tobiano1984
Well-Known Member
One of my project ponies, a 15hh 6 year old Irish cob, has been beset with issue after issue. Trying to persevere with him but could really do with a breakthrough soon..!
When he arrived he had become unmountable, would buck as the rider sat down, had also obviously been roughly treated too. He'd hunted, XC etc but limited schooling.
With lots of patience and natural horsemanship we've conquered the mounting issue, and he's pretty much ok with it now just a little bit nervy. He's been fine in the school, popped little jumps, bit of hacking. Only thing I noticed in the school was he was bent slightly to the left and wasn't keen on right bend although I expect this with most unschooled horses.
In the last week he's had 2 massive tantrums out hacking, both quite extreme and for no apparent reason. Out with other horses, past tractors and lorries, and then randomly on a quite track his bum shoots under, scoots forward and then bucks and plunges/tries to go up. The first time was manageable and the rider carried on fine after, the second time she had to get off and lead him home. Today she rode him in the school and he was fine going round on the left rein but when she tried to turn him right he would panic and try not to do it, bum would shoot under, tail tucked and he shot forwards. He's not obviously lame at all and frolicks around the field happily.
We tried it bareback, same response, tried it without (lightweight!) rider and he was better so extra weight obviously makes it worse.
He's had teeth and back done, I'm going to leave him for a week and see how he is, in case it's just a strain from his bucking episode, if still a problem I'll get the osteopath out to look at him again.
I'm afraid he won't be getting full veterinary diagnostics or anything like that unless he actually goes lame - I'm still unsure how many of his issues are mental and how many physical. He came to us as a last chance and if he isn't rideable will have to become a companion/babysitter but I'm still holding out some hope that we can sort him out as he's such a lovely little person.
Has anyone had experience with a similar reaction to turning in one direction? In a way it looks like a trapped nerve or something, as he seems totally fine and then is like OWW! suddenly and panics, it doesn't seem to be a constant thing. And so specifically when you try to turn him to the right.
When he arrived he had become unmountable, would buck as the rider sat down, had also obviously been roughly treated too. He'd hunted, XC etc but limited schooling.
With lots of patience and natural horsemanship we've conquered the mounting issue, and he's pretty much ok with it now just a little bit nervy. He's been fine in the school, popped little jumps, bit of hacking. Only thing I noticed in the school was he was bent slightly to the left and wasn't keen on right bend although I expect this with most unschooled horses.
In the last week he's had 2 massive tantrums out hacking, both quite extreme and for no apparent reason. Out with other horses, past tractors and lorries, and then randomly on a quite track his bum shoots under, scoots forward and then bucks and plunges/tries to go up. The first time was manageable and the rider carried on fine after, the second time she had to get off and lead him home. Today she rode him in the school and he was fine going round on the left rein but when she tried to turn him right he would panic and try not to do it, bum would shoot under, tail tucked and he shot forwards. He's not obviously lame at all and frolicks around the field happily.
We tried it bareback, same response, tried it without (lightweight!) rider and he was better so extra weight obviously makes it worse.
He's had teeth and back done, I'm going to leave him for a week and see how he is, in case it's just a strain from his bucking episode, if still a problem I'll get the osteopath out to look at him again.
I'm afraid he won't be getting full veterinary diagnostics or anything like that unless he actually goes lame - I'm still unsure how many of his issues are mental and how many physical. He came to us as a last chance and if he isn't rideable will have to become a companion/babysitter but I'm still holding out some hope that we can sort him out as he's such a lovely little person.
Has anyone had experience with a similar reaction to turning in one direction? In a way it looks like a trapped nerve or something, as he seems totally fine and then is like OWW! suddenly and panics, it doesn't seem to be a constant thing. And so specifically when you try to turn him to the right.
