Help with my Intelligent Arab please

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Ehound679

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Basically I own a very intelligent Arab!! He's 10 years old and to be honest he hasn't done much in his life due to the previous owners.

I loaned him for a year and he was amazing hacking and only had the odd spook, so I was given him for my birthday. We then decided to move for numerous reasons and now he is a pain in the Arse hacking!

Believe it or not he is the most amazing horse to school even though he never did it really in his life only when he was a baby. Don't get me wrong... He has his off days but all horses do.

But when hacking he just wants to rush home and if I don't let him he throws a tantrum!! Side stepping, throwing his head about and it feels like he has completely disappeared from beneath me. And he's a lot more spooky. The thing is the new yard is close to the old one so everything is the same around him.

I mean I deal with it but I'm getting a bit fed up with it every hack and would prefer to just stick to the school. But then I feel bad he's not going out. I don't know why I feel so horrible when hacking becuase he never does anything more ;(
 
I have this with my tb. He is non spooky but as soon as we turn for home he jogs. He will trot fine but will not walk! I have been having ground work lessons with him and I have learnt how to disengage his hind end in the hope that I can use this when he starts to jog.
 
Glad I'm not the only one with the same problem! Being a Arab anyways he is generally quite prancy but he gets a lot worse on the way home
 
The disappearing Arab feeling is amazing... I actually miss it when I ride something else!

Sounds as though he is a little unsettled by the move... Besides the new location what has changed for him management wise?

What happens if you just ignore the spooks? Or even laugh at them?

Jogging can be annoying but, again, what happens if you ignore?
 
The disappearing Arab feeling is amazing... I actually miss it when I ride something else!

Sounds as though he is a little unsettled by the move... Besides the new location what has changed for him management wise?

What happens if you just ignore the spooks? Or even laugh at them?

Jogging can be annoying but, again, what happens if you ignore?
 
My anglo has done this before. She will probably always be a little 'brighter' on the way home (she certainly knows exactly where the halfway point of a circular hack is) but I accept that. I found that circular or lollipop shape routes help, plus taking her out for longer. If she's being a twonk, I'll turn off the quick route home and switch to the long way home, which has the added benefit of being really hilly. She relishes the hills, so never minds switching routes. Once she's working much harder physically, all the silliness stops.

It's certainly true of my pure gelding too. This sort of horse does take a great pleasure in their own physical prowess (IYSWIM) and a quick spin around the block isn't challenging and they will be silly to keep themselves occupied. Go out for a longer, more challenging ride and they are actually more sensible as they get into the 'zone,' enjoy the exercise (which keeps the brain busy), plus they're a bit tired on the way home.

Could all your schooling have made your horse a bit fitter?
 
Oh I should add, has his management been changed at the new yard? Less turnout for example, would send mine crackers. He also might just need time to settle at the new yard, it can take a surprisingly long time for them to feel at home after a move.
 
If he enjoys school work I'd try schooling on the way home. I used to have a TB that was a nightmare the last mile home. I started schooling on the road (where safe!) Shoulder in, bending and flexing- leg yield. Lots of praise when he concentrated on what I was asking.
It really worked and seemed to distract him from being a twerp
 
It could be the the grass my 2 Arabs are nuts at the moment and I am sure it's the grass we have had quite a bit of rain so it's growing a lot, it could be the fact his just moved yards and needs time to settle down.
 
My Arab mare became steadily less spooky the more hacking she did. I also found it helped if I didn't react to her spooking, but just ignored her and carried on. The jogging on the way home - I'm afraid that was always an issue for us on shorter, circular hacks! If she'd been out on a longer hack she was far less likely to do it and she was better in the summer than in the winter. I have to be honest and say I quite enjoyed it though! The trick with Arabs is consistency and confidence (I suppose that's the case with most horses really). Don't make a big deal out of the things they make a big deal out of and they do tend to settle down. Mine is my horse of a lifetime - got her when I was 11, rode her for over ten years, and she's now been retired for four years and still the source of great joy!
 
How long is it since you moved him, it sounds as though he still a bit unsettled after the move. He might be missing his herd friends from the old yard so still feeling insecure.

I agree longer hacks help and making sure he's not hungry when you take him out, it just makes them even more determined to drag you back to the grass!
 
With my arab - I know he finds change very unsettling, and I have to break things down into baby steps, to gradually build his confidence,

Is he getting the same amount of turnout etc, or is the yard busy? My guy is much better on a quiet yard.
 
our worst arab was a nightmare on rides around the block. Give him a day ride and he loved it. An hour out for exercise and he was a PITA. Grass can affect them but it that is not the cause i would go off for a day ride, take a picnic/pub etc and just spend the day with him exploring. If he gets scared and spooky get off and walk a little with him. Take him out of his local comfort zone so he is a bit more dependent on you. The first time will be a disaster but after 2 or 3 long rides he will get the idea and start to love it. If you are able consider taking him to a local pleasure/charity/riding club type ride. It will give him something to occupy his brain.
 
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