Horse has reduced me to tears today

RSL said:
I wouldn't be doing that to his ear, no point in inflection pain on him.

When did he last have his saddle checked? My lad went the same way, everyone was saying its just him trying it on, when in actually fact it was due to his saddle pinching.

Also I will admit my lad did try it on after a while, how did I get him over it? I sat on him untill he decided to move, be in 10minutes to an 1hour! it worked and hes been great ever since, I was quite the hole time, praised him when he did walk on.
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Have to agree with this, exactly the same thing happened with my mare and I went through all the buddy/barn sour/spring grass stuff. It turned out to be her saddle, new saddle problem solved. Try not to take it personally he's not trying to make you look daft he's reacting to something (probably low grade pain) in the only way he knows how. All these anthropomorphic comments don't help IMO. Keep thinking forwards.
 
Yep, back, teeth and tack.
However, and correct me if I'm wrong, it sounds from your posts as if you don't have a lot of experience of situations like this. Maybe you need help from someone who has? People have come up with lots of ideas here, but the skill is working out which strategy works best with which horse, and having the confidence to carry the work through.
Twisting an ear or digging with a key also tells me that you really need some help. Frankly, they were daft things to do (and rather unkind to your horse). You have a really nice horse there, others would have reacted strongly to such treatment, and you could have been hurt.
So, do yourself and your horse a favour, stop trying to sort this out, get help.
As well as Jason Webb, another person could be Suzanne Marshal from Friday Fields Farm, she's a Kelly Marks Associate and I know can also help with these sort of problems.
 
Your horse is doing this because he is scared, he does not have any confidence in you either. The absolute worst thing you can do, is get off. Twisting his ear will have been very painful to him and it didn't work either - you will have reinforced in his mind that going for a ride alone with you is a really bad idea.

Next time he stops, just sit there. If he tries to turn right, open up your right rein to free his shoulder and wait for him to take a step, you may have to sit here for some time, in the end her will walk forwards because he has no other choice. Praise him with bit pats and if he stops again, don't let him turn around and wait until he moves forward again. Talk to him. Be nice to him.
 
I defo agree with sitting it out, no pushing or persuading just sit quietly, let the horse have his little hissy and then insist on going forwards. It may take 2 minutes or two hours just be prepared to have the time to do it, you cant give up halfway through.
 
Well honestly! AliceMary you are NOT enjoying this cob are you?It is costing you money to keep something you don`t enjoy..now that`s daft is`nt it?Get rid of it/put it in a tin..whatever..but stop making yourself miserable and go out and try to find an HONEST cob. To my way of thinking,horses cost a lot to feed/shoe etc ..and the very least they can do is be a pleasure to their owner.It`s a fair exchange ,I don`t pay out money to then be a horse-shrink.It`s a mare? Well sell it for breeding,it would`nt have to leave it`s field then! I am amazed at all you others putting up with unpleasant horses.
 
EAST KENT said:
Well honestly! AliceMary you are NOT enjoying this cob are you?It is costing you money to keep something you don`t enjoy..now that`s daft is`nt it?Get rid of it/put it in a tin..whatever..but stop making yourself miserable and go out and try to find an HONEST cob. To my way of thinking,horses cost a lot to feed/shoe etc ..and the very least they can do is be a pleasure to their owner.It`s a fair exchange ,I don`t pay out money to then be a horse-shrink.It`s a mare? Well sell it for breeding,it would`nt have to leave it`s field then! I am amazed at all you others putting up with unpleasant horses.
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But an 'unpleasant' horse may have very genuine but not understood reasons for its 'unpleasantness.' I have yet to come across a horse that has no good reason for bad behaviour, whether it be from pain issues, lack of trust/confidence in handler, lack of schooling, badly fitting tack, too much spring grass, overfeeding, being a prey animal faced with frightening situations, etc - lots of causes and yet not one of them is the horse's fault.

Yes, you should enjoy your horse, but your horse didn't ask to be bought and deserves the opportunity of all possible issues being ruled out before being considered put in a tin.

I certainly can't see the logic of inflicting pain on a horse if the relationship is also lacking in trust, which it sounds as if this one may be.

OP - I would strongly recommend trying a Recommeded Associate from www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk - they aren't too expensive and will work with your horse and you to reslove any issues.
 
Sure,it may have valid reasons for it`s vile behaviour..but it is still not the enjoyable animal AliceMary requires,and it is causing tears and money ..what`s the point? I was duped into buying a grey mare once,it arrived with a suspicious swelling on it`s neck (clumsy injection?) It was supposed to be a paragon, it was barely rideable on day one..and there after exploded as soon as anyone`s bum hit the saddle. Now there probably was a reason..but I have`nt the money to find a horse shrink etc for an unsuitable horse..so back it went.It needed twelve ACP`s to catch it and stable it,and then an injected sedative to load it.
The dealer ,a member of the Cash family later described it as "a highly unpleasant horse"..it must have been unridable as they sold it as a brood mare. That was sold to me AFTER I had stated a severe back problem so safety was imperative. Get rid AM !!
 
have you had your horses eye's checked. Everyone says teeth, back, tack but rarely eyes. If they cannot see properly this can cause major issues.
 
If he is hacking out for others and not you, it's a personality clash and he feels safer (?) at the yard than with you. If you otherwise like him, then you need to persuade him you are his friend, your company is good and your requests reasonable. It is your duty to ensure he is well and comfortable in all respects to carry out your wishes and you.

If the answers to the above are all in the affirmative, then box him up and unload miles away, where he hasn't any clue about his bearings and hack him home - being pleasant to him all the way.

I haven't decided who I feel more sorry for, but I'm leaning towards him.
 
amymay said:
Can't agree with this - as it certainly worked for me with a nappy horse.


When the horse moves backwards say nothing, take your legs off and make her stand. Just sit there - don't ask for anything, and if the horse moves forward - again make her stand. You may be sitting there for two hours but at some point you can ask her to move forward and she will walk forward. Even if only for a few strides - and then praise, and start all over again.

One thing is for sure - this horse will make you a better rider. But please don't twist the ear, it's the most appalling thing to do.
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My daughter's mare can have periods of nappiness and this is what she tries to do. Sometimes she also tries to get her to take a step to the side just to get her feet moving before asking for forward. She also gets off leads forward and gets back on if the situation calls for it.


But as everyone else said I don't think twistinghis ear is the answer.
 
flamehead said:
Someone said yesterday they cured napping by being chased down the lane with a friend with a lunge whip....! think it might work if you can sit a bolt and know they wont rear!!!
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Not sure I agree with those who say horses are never naughty for the sake of it. In 1993 I had a TB who had worked out we had 2 main hacking routes, if we passed the turn for shorter route 1 it meant we were going on longer route 2. For months I tried to get him past the turn to no avail trying patience and brute force. Had lessons to improve obedience, no joy perfect in the school still couldn't get past the turn. Eventually my instructor asked what the problem was and I told her in tears. She instructed me to hack to the spot and she would meet me there in 10 mins. Got there, she got out of car with MASSIVE lunge whip, told me to hold on, and cracked the whip behind the horse 3 times causing him to shoot off. Kept my leg on, rode a short circuit, came back repeated 3 times and NEVER had a problem with horse stopping again.

Sure this will horrify some, poor horse, scared etc etc but it cured 6 months napping in 20 minutes!
 
I don't think anyone has said that horses can't be naughty for the sake of it:confused:, after all they aren't stupid, but it is important to rule out why the behaviour is happening in the first place; if it is simply an aversion to work, then yes, you may need firm but fair handling to overcome it, but doing that if there are other issues going on has the potential to make things worse and the behaviour even more ingrained.
 
LauraElise said:
Not sure I agree with those who say horses are never naughty for the sake of it. In 1993 I had a TB who had worked out we had 2 main hacking routes, if we passed the turn for shorter route 1 it meant we were going on longer route 2. For months I tried to get him past the turn to no avail trying patience and brute force. Had lessons to improve obedience, no joy perfect in the school still couldn't get past the turn. Eventually my instructor asked what the problem was and I told her in tears. She instructed me to hack to the spot and she would meet me there in 10 mins. Got there, she got out of car with MASSIVE lunge whip, told me to hold on, and cracked the whip behind the horse 3 times causing him to shoot off. Kept my leg on, rode a short circuit, came back repeated 3 times and NEVER had a problem with horse stopping again.

Sure this will horrify some, poor horse, scared etc etc but it cured 6 months napping in 20 minutes!
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Ha ha - mine scuttles past the two 'longer route' turnings and definitely drags his feet if we do turn. I can easily see how this can quickly develop to a full-on napping-fest.
 
Archie07 said:
Try not to think he's just being stubborn, naughty etc - horses brains do not have the capacity to think like this however much we put human emotions and behaviours on them. It totally blinds us to the real under lying issue.
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I think this person is suggesting horses cannot just be naughty or stubborn?????
 
Hello all, this old post has surfaced after a few weeks. Things have moved on since then and I have posted more recently on progress. Cut a long story short, been sitting it out (2 hours at one time) long reining etc. Am still getting the napping at various places, still have to lead out of the yard and then mount, but not had 2 hour wait again (touch wood ) more like half an hour and then a couple of ten minute sessions. Stopped riding at the mo because it is so hot and cant face a long sit in the sun! so lunging and walking out in hand.
 
galaxy23 said:
Twist ear? Never heard of this "technique" and to be honest I can't imagine it working... Only creating further issues.

My old boy went through a period of planting. If I got after him he'd turn/run backwards. So I just sat there. One day for about 45 mins! Eventually he just gave up and walked on! Battle of wills.
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Ditto. This really does work IMO and worth a good try.
 
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