Horses sharp in company

[SEL]

Do horses that become particularly sharp in company ever grow out of it? I genuinely thought we were making progress last year and he finished with a clinic where he was an star.

Same venue today but about 8 weeks since we've been out in a group (we've done arena hire at this location) and he was an absolute idiot.

He'll be 6 soon - wishfully hoping for a grown up cob this year.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Is he pratting about because he is nervous of working in close proximity to the other horses?

My saintly dressage horse was like that - it was nerves, not naughtiness. He was fine if I warmed him up well away from the crowd, but he couldn’t hack a crowded warm up area.

He used to breathe a sigh of relief on entering the dressage arena, as he knew that the others wouldn’t get him when he was between the boards.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Arabi was wound up by other horses from the off I would say his marginally better his 20 now

He found the go round at shows highly exciting I've had to come out on occasions in the early days, I had to learn to ride very tactfully and did need to circle quite a bit which did help him settle, busy warm ups were the worse he absolutely detests horses coming towards him especially in trot or canter he still doesn't like it.

I think his main issue with it is his not keen on strange horses he will strike out with his fronts if something comes too close to him, I think that is because he was cut late at 4 he still displays stallion like behaviour.

Hacking he was better although he will jog and canter on the spot but not for the whole ride, mainly after a canter or if he thinks he should be cantering but I did hack him in quite big groups and managed sponsored rides with him, but I would say the same things still wind him up even as his got older.

 

[shortstuff99]

My big cob is very nervous of riding close proximity to horses and the other day he decked me when a horse came too near and he is 14.

I've taken him back a couple of steps and working him in hand when others are around and some light riding to let him work out that he can self regulate when others are around. I think it will never be perfect though.

 

[SEL]

Is he pratting about because he is nervous of working in close proximity to the other horses?

I don't think so - I get the vibe new horses are REALLY exciting and then we turn into a snorting, explosive dragon.

The first fun ride I took him on was chaotic and he was fine with other horses right around him - control was optional with another rider - but when he saw another group cantering in the distance the teddies were thrown out the pram spectacularly.

@Pinkvboots sounds like I might have another 14 years before he settles then!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I don't think so - I get the vibe new horses are REALLY exciting and then we turn into a snorting, explosive dragon.

The first fun ride I took him on was chaotic and he was fine with other horses right around him - control was optional with another rider - but when he saw another group cantering in the distance the teddies were thrown out the pram spectacularly.

@Pinkvboots sounds like I might have another 14 years before he settles then!

Yes maybe he might just be a hot head some cobs are.

Arabi has always been hot he can be totally calm one minute then have a melt down the next at the silliest of things even now.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It was a chaotic fun ride which started off my lad’s dislike of close proximity to other horses.

It was the last fun ride of his 5yo season, and he coped impeccably on the day despite the carnage around him, but he was never happy in a group again after that. He was a Tb/sec D.

 

[LEC]

I specialise in sharp and I tend to bore the crap out of them with endless RC lessons so tend to be fine in a group situation. Where none of them have been able to cope when 4/5 is if something goes wrong and loose horses etc. they have got better as older though.

They have all done fun rides but I am completely anal about it and they have to go with a horse who is sensible and we got first thing or last thing.

 

[HopOnTrot]

What’s he like doing boring things with a group? Such as a familiar walk trot hack?

My NF will happily stand to hold a gate out hunting whilst people bugger off but can find a small warm up area too much.

 

[SEL]

What’s he like doing boring things with a group? Such as a familiar walk trot hack?

My NF will happily stand to hold a gate out hunting whilst people bugger off but can find a small warm up area too much.

That is also exciting - I am careful who I ride with. We met some strange horses on the way home a while back and it was eyes on stalks.

I specialise in sharp and I tend to bore the crap out of them with endless RC lessons so tend to be fine in a group situation. Where none of them have been able to cope when 4/5 is if something goes wrong and loose horses etc. they have got better as older though.

They have all done fun rides but I am completely anal about it and they have to go with a horse who is sensible and we got first thing or last thing.

I have a feeling he just needs to do more of the same. He'd got over himself by the end of last year and was foot perfect same venue at the beginning of Dec. Today it was like he'd never been in a school with other horses.

He wasn't too bad on a charity ride when @SpotsandBays escorted us with her older horse but I suspect he'll always be a bit dramatic in that kind of situation.

Roll on drier weather, lighter nights and the chance to work the socks (or stockings in his case) off the little monster.

 

[HopOnTrot]

A bit of inhand showing might help, essentially a bit of sight seeing but in quite a controlled/low excitement way?

Our PC do a dressage series on grass with a huge warm up area, something like that is usually pretty laid back.

There’s a lot to be said for boring them into bravery like LEC suggests.

 

[SEL]

A bit of inhand showing might help, essentially a bit of sight seeing but in quite a controlled/low excitement way?

Our PC do a dressage series on grass with a huge warm up area, something like that is usually pretty laid back.

There’s a lot to be said for boring them into bravery like LEC suggests.

We tried in hand showing twice last year - we won't be invited back!

Judge said he was a fabulous mover just needed to learn to behave. Still learning

He's a different horse at home (thankfully....)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

That is also exciting - I am careful who I ride with. We met some strange horses on the way home a while back and it was eyes on stalks.


I have a feeling he just needs to do more of the same. He'd got over himself by the end of last year and was foot perfect same venue at the beginning of Dec. Today it was like he'd never been in a school with other horses.

He wasn't too bad on a charity ride when @SpotsandBays escorted us with her older horse but I suspect he'll always be a bit dramatic in that kind of situation.

Roll on drier weather, lighter nights and the chance to work the socks (or stockings in his case) off the little monster.

I must admit Arabi is so much worse in winter especially January and February and after his been clipped his a nutter for about a month afterwards.

 

[SEL]

I must admit Arabi is so much worse in winter especially January and February and after his been clipped his a nutter for about a month afterwards.

He is a lot worse in winter. They were out 24:7 until 2 weeks ago so I can't blame that. A random lady told me not to ride the oats and I laughed - no oats. Definitely no oats!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

He is a lot worse in winter. They were out 24:7 until 2 weeks ago so I can't blame that. A random lady told me not to ride the oats and I laughed - no oats. Definitely no oats!

How funny omg I would be in trouble if Arabi had oats.

I struggled when he was young because he just wouldn't hold weight but anything conditioning sent him nuts his still really sensitive to feed but thankfully he will eat his own body weight in hay everyday so that keeps him looking ok.

 

[southerncomfort]

I have one the same. He just finds it all incredibly exciting.

The last couple of clinics we went to last year, I actually took him for a short fast hack before we went (he was very fit) and his behaviour was much improved.

ETA I think with Bo it's because his pal at home is a little mini shetland who won't play with him any more. So quite understandable really that he's so excited by potential new friends. I need to find him a better friend!

 

[ihatework]

I haven’t had or been involved with anything that hasn’t got better with exposure.
But don’t underestimate the time and effort it takes for the sharper/more anxious ones.

I co-owned one that went somewhere on the lorry every week (minimum) without stepping foot in a competition arena for the best part of 6 months! Sometimes he would just go on the lorry whilst others did something. Sometimes he would ride around the lorry park. He’d do arena hires. Hacks away from home. Very very tedious. But when his behaviour was consistent he nailed it in competition

 

[SpotsandBays]

When the ground eventually dries up, come over to mine and we can practice group rides with Nug, Ty and Cuppers!

 

[SEL]

When the ground eventually dries up, come over to mine and we can practice group rides with Nug, Ty and Cuppers!

Practice pre Cholsey rodeo???

I haven’t had or been involved with anything that hasn’t got better with exposure.
But don’t underestimate the time and effort it takes for the sharper/more anxious ones.

I co-owned one that went somewhere on the lorry every week (minimum) without stepping foot in a competition arena for the best part of 6 months! Sometimes he would just go on the lorry whilst others did something. Sometimes he would ride around the lorry park. He’d do arena hires. Hacks away from home. Very very tedious. But when his behaviour was consistent he nailed it in competition

I think it is just going to be exposure until it becomes routine. I may also have to prepare myself that every break means we have episodes like today (which I am getting too old for!!)

 

[SEL]

I have one the same. He just finds it all incredibly exciting.

The last couple of clinics we went to last year, I actually took him for a short fast hack before we went (he was very fit) and his behaviour was much improved.

ETA I think with Bo it's because his pal at home is a little mini shetland who won't play with him any more. So quite understandable really that he's so excited by potential new friends. I need to find him a better friend!

There's something in this. He used to play zoomies with my little cob but she's off colour right now and has been telling him off if he wants to play.... so he's bored.