Horse stops jumping half way round

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ISHLankyLad

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Hi

Some really strange behaviour from my ISH lad (8 yrs old) that I just don't know what to do with. Hoping someone can give some suggestions or has had similar experience

Background
* We're a new partnership (about 6 months)
* He LOVES jumping, and has an enormous jump - really bold over fences
* He is a slightly stressy horse, head-shakes when you don't have a contact, and will headshake nearly all the way round a hack
* However he doesn't headshake if you are riding calmly on the flat (he does a nice dressage test) or jumping a course
* Will jump a course of jumps really happily (if too happy!) - won our first unaff showjumping comp a week ago

The issue:

I took him to Somerford park a couple of weeks ago on the farm ride, he was super bold jumping everything I pointed him at with ease, leading other horses over scary things. Then about half way round he just point blank stopped even wanting to approach a fence (even though they were no different in type/height to those he'd jumped earlier), Would get upset (backing up, spinning around, throwing his bum out). Any attempt to force him to approach the fence would result in explosive drama. eventually I got him to go over a few by walking him until the last minute then he'd launch himself and cat-leap. I put it down to tiredness, it started an hour into the ride where he'd jumped almost every obstacle so far and been cantering.

Had an hour's arena eventing clinic on sat, again no issues- jumped everything happily. Took him to Somerford again yesterday and we went with a non-jumper, so weren't jumping much just went for a walk and a natter. Popped 2 or 3 small ones in the first 3 miles very happily, then started acting up again. Same behaviour at about the same point. Noticed he was really starting to sweat even though all we'd done really was walk. He started out calmly but the longer we did the more anxious he seemed to get

It's hard to get a professional opinion as when I take him for lessons (either showjumping or arena eventing) he does not display this behaviour at all.

He passed a 5 stage vetting when I bought him, he had the dentist out in Dec (fine), back checked 3 weeks ago (fine) saddle checked last week (jump saddle he came with is passable but not ideal so we're getting him a new one). Due to some weightloss (turned out he wasnt being fed enough on full liv) I had the vet out over xmas and we scoped him for ulcers, but he scoped clear - bloods checked and came back fine. Back up to his usual weight now already (moved yards). I ride him 4-5 times a week (mix of 45 mins schooling, longer hacks/farm rides once a week, a jump session, an hour's flatwork lesson, a dressage comp)

Any ideas? I wore a go pro on the first trip and have scruitinised the footage for things that might have triggered the sudden shut-down but there's nothing really obvious.

Thanks!
 
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I suspect the reluctance to go forward and the headshaking are linked and that his limit is around 1 hour before it all becomes too much to cope with, I would want to investigate the headshaking and or try a few things to see if you can avoid it, adding salt to the feed can work, as can magnesium, a nosenet, a bridle such as a Micklem that takes pressure away from the facial nerves.

It can be trial and error, mine is best in his Micklem and nosenet, out in the open on a still dull day, away from home competing he has been fine as there is a lot going on, at his worst when hot and under trees or in clouds of midges, never done a farm ride so cannot compare.
 
ISHLankyLad said:
Hi

Some really strange behaviour from my ISH lad (8 yrs old) that I just don't know what to do with. Hoping someone can give some suggestions or has had similar experience

Background
* We're a new partnership (about 6 months)
* He LOVES jumping, and has an enormous jump - really bold over fences
* He is a slightly stressy horse, head-shakes when you don't have a contact, and will headshake nearly all the way round a hack
* However he doesn't headshake if you are riding calmly on the flat (he does a nice dressage test) or jumping a course
* Will jump a course of jumps really happily (if too happy!) - won our first unaff showjumping comp a week ago

The issue:

I took him to Somerford park a couple of weeks ago on the farm ride, he was super bold jumping everything I pointed him at with ease, leading other horses over scary things. Then about half way round he just point blank stopped even wanting to approach a fence (even though they were no different in type/height to those he'd jumped earlier), Would get upset (backing up, spinning around, throwing his bum out). Any attempt to force him to approach the fence would result in explosive drama. eventually I got him to go over a few by walking him until the last minute then he'd launch himself and cat-leap. I put it down to tiredness, it started an hour into the ride where he'd jumped almost every obstacle so far and been cantering.

Had an hour's arena eventing clinic on sat, again no issues- jumped everything happily. Took him to Somerford again yesterday and we went with a non-jumper, so weren't jumping much just went for a walk and a natter. Popped 2 or 3 small ones in the first 3 miles very happily, then started acting up again. Same behaviour at about the same point. Noticed he was really starting to sweat even though all we'd done really was walk. He started out calmly but the longer we did the more anxious he seemed to get

It's hard to get a professional opinion as when I take him for lessons (either showjumping or arena eventing) he does not display this behaviour at all.

He passed a 5 stage vetting when I bought him, he had the dentist out in Dec (fine), back checked 3 weeks ago (fine) saddle checked last week (jump saddle he came with is passable but not ideal so we're getting him a new one). Due to some weightloss (turned out he wasnt being fed enough on full liv) I had the vet out over xmas and we scoped him for ulcers, but he scoped clear - bloods checked and came back fine. Back up to his usual weight now already (moved yards). I ride him 4-5 times a week (mix of 45 mins schooling, longer hacks/farm rides once a week, a jump session, an hour's flatwork lesson, a dressage comp)

Any ideas? I wore a go pro on the first trip and have scruitinised the footage for things that might have triggered the sudden shut-down but there's nothing really obvious.

Thanks!
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I would suspect a muscle myopathy like PSSM, he has good genes for it if he is a draft cross. You could test for raised muscle enzymes, do a hair DNA test for type 1, test for type 2 but I think that test is only done in the US, or you could try him on a PSSM diet and see how he goes on.

It's high vitamin E, low sugar (including grass sugars), and a lot of oil or 10g a day of alcar (sold on eBay by the kilo). The diet is harmless but can have a very quick result of PSSM is your problem.

Lack of stamina is a symptom. I have two horses with it, one has no stamina at all! Hard feeling bum muscles seem to be the most common symptom, though not all of them have it; both mine do if they are not treated.
 
Thanks for the reply, that's interesting! I will definitely try a micklem- i need a new jump bridle so I might as well try. Mine too is fine at competitions, but it seems to be worse in "hack-like" situations.
 
How long do you hack for, and has he ever displayed this behaviour then?

Sis' ISH took forever to grow up mentally, and if you weren't holding his hand (i.e. maintaining contact, telling him exactly what he was supposed to be doing even if that was just "continue walking in a straight line") he would get more and more anxious then pack it all in with a nappy strop. Some horses seem bold/fine to lead others but underneath can only cope with it so much - this behaviour never showed in the school/lessons.

We did lots and lots of smaller hacks with a rock solid nanny horse upsides, building it up gently. At regular intervals and if he showed any signs of getting worried, nanny horse would take the lead for reassurance. The point is to intercept before it reaches the 'down tools' stage.

I'd investigate the potential physical issues suggested above, but I'd also see if you can get him in a small group/with a confident nanny horse and ride him into the contact all the way round. Obviously, you can still allow stretching etc. within this but the point is to convey that you are there to back him up, he doesn't have to brave it out himself.

ETA - if he's only shown this at Somerford, on the farm ride, at a specific point... then it might be something about that particular point that he doesn't like?
 
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Two incidents at around the same point at the same venue - I'd be putting it down to 'something' being there. It could be a certain smell (I had a horse that had a meltdown about pigs - couldn't go on a certain hack in certain winds as it would bring the smell across) or just something that he doesn't like.

I'd be experimenting a bit more in other places - maybe try another farmride (Kelsall if you're in that area) or other hacking scenarios. Ideally go with a confident nanny horse, as smja says.
 
Can you ask his previous owner if he has been there before and had a problem ? Once I couldn't understand why a good xc horse had 2 stops at a small bank complex at Great Witchingham. Turned out it had had a fall at that fence several years previously with its owner.
 
Thank you all for your suggestions - lots of interesting stuff. The PSSM is something I'd never heard of let alone considered so thanks for that. I definitely have some ruling out to do. He's been to Kelsall farm ride but we didn't jump that day as it was too slippy so I didn't notice. It will be interesting when i get a new saddle for him- one thing I'd considered that his current saddle is maybe "ok" but maybe after an hour or so it starts to annoy him. Will do some more experimenting and try to establish what the exact pattern is.
 
KittyH said:
Can you ask his previous owner if he has been there before and had a problem ? Once I couldn't understand why a good xc horse had 2 stops at a small bank complex at Great Witchingham. Turned out it had had a fall at that fence several years previously with its owner.
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I don't think she took him to Somerford, but I mentioned it this morning and she said it was weird because he usually flies everything he's pointed at (my previous experience of him). We're still very much in touch (she's riding him for me while I'm on holiday next week!) so at some time we may get to go to Somerford together and she can see what I mean. She seems as baffled as I am!
 
If you hadn't had him vetted, my first thought would be heart. I did have two similar incidents some years ago with my stallion. He suddenly stopped, was skittering around as if he was blind, and sweating. Turns out it was atrial fibrillation due to a flu vaccination. Gave him a year off with no jabs, then he came back fine, never had another problem. Also the headshaking.... my ISH mare would start to do that about 1 1/2 hrs into a ride. Put her in a wider browband, stopped her doing it. She had got too hot due to a comfort headpiece, and that cured it. Easy fix!
 
ISHLankyLad said:
It will be interesting when i get a new saddle for him- one thing I'd considered that his current saddle is maybe "ok" but maybe after an hour or so it starts to annoy him. Will do some more experimenting and try to establish what the exact pattern is.
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I'd be looking at the saddle first.
 
It may be he knows instinctively when he is half way round -or at the closest point to the car park? Whereabouts does he display this behaviour?
 
VRIN said:
It may be he knows instinctively when he is half way round -or at the closest point to the car park? Whereabouts does he display this behaviour?
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Yeah it's pretty much half way (although a couple of jumps earlier this time). Crikey, if my horse turns out to have an instinct that sharp then I'm done for ;-) There'll be no trying to trick him!!:eek:
 
I only asked because I know mine did. He reacted in the opposite way to yours and decided we definitely needed to speed up to get back! Its worth bearing in mind..
 
lol! I have a nappy mare who knows exactly what direction she is heading in on that farm ride. will jump everything in her way heading home, won't jump a twig in what she considers the wrong direction! she is hilarious!
 
Definitely suspicious of the saddle. My horse stopped jumping last year after various saddle disasters despite various saddlers telling me various saddles fitted perfectly.

She started off being fine for the first hour or so then packing up then bucking if I persisted. She isn't a bucker normally.

I would stop jumping and get a new saddle and bridle to eliminate the head shaking or it could end up a permanent behavioural problem.
 
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