Horse in pain or taking the ****?

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horsegirl

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My horse has recently (about 4 weeks) gone from being very forward going to being very slow and difficult to move. He is very reluctant to go forward, if I push him he puts his head up and his ears flat to his head and if I still push him he starts to do little onw legged bucks. I have had his back and tack checked (he had his teeth checked by the vet a couple of months ago and he said they were ok but they would need attention soon, the dentist is coming tomorrow). My instructor says he is taking advantage to get out of doing any work but I can't believe he would change so drastically. So....
 
You see, I would be inclined to give him a smack as if he was taking the mick, and then if still no change (I am talking a day here) I would give him a couple of days off and try again....

And if still no change, I would call the vet. If he is ok in himself and sound etc and you have had tack/teeth/back checked that would be what I would do.

At least discount everything else, including behaviour, before you start paying towards your vets new volvo!
 
Once you've had his back, teeth, saddlery checked & found out that these are all fine then you will have narrowed it down to a behavioral issue. If you aren't in a position to sort out that then get in someone to ride him through this issue. If it is this, the longer it is left unchecked, the more ingrained this behavior will become & harder to resolve.

Good Luck
 
Whats he like when leading from the ground? Is there a certain place he does this? I would say pain myself and get it checked asap, possibly saddle, so would try bareback, in walk and see if you have the same issue. Obviously if it's not safe to try bareback don't, depends on the severity of behaviour. Is he going of your leg, are you holding on to the reins more than normal because your nervous?
My first port of call would be the vet but then I am a worrier, I'd then investigate the saddle, and finally try a schooling route, as I'd feel so guilty if it was just his way of saying going forward hurts.
Could you try leading him from another? then you could see his back from above while moving, and if anything triggers his not moving reaction?
 
He is getting some grass, not a massive amount as they are eating it as soon as it grows but I can tell he is getting some from his droppings. He is usually tied up outside his stable with a haynet for half an hour or so before he is ridden.

Also I shouls add this started about the time he had colic and he appears to be cribbing more than usual. I have always thought cribbing was just a food related habit but he is doing it now even when he hasn't eaten.
 
I would say if you were nervous of falling off then you
a) either have to do it on a soft surface and just get on with it
b) pay someone to do it for you

or

c) Consider whether this horse is doing anything for your confidence and whether he is the right horse for you.

Sorry, I know c is harsh, however with horses you have to work through the problems or they just take the mick. When Bruce started bucking on the heath when he spooked he got a wack even though I knew he would buck again/buck bigger...which he did, however after 2 times he has never done it again, becasue as toby_z said it is better to resolve these things immediately.

If you are riding him like you are a bit worried and like you dont want him to 'go'; as in move forward freely.... then maybe that is why he has become like this?

I dont know it is hard to tell from what you have writtenn?

Good luck with him xxxx
 
My horse can be very stuffy to start but I use my hips to get him moving. Sometimes he can be very cheecky and do the same as yours. Last week he started turning his bum into the school and acting up.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt for a day or so, then encouraged him nicely with a stick! He did buck yes, but he hasn't done it since!

Again my horse is physically sound and saddle fine, he is young and learning and likes to throw new problems at me to avoid work.

Now he just pulls faces, but gets on with it. (and to all those parelli people, he does love me, no I am not beating him into it, it is just my horses personality, no amount of carrot sticks will change his underlying personality)
 
Why do you give hay immediately before exercising him? How about just popping him in his stable to chill for half an hour or even an hour would possibly be better?

He may feel much more inclined to work then....
 
Just to keep him occupied while I am mucking out etc and because he is very difficult to keep weight on so I use every opportunity to get him to eat, he is never asked to work very hard.
 
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Also I shouls add this started about the time he had colic and he appears to be cribbing more than usual. I have always thought cribbing was just a food related habit but he is doing it now even when he hasn't eaten.

[/ QUOTE ]

If he were mine, I would get the vet. It really does sound to me as if he is in pain.
frown.gif
 
Don't give up, get an instructor first and foremost they may be able to give you some pointers.

Also don't give up before all avenues are explored. Maybe get his back re looked at and saddle re-checked.
 
I would stop feeding him before you ride. If you had a belly food of food think how you would feel.

I would say the issue is more around your confidence than a medical problem with the horse....just going on what you said.

xxxx Good luck with him, I hope you can work it out.
 
Get your horse checked out by a good vet. This could be early signs of any number of problems. I will emphasise GOOD vet i.e. a very experienced one, not just out of vet school as if there is a physical problem and you can't work out what it is, you need someone with experience to find out.

Lets face it, a full work up including call out will cost about £50, and if it does turn out to be pain, you will never forgive yourself if you try to beat him through it. £50 for peace of mind is well worth it in my book.

If they are lame in both front, both hinds or all 4 feet this can often show up as a reluctance to go forwards as it hurts.

If you vet gives you the all clear, then treat as a behavioural issue and get a good insturctor down to help.
 
but hes possibly feeling bloated if hes eating large amounts of hay though .

and not wanting to work .


Have you a video of him doing this ?


its really hard to say , can you not get a riding instructor or some one that you trust to see him for you ?
 
Have you recently progressed in your lessons to asking more of him than he is used to? My horse seemed v forward going when he was returned to work, but as I asked more of him and asked him to engage he struggled and seemed harder work and also put in the little bucks. Over the last few weeks he has gained strength and is now forward going again and doesnt buck. If you haven't changed anything in your schooling I'd get the vet but if you are asking him to engage his quarters and he is not used to it it may just be that he is not very strong in that area and will get better. Good luck!!!
 
He had his back checked 2 weeks ago. His tack a few months ago but the back person checked that when she was here. I don't think he is being asked to do anything more difficult although he is being asked to work in an outline but he has done that for several months with no problems.
 
has his feed changed recently? what does he eat?

My tb turned out to be molasses and barley intollerent - before I found this out he was a nightmare to ride... he just refused to go forward and was very bucky and upset - since changing his feed I have a nicley forward going and obidient horse....
 
Does your instructor ever ride for you? Maybe they could try pushing him on a bit more.

Are they like this just in the school or hacking to, maybe he just needs a change of scene/routine?

Good luck
 
Your horse could have uclers, what ever it is he should be checked by a vet in the first instance. He is not happy & is trying to tell you so. I have known more then one horse get a label for being difficult, just because their teeth/back & tack were fine. My own horse had muscel damage, a 2nd one had hind leg issues & another is waiting to hear back but looks as if it is muscel related.
 
Horsegirl - how long have you had him? My TB had major changes of personality after having him 6 months. He had real issues going forward to. He's now being reschooled and showing great potential.

One thing you cannot do with a TB is TELL THEM. Seriously, you'll end up on the floor! Worse still, if you have a particularly highly strung TB, you'll find them on the floor too (I've seen a few chuck themselves on the floor before now!) It's all about convincing them they're doing it for themselves.

Have you taken back to basics with double line lunging etc?

I'm by no means an expert but have had a rough ride with my TB but finally seeing the light...! x
 
I'd be inclined to begin with a blood test and work from there. If bloods are all clear then double check saddle, it sounds a bit like the reaction you get if the saddle's a bit narrow.
If all thats ok then it sounds like a bit of re-schooling is in order. When they do this the worst thing you can do is clamp your leg on and push. They have to go forwards willingly and this may be a case of forgetting about the school and just hacking for a bit or a total change in his work routine- jump him a little every day if thats what he enjoys or take him and do some xc
 
If you know this is not normal behaviour for your horse then for peace of mind get the vet and rule out pain first. If you push a horse in pain you are going to end up hurt. Have you lunged him? Is he still reluctant to go forward wthout a rider? Do you vary his work routine so he doesn't get bored?
 
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