I think I might be about to give up on my horse!

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clairel

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It has been a long time since I have posted much on here, but I do know there are a huge amount of sensible, and knowledgeable people on this forum so am hoping to get some help or support. Please bear with me if this is a little long-winded.

If I can give a brief history for those who don't know. Finn is a 6yr old ISH who was broken in January last year and I have owned him ever since.
He has always been a little quirky and suffered terribly from anxiety away from home. We have been able to work through this and he is quite content now to travel and compete.
He finds the work very easy and has a great work ethic.

So the problem I am having is that he plants. It is not napping in the conventional sense, were he is reluctant to leave other horses, but arises when you ask him to do things which seem entirely normal to us.
As an example, I had him at a local combined training yesterday doing a prelim dressage and jumping 80cm. Things started well when he walked through the yard and into the school without too much hassle. Did dressage test nicely scored 82%. I changed into jumping gear took him into same school to warm up and he refused to leave it. Ran backwards and wouldn't follow a lead. I got off and led him out.
Was led into arena (this is standard practice for him) and he jumped beautifully up to number 6 which involved jumping a fence and running up a slope. He stopped dead from canter 2 strides out and reversed, managed to get him up slope being led and then he jumped it and rest of course clear.
This happens at gaps in hedges, lane ways, pieces of funny coloured ground and now it appears, slopes as well!

I feel like we have tried everything from being nice and leading him past scary stuff, trying to force the matter and ignoring him and going a different way and nothing is helping.
When he gets into this backward frame of mind he then refuses to walk anywhere without being led even back to the horsebox.

I really don't know how to handle him any more and nothing seems fun. How can you come away from a competition scoring 82% and jumping really well but feeling deflated?

Anyone had similar experiences or any words of wisdom before I give up and flog him to someone who wants a pretty horse to look at in the field?!
 
My first thought would be eyesight, have you had it checked recently, the behaviour sounds as if something out of the ordinary for him sets it off rather than just being a "difficult" horse although it could still be lack of confidence it seems very strange how it presents inconsistently yet there possibly is a link in the way you have written it down, going up a slope that feels different, patches on the ground, not following a lead only trusting you on the ground etc.
 
be positive said:
My first thought would be eyesight, have you had it checked recently, the behaviour sounds as if something out of the ordinary for him sets it off rather than just being a "difficult" horse although it could still be lack of confidence it seems very strange how it presents inconsistently yet there possibly is a link in the way you have written it down, going up a slope that feels different, patches on the ground, not following a lead only trusting you on the ground etc.
Click to expand...

Was just about to post something very similar then saw this!! Maybe having a full work up by the vet might be a good idea to dismiss pain then you can see what youve got

Hope you find a good solution :)
 
Me three. I used to livery with a lady who had a pony that behaved similarly to your description. It was his eyesight that caused the problem, so it's definitely worth checking out.
 
Hadn't thought of eyesight, will definitely have this checked out. Might poor eyesight present itself in his ground work as well? He will not tie up, pulling backwards and breaking ropes etc and will go backwards if you are grooming or working with him also.

I have had the usual teeth, back and saddle checks done and only discovery was tmj pain.

I am reluctant to try the pro rider route although that is our next step. I feel he may regress back to his old habits when I get back on board. I had also considered sending him hunting to try and get him thinking forward.
 
clairel said:
Hadn't thought of eyesight, will definitely have this checked out. Might poor eyesight present itself in his ground work as well? He will not tie up, pulling backwards and breaking ropes etc and will go backwards if you are grooming or working with him also.

I have had the usual teeth, back and saddle checks done and only discovery was tmj pain.

I am reluctant to try the pro rider route although that is our next step. I feel he may regress back to his old habits when I get back on board. I had also considered sending him hunting to try and get him thinking forward.
Click to expand...

It could well be that he needs to see you and if his sight is limited it could be that he cannot see behind him when you are working or grooming so tries to come backwards in order to do so, he sounds like a talented horse I hope you can find out what is wrong and that you can work with it.
 
What was done up address the TMJ pain and has he had a work up, not just 'the usual checks'?

It's obviously your call re getting someone else on him but, I have to say, I don't think you're looking at it right way. Why do you get a veterinary professional when your horse has a suspected health issue? To access their extended knowledge and experience to.help you diagnose and then address the problem. A good professional trainer should fill a similar role, to help you identify the root cause the problem and then develop a plan to solve or manage it. There is the added benefit of being able to help the horse learn, of course, but otherwise a good instructor/pro is just another member of your support system
 
I am watching this thread with interest, I have a young ISH who plants, but generally only at ditches, water complex (fine in flooded fields woods etc), or anything slightly not looking like a conventional jump. Happy to carry on, will not budge from the spot, rears in anxiety......but happily lead teenage horses past a trailer with a boat on that was clearly monstrous to the others, none of it makes sense.

Once vet has ruled out anything, if you have to revert a calmer...try Feedmark Steady Up. My other horse was a notorius napper, this worked for him after 6 weeks use, he was that bad he wouldnt leave the start gates, wouldn't carry on past warm up or sight of other horses, he planted, and no amount of persuasion, groundwork, etc etc worked for him, this supplement actually got him out of the start gates and round a few courses solo!
 
TarrSteps said:
What was done up address the TMJ pain and has he had a work up, not just 'the usual checks'?

It's obviously your call re getting someone else on him but, I have to say, I don't think you're looking at it right way. Why do you get a veterinary professional when your horse has a suspected health issue? To access their extended knowledge and experience to.help you diagnose and then address the problem. A good professional trainer should fill a similar role, to help you identify the root cause the problem and then develop a plan to solve or manage it. There is the added benefit of being able to help the horse learn, of course, but otherwise a good instructor/pro is just another member of your support system
Click to expand...

No, not had a work up done, but have just made an appointment with my vet for this week. The TMJ pain has been managed by both my chiropractor and myself, although I am aware that there are a lot of issues relating and resulting in pain in this area such as headaches and tension. I admit that I do not know as much about this area as I should.

You are right about the pro rider, when you put it that way it would be silly not to consider it. I have had a few professional people helping on the ground with mixed opinions, but if vet checks come back clear I will certainly look for recommendations of riders in NI.
 
I agree about having eyesight checked. If all ok I would probably go down the route of an equine behaviourist to try & understand his anxieties if it were my horse. Would seem a shame to give up as he sounds like a very good horse.
 
Sounds like you've got a plan in play. :) It's possible you may not like the answers you get but I'm always of the opinion if you're at the point of considering not continuing you might as well have all the info.

Re vet work and riding, don't be afraid to use them in concert. I've certainly had conversations with owners and vets where what I've brought to the party is a good body of knowledge about what broken horses feel like and separate knowledge about what is possible or not with riding. More than once I've been able to say with some certainly a misbehaviour is not 'the rider's fault' even if I've been able to produce a better result, and convinced a vet to keep digging. Other times I've been able to say 'Yo, horse! Smarten up!' even if there is some physical issue. It's not always - even usually - so cut and dried to say it's ONLY riding or a physical issue. Far more often a multipronged approach to a solution is most effective. (Not to mention it can be a massive relief to hear, 'It's not you, it's him.' Even better 'And working together we can improve the situation.'
 
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