmblood in May and now for the first 2 weeks he was amazing, exactly what i had bought and then out of nowhere this monster appeared. spooking at absaloutley everything, napping, slamming the breaks on when being worked, rearing, planting, refusing to jump, just everything and we are 6 months down the line and even with regular lessons and help on the yard and a very firm hand we are no further forward so i am thinking about turning away for winter and then trying again in spring. he has also had eveything checked recently and passed a 5 stage vetting when bought.

If he is not getting any better, and is the same with other people, then I'd be suspicious that he was drugged when you bought him, because the timing is spot on. There are also lots of things like ulcers and kissing spines that don't show up on vettings. Ulcers can also easily be brought on by the stress of a move. When you say he has been checked recently, who by? I would, if you haven't already, be x raying his neck and back and trialling him on ulcer drugs or scoping for ulcers. And if clear of ulcers and spine issues, a bute trial to see if he is in pain elsewhere. I hope that helps.

 

[Bigbadbill]

Yeah he is he same although better with a rider who can get him working properly up to the bit which i cannot get yet.

I have spoken to old owner who had him 7 years and to the lady who imported him from germany and apparently he has always been like this but does settle down. I bought him because i lost my tb to KS, Navicular, arthiritus and a whole other load of problems so really do not wanna go back down that road He is on acid-x which i thought may help with his tummy as apparently he has had ulcers before. He has had physio, saddler twice, teeth done and farrier every 7 weeks. i do have some danilon left over from my tb so could try that i suppose? thanks for the advice.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Get some experienced help now before it deteriorates further.

I would do this battle on the long reins but you need to be able to win so if you aren't experienced in long reining a nappy little you know what, get help and make sure you wear a hat/gloves etc.

 

[nato]

Sounds like he's trying it on! And potentially a bit unsettled in his new home.

Would definitely recommend a few sessions with a coach who is used to youngsters - I find I often doubt my judgement when alone, "oh maybe he's sore, or he's genuinely scared I don't want to make him worse", but with an experienced pair of eyes on the ground telling you to be firm you are assured you're doing the right thing and you'll have backup.

Would also echo getting a hacking pal and getting out with him - follow your pal first and do short bursts of going in front, building it up over time.

I don't do much of it myself but I don't underestimate the value that groundwork brings to new partnerships and young horses. In particular if you are in danger of falling off, best have the disagreement with your two feet firmly on the ground!