How to perk up 5yo?

[saddlesore]

5yo is now going through a 'can't go forward, won't go forward' phase following his 'i can ramdomly gallop off and will randomly gallop off phase'.

He is more awake out hacking, but can only go out a couple of times a week due to work etc so is in the school around 4 days a week. He only does around 1/2 hr at a time and we do a mixture of schooling/pole work/lunging etc but of late he has been insanely lazy to the point that he is exhausting me to ride! He can be quite a tense horse anyway but he is being very choppy in his stride and is being very backwards thinking. As a result of having to use so much leg, he is now frequently throwing his shoulder as if offering canter but not actually going into canter (this happens when I am trying to trot!). I am getting lessons to help us work through our latest blip but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts as to what is going on in his pretty little head?

 

[Cop-Pop]

How long has he been in work for? When my mare was younger when she got really lazy (as opposed to naughty lazy

) I would give her a week off and she would perk right up

When she was being naughty lazy I used spurs a couple of times as a reminder - she was (is) a right madam tho

 

[saddlesore]

Lol, he's been back in work for around 3 months after a 2 month sabatical whilst his back/tack etc was all checked and saddle changed after ' can randomly gallop off, will randomly gallop off' phase

I was contemplating another sabatical, however his nature is tense and nervous and sometimes if there is a long gap between doing seemingly normal things, he decides that they are all scary again so its tryingto find a workable balance *rolls eyes*. I've tried comb spurs and schooling stick, both of which perk him up for around 15 mins then he nods back off again. He is at it though, in so far as he is physically fit enough and mentally capable of the work being asked of him- he just can't be ar$ed!

 

[Cop-Pop]

Haha - B was always a nightmare to bring back into work again too but she had forwards movement which counted

What's he being fed - you could poss give him some more energy there? What does your instructor think?

 

[scally]

Some 5 yo are still very backwards, and they find work hard and tiring. Maybe hack more with company to perk him up, as school work can be very hard for them both physically and mentally, and if not willing to go forward then something is not quite right somewhere. Introduce something different everyday till you find out what lights his fire.,

Lay off slightly and concentrate on having fun as a pair, tense and nervous sounds as though his energies are going in the wrong directions rather than the right direction and a change of routine may find the key, keep playing with him, see what switches him on, horses dont think like humans its not he cant be arsed, something is bothering him or he is not understanding what you want.

He is still baby, give him some fun that switches him on, then work on the rest.

 

[saddlesore]

The feeding issue is somewhat of a debacle as since moving yards last summer, he has become somewhat of an *ahem* good doer

So he gets a 1/4 scoop of fast fibre and a handful of good doer with a vit/min supplement once a day. He lives out and gets adlib haylage. Instructor believes it is a phase and the throwing his shoulder canter thing is an evasion to get out of doing any work. I'm not 100% convinced and think that perhaps he is a bit confused about what is expected of him, especially as my 'move your butt' aids aren't the most subtle atm

Perhaps I'm just looking for excuses, its a vicious circle because its impossible to work him hard enough to get the weight off him because he is such hard work that it is impossible to do more than half an hour and my instructor wants me to avoid canter atm until the trot is re-established. I honestly don't have a clue whats going on!!

 

[saddlesore]

Thanks, my can't be ar$ed comment was meant tongue in cheek, I actually think he is a bit confused atm as to exactly what is expected of him. He is tense/nervous which can make it difficult to teach him at times, however he has improved greatly over the past year or so and I am confident that we will get there - eventually! We have been hacking out in company and doing a mixture of solo and group schooling. Put up a small course of jumps last wknd but he didn't even seem very interested in that. Like i said he is perfectly perky out hacking, but if he is only ridden twice a week, things like being tacked up and mounted etc can upset him

I'm certian he was very badly treated before I got him because he has a list of hang ups like I have never seen before

I don't want to bore him, but equally repitition settles him. I just want to do the best for him.

 

[scally]

I know how you feel, if only they could talk, repetition, variety and security and time and patience you will get there

.

My guy is 8 and is still tense and confused, slightly the opposite from yours as too much in front of the leg, and panics if he thinks he is getting it wrong as he is so desperate to please, if only we could say hey thats right, thats what I want, it would make both our lives so much easier, but sadly the only way I can keep going is keep reassuring, and by consistent work in all aspects of his life with variety and choice he will eventually get there.

Keep going it will come right eventually.

 

[teddyt]

[ QUOTE ]
I am getting lessons to help us work through our latest blip but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts as to what is going on in his pretty little head?

[/ QUOTE ]

IMO, some possible causes-
1) Tack doesnt fit- saddle and bit
2) Horse is sore somewhere
3) Horse is physically not able to do the work being asked (school work is harder work than hacking- the horse has to use himself more on continual turns)
4) Horse doesnt understand the riders communication, hence guesses and either gets it wrong or has now reverted to switching off
5) Rider is not helping the horse balance

Continual kicking, although hard to stop from the rider due to frustration, never gets you anywhere! The aids must be clear and mean something. If you kick, the horse moves forward even just a bit but then you keep kicking the horse gets confused. in his head he has gone forward but you keep asking. So it becomes a vicious circle and you get nowhere!

Ruling out 1-3 above first, i would do some work in hand, make sure the horse knows the voice aids and goes forward well. Then start again with a rider on board and re-teach the aids. The rider MUST be consistant and not nag. reward even the slightest bit of forward movement. Hack lots in open spaces and with company.

The fact that he hops to canter shows to me he is confused about what you are asking him to do. Physical issues aside it may just be a case of improving communication

 

[saddlesore]

Thanks guys, I'm postive its a communication issue becuase I had everthing checked during our 'sabatical'. Although at 5 perhaps its worth getting his teeth looked at again? Would that make him choppy in trot though (fine out hacking) but fine in walk and canter? He is good with voice aids so I have been trying to use that to help us....... not working though

Perhaps a week of no ridden work in the school is worth a shot and see if he perks up after that, otherwise get the dentist out. What do you think?

 

[Shysmum]

he sounds a bit confused ? As in not really sure what he's supposed to be doing ? I agree with the above, maybe see if someone will lead him gently for you, while you try and use your voice and very gentle aids. Maybe lunging would be a good idea for a while ?

My last horse jibbed badly, but we just stood there till he thought he might as well go forward (or forget his supper), but that was different, he knew damn well what he should be doing !

 

[saddlesore]

He does go forward, just not very quickly and when you try to up the energy and ask him to forwards more freely he throws his shoulder as though he is going to go into canter but never does! Its very strange! I agree that he is confused! He does lunge and he lunges well, but you couldn't have someone lead him as he has huge trust issues with people and doesn't realyly like anyone other than me in his 'space' if that makes sense. it really worries him and I'm trying to get him to relax lol