Horse seems to have the hump!?

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rmasterson

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I've had my laid back ISH for 5 years and he's always been easy to catch. Recently I have started putting him under more pressure, asking for more canter and that he takes me into a fence more. He is responding but has started walking off when he sees me coming. He is going well and I feel like we are getting somewhere. Its not that he is sour, its just that he doesn't appear as sweet as he was. He has a varied routine with plenty of hacking. Has anyone ever experienced this, am I overthinking it?
 
I had one who was grumpy with me for a while but fine with other people! I can only put it down to him being on holiday while the others are back in work and he felt left out. I always make a fuss with him but he just seemed to dislike me, putting his ears back and walking away from me. Have taken to bribing him with carrots and he seems much happier now when he sees me, although it is probably just cupboard love!
When schooling him, do you ride him for a while? I found the best way to keep mine sweet was to just school until they do what I was aiming for nicely a few times, instead of drilling them for an hour, and then I would either end the session there if they have worked hard (even if I was only riding for 15 mins), make a fuss and turn them out so that they can chill or take out for a nice quick stroll round the block afterwards if I feel they would benefit from it.
I never school mine for more than half an hour at home, and I never try to work on too much at once, just one or two elements and find that way they are always much keener to continue next time. Just try to keep it all fun for him. It is probably just the fact that he isn't used to working this hard or it could be the weather making him grumpy (it certainly has that effect on me!). Im sure he will be back to his normal self soon enough.
 
I don't doubt someone will come on here and accuse me of 'humanising' horse behaviour but here goes..I am convinced that, despite all the love, care and attention I lavish on my horse, he loves my OH more, because while he also lavishes him with love, care and attention he DOESN'T ride him. Similarly, my friends horse is THE most affectionate horse towards me, not so much to her - again, she rides him/disciplines him etc, I just cuddle/pet him and give him his hay on a night!

If you think someone was coming towards you to and was going to make you work hard, I guess you would want to avoid them (like when my boss starts walking towards me I suddenly have an overwhelming need to go round the corner to the loo....)

Maybe cut back on the schooling for a bit and do something more fun (fast hack, beach ride, trip to the gallops etc), or just bring him in and spend quality time with him grooming, massaging him, good old scratch of the withers etc
 
Thanks for interesting replies. My instructor says the new regime should be become normal for him in time. He has a varied routine with plenty of hacking, beach rides etc. he will just have to "suck it up"!!
A few months back a youngster resident belonging to a friend bucked me off twice after getting a bit on top of himself. Previously friendly and curious with me, he didn't want to have anything to do with me for two months or more. A bit rich considering I hurt my ribs and was in pain for 6 weeks. Anyway one day a few months after the incident, he suddenly became friendly again. I don't humanise their emotions but I'm convinced they can withdraw their affection all the same.
 
You posted what |I also have been worrying about. Bob the nota cob is not his normal affable self. It has been going downhill since his last dressage test 10 days ago. LAST ,not unusual for us ,but this time he tried his heart out and deserved better. Schooling ,I get this vibe from him that he just doesnt get it and please can we just jump over somthing. Today he did somthing so out of character too. He has a fan club of small children at the yard. He actually put his ears back at them . I think it would be a cold day in hell before he hurt one of them but it is a symptom of his depression. This sound so ridiculous ,but if you knew the horse you would understand why I am concerned.
 
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