Wagtail
Horse servant
Yes, the two episodes outlined above both happened since the wolf tooth removal.
Horse bolted in arena
- Thread starter Wagtail
- Start date
Yes, the two episodes outlined above both happened since the wolf tooth removal.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
Given his recent history it seems pretty likely that something hurt so he took off rather than anything more sinister.
Arizahn
Well-Known Member
Dental based pain is indescribable, I would really get that checked as could well imagine a horse reacting like this to it. All the very best to the owner.
Wagtail
Horse servant
I will give him some bute until I can talk to his owner, just in case he has any pain that he is struggling with. I know she would not mind me doing that. Obviously can't get the vet until I can speak to his owner as it is not an emergency. He seems perfectly happy today.
WandaMare
Well-Known Member
As well as the other factors already discussed it could just be a bit of settling in nerves. He's only been on the yard a short time and had the stress of the teeth op so maybe he just needs a bit more time to settle down. My current horse did a few very strange things in her first weeks at my yard, including running straight through a wooden gate which made me think screw loose but once settled in she became the normal, genuine horse as advertised. I also like the long reining idea, it will restore his confidence too.
Poor owner, hope her confidence hasn't taken too deep a dent and that she recovers well and is able to enjoy her new horse soon.
Poor owner, hope her confidence hasn't taken too deep a dent and that she recovers well and is able to enjoy her new horse soon.
3OldPonies
Well-Known Member
Firstly, I just like to say that I hope the owner is OK, you sound like a very sensible person yourself, so I'm sure once she feels ready to ride again you'll be giving her all the support she needs if butterfly tummy strikes!
Secondly, you say that the horse is 8 years old and was only gelded and backed in the past year. This makes me think that apart from possible trauma still from the dental work, he is getting some riggy ideas - after all it is March and the ladies will be coming into season. It might be worth getting him tested to make sure his hormone levels are OK, he's could be feeling a bit confused as he was mature when gelded he'll still be sensitive to all the pheromones and hormones in the air at this time of year. So he has a lot of learning to do, not only to do with being ridden but with learning to be a gelding as well! This was a problem with what is now my eldest retiree - in his case though his novice owner/rider gave up on him and dumped him in a field. It meant he had plenty of time to get to grips with the new realities of life, but oh boy did I have trouble when I tried to start him working again several years later. The running away mentality was so firmly lodged that I never did really get rid of it!
Secondly, you say that the horse is 8 years old and was only gelded and backed in the past year. This makes me think that apart from possible trauma still from the dental work, he is getting some riggy ideas - after all it is March and the ladies will be coming into season. It might be worth getting him tested to make sure his hormone levels are OK, he's could be feeling a bit confused as he was mature when gelded he'll still be sensitive to all the pheromones and hormones in the air at this time of year. So he has a lot of learning to do, not only to do with being ridden but with learning to be a gelding as well! This was a problem with what is now my eldest retiree - in his case though his novice owner/rider gave up on him and dumped him in a field. It meant he had plenty of time to get to grips with the new realities of life, but oh boy did I have trouble when I tried to start him working again several years later. The running away mentality was so firmly lodged that I never did really get rid of it!
Wagtail
Horse servant
Yes, I will make sure I am with her the first few times she rides him once she is well enough, bless her.
You have hit the nail on the head with the 'running away mentality'. Regarding hormones etc, he was visibly excited when a mare was flirting with him over the fence, but he moved away as soon as the more dominant gelding wanted to stand by her.
3OldPonies
Well-Known Member
Humph, having trouble with the quoting thing. What I wanted to say was, and I hope that it is of help when the horse does get ridden again, is that for a good few months I kept all schooling to a walk and did lots of obedience work (stopping, standing, over and between poles) so that he gradually learnt that work is not all about shooting off at high speed (it also helped me get my confidence back with him). Then we progressed to short periods of trot, doing the same obedience stuff as well, and finally into canter work. It did take a long time and was mind numbingly boring, but it worked which is the main thing. When we progressed to hacking, I did lead out in hand as well to keep his mind active and interested in the meantime, again the same thing, lots of obedience work to start with.
Wagtail
Horse servant
That's very good advice, thank you.
3OldPonies
Well-Known Member
Thanks Wagtail. Just hope that something similar works for this one, best of luck and hope you all get sorted.throughtheforest
Well-Known Member
I had a horse who developed a habit of bolting any rider anywhere, I broke my wrist on him, the once I had to steer him into a tree where I grabbed onto the tree and then he carried on and galloped home, he bolted whilst being lunged and was just a nightmare, if he couldn't bolt he would bronc instead, I was told to never do anything with him which was sensible advice but as I'm pig headed I decided to against advice... incidentally he had his wolf teeth left in as they were not causing any problems. I took the horse back to basics, sorted out all of his groundwork, all of his bad habits, basically got it into his head that his feet do as I say and when I tell them too... After gradual re-breaking this horse turned himself around and before retirement my former unrideable horse was a perfect schoolmaster who I could do anything with. I was a complete novice at 13 when the behavioral issues became apparent and we learned together. Horses need and deserve your time and patience.
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YasandCrystal
Well-Known Member
I agree that horses need and deserve time and patience amnd I also believe that you should follow your gut. I think if we listen to our own gut feelings we can differentiate between a problem that can be sorted in time and something much more serious and insurmountable.
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Harsh. My horse of a lifetime bolted with me twice early on spooking at cows on hacks, on one of those occasions he did go literally through a barbed wire fence (still bears the scars). I never hacked him again and it never happened again, he turned out to be the best horse I've ever had. A bullet would have been pretty stupid.
OP, it sounds like it probably was due to his tooth if he'd been messing about in the bridle just before. I'd give the horse another 2 weeks off just to be certain and then start in a hackamore like you're thinking.
simplyhunting
Well-Known Member
Having had a horse blind bolt straight through anything in its path- through the solid gates and fencing, very clear visible things to run through! it had no intention of stopping until it ran straight into a tree with no consideration for its actions I will not give a true bolter the time of day. It was happy to kill itself and anyone around it because it had no idea what it was doing. That is the point at which it is dangerous. However so many confuse what a true bolter is these days sadly.
However thankfully op's horse just sounds like an reaction to it's teeth removal- and fingers crossed will be fine and back to normal in no time
Echo Bravo
Well-Known Member
Could be pus in the wound, making the gum painfull, go back to basics check his mouth.
I*HM
Well-Known Member
Was just going to suggest abscess from the tooth!
alainax
Well-Known Member
Ah the old Bolt/Tank debate.
I think the general consensus is that a bolter has no regard to his or his riders safety. Will bolt through fences, into brick walls etc. Anything that adheres to the arena walls, or jumps.... is a tanker.
I can understand why your in a predicament OP. Hopefully it was just a pain response, but unfortunately there is only one way to find out. Someone has to ride it again once all pain is ruled out - or the bullet.
I think the general consensus is that a bolter has no regard to his or his riders safety. Will bolt through fences, into brick walls etc. Anything that adheres to the arena walls, or jumps.... is a tanker.
I can understand why your in a predicament OP. Hopefully it was just a pain response, but unfortunately there is only one way to find out. Someone has to ride it again once all pain is ruled out - or the bullet.
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Tiffany
Well-Known Member
Doesn't sound like he went through fence but literally just took off round the arena. This horse had been well behaved until this incident, there must be a reason for his reaction. I think bullet is over reacting based on an isolated incident.
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simplyhunting
Well-Known Member
My reply was before op assured us he did not leave the arena, just simply shot off around it- still very scary for all concerned , but thankfully not a true bolter.
Wish op all the best in finding the cause, and fingers crossed all shall be well as it does sound like a pain response now we know more background . Good luck op.
Tnavas
Well-Known Member
Any chance he got his tongue over the bt - this can really set them off!
I've never had a problem with horses having wolf teeth removed and worked them the next day.
I've never had a problem with horses having wolf teeth removed and worked them the next day.
Wagtail
Horse servant
Thanks. Yes, he could well have got his tongue over the bit and it is useful information that some horses can react badly to this as I have never experienced it before. I think owner will be investing in a drop noseband.
lawa
Well-Known Member
Wagtail you are a lot more experianced then me but I had a similar issue with a loan horse.
Was sore in her mouth and scared the hell out of her with any sort of pressure in her mouth.
We went back to basics lunging and long reining then riding on the lunge to have a bit of control. What would concern me is it seems the horse has a very high flight instinct, I would go with caution and not work horse on own ect as I find when they have learnt to flee it is hard to get them back can you pop a grab handle of D rings when ridden work starts again as a bit of extra rider support?
Was sore in her mouth and scared the hell out of her with any sort of pressure in her mouth.
We went back to basics lunging and long reining then riding on the lunge to have a bit of control. What would concern me is it seems the horse has a very high flight instinct, I would go with caution and not work horse on own ect as I find when they have learnt to flee it is hard to get them back can you pop a grab handle of D rings when ridden work starts again as a bit of extra rider support?
Wagtail
Horse servant
Thanks. I am going to fit my rs-tor to the saddle. It is currently being used on another horse, but she has been really well behaved of late so I think I will switch it over. Sod's law, just as I do that, she will probably misbehave again!