Horse Tanking Off

[Maginca7]

Hello wise ones!

For the past year I have been the proud owner of a large horse (holsteiner/ISH) and he has been fab up until this point apart from the occasional blip.

Took him in the school yesterday and did some trot poles and was asking him to stop afterwards. One direction he was fine (towards stables), but the other (towards gate) he was quite lairy, pulling and resisting. After the 4th attempt I firmly requested him to halt using seat and reins and instead he went into a relentless canter with a fixed neck, completely ignoring my attempts to steer and stop. We did a lap, changed the rein and then he slipped over going round a corner and ended up on his belly. I got back on, trotted round the arena and then over the trotting poles. He stopped after going through them each time in each direction as he was meant to. Bit was our dressage one - verbindend.

Today I thought i would get on, quickly go in the school and trot round and over the poles doing the same exercise as yesterday. All fine. Hooray. So then we went on a jolly hack. This time I had a NS waterford elevator in his mouth but only on the middle ring so like a baucher. All good to start with. Canter up the ridge on lovely loose contact and stop by using seat and by sitting up. Then turn around. Go into trot and he suddenly launches himself into this relentless canter. It isn't that fast but I am not in control due to set neck and set mouth. Try a number of things to stop and by sitting firmly I almost get him back but he then goes again. In the end I managed to turn him in a circle and get him back. I got off to do the next gate and dropped the reins down to the bottom ring. Got on, walked down a steep hill and asked him to trot up the other side. He tried to tank off. Thanks to bit we stopped and so I made him do the same again, and again he tried to tank off. At the third attempt he did what he was asked.

Any advice from anyone? Teeth done 3 months ago. Back person coming out next week to check him over. Only different thing is I put a riser pad on under his saddle at trainers request and I am wondering if that is causing saddle to pinch on shoulders/around withers or am I clutching at straws? He doesn't feel frightened or as though he is pain, more like he is just too well and being an arse but surely some serious pulling on reins cannot be nice and it would be easier for him just to stop?

Sorry for length but 2 dodgy rides on 2 days is not good for something which is meant to be fun...

 

[buddylove]

It might just be the time of year! Last night in the school every request to trot was responded to with a buck/bronc. So today we hacked and a gentle trot up the bridleway ended up as a very collected canter because he wanted to go and I didn't!
A lot of horses on the yard are being fools - I am putting it down to a flush of autumn grass.

 

[indiat]

All of ours are behaving like idiots at the moment too. Our little Icelandic has started tanking again, something she hasn't done for a year and I do think the grass is like rocket fuel at the moment.

 

[Equi]

I too would say its a bit of the time of the year. Bit fresh air, bit breezy, probably more food. I would stick to the level you know he is not going to tank off at, so he doesn't get his blood up too much.

 

[Pedantic]

Silly time all fresh cool air.

 

[Maginca7]

Thank you so much for replying and while I am sorry that there are others behaving with a lot to be desired, I am very relieved to hear that it isn't just me. Can't ride him today as no childcare but will go out again tomorrow morning with brakes and see what he decides to throw at me. It is just such a shame when the trust you have in such a large, powerful animal begins to be chipped away at when they behave completely out of character. Was planning on cubbing and hunting during half term but if i am seriously struggling to stop out on a hack I don't think I am brave enough to take him.

 

[katymay]

Mine is feeling extremely well at the moment and put it down to seasonal changes, I have to ride him in a Waterford pelham especially if we are doing anything faster than a walk, he sets his neck, head down and tanks off, I find a quick half halt brings him back to me, he literally jogged the whole hack today ( luckily it's lovely to sit to) so let him get on with it in the hope he would tire out! Once his feet hit the grass he wanted to go but luckily won't until I tell him, he was like a coiled spring and because he didn't get his own way did a massive spook at a dumped fridge that he has ridden past a million times!

 

[Broc]

Mine spooked at his own shadow today, snorts and allsorts of dramas!