Ideas for getting rid of energetic TB's energy..without a saddle!

[Cash]

Bit of background: My TB is back into work after a bad back (saddle related and long term tension causing soreness ) AND being lame on left fore (hooning around the field related ). On vet's orders he was on v restricted turnout for ten days, buted up and basically rested (whilst I was away..). Totally sound again when I came back on Monday, so vet okayed him starting work again. Just as well as he has not been enjoying being cooped up!! He has been acting up in hand for the people on my yard looking after him- he needs quite confident handling, he is not aggressive at all but quite spooky, looks for a confident leader, and sometimes forgets his own size I think. Not to mention he is obviously full of energy- before bad back and lameness he was working 6 days a week- hacking, jumping, lots of canter work, dressage etc.

Unfortunately we have until Saturday before the saddler comes out to fit him with a saddle (obviously not going to use the one that made him sore)- very glad they can come out relatively soon though. I basically need ways to get rid of his energy and keep him occupied til then.
I have lunged twice but am cautious of lunging too much for fear of stress on joints etc. Thinking of trying loose jumping today. Any tips for that? (will probably make another post along those lines ). Am not overly keen to ride bareback at the mo, as although I have ridden him bareback before, with his current energy and freshness levels it is very unlikely I would stay on
Have tried teaching him to long rein a couple of times since I got him too but firstly it's a bit blind-leading-the-blind (I've only ever done it with horses very experienced at long reining), and secondly he's definitely a 'follower' horse rather than an alpha male, and would rather walk along behind me instead of in front May get my instructor to pop over and give me a long reining lesson if she can.
Was also thinking I could take him for a walk in hand in hand, but don't think I should go on the roads until he has remembered his manners being led, and unfortunately all our hacking requires at least 10 mins road work first.

Any other ideas? I think with him (and I'd guess a lot of other similar types/breeds) it's almost as much about mental stimulation as physical energy spending- he likes to be 'kept busy' and thinking about things!

Thanks.

 

[cobface]

I feel your pain regarding highly charged TBs!!
Difficult one...........the loose jumping sounds good :GD

 

[TallyHo123]

Walking in hand, turning out, long reining, loose schooling etc?

 

[deicinmerlyn]

Take him in the school in hand and 'wind him down' not up!

People expect TB's to be full of energy and bad mannered and give them loads of work and make them even fitter and stressy.

Use the time in the school making him use his mind, you could use poles, ask him to move around,over, back up etc; get him listening to your voice - all in walk!

 

[kirstyl]

Take him in the school in hand and 'wind him down' not up!

People expect TB's to be full of energy and bad mannered and give them loads of work and make them even fitter and stressy.

Use the time in the school making him use his mind, you could use poles, ask him to move around,over, back up etc; get him listening to your voice - all in walk!

Agree! Lunging should be fine too as long as he's not allowed to just belt about. Work on a small circle in walk and practice walk halt walk transitions. Once he is really concentrating on you then move up to walk trot walk transitions. You can also practice turn on the forehand,turn on the haunches and reinback, all good discipline for when you get on! good luck - Saturday's not far away now

 

[Cash]

Take him in the school in hand and 'wind him down' not up!

People expect TB's to be full of energy and bad mannered and give them loads of work and make them even fitter and stressy.

Use the time in the school making him use his mind, you could use poles, ask him to move around,over, back up etc; get him listening to your voice - all in walk!

Ah, that makes a lot of sense. I guess I have been focusing on trying to work him hard to 'get the energy out' when actually I'm making him fitter/maintaining his fitness!
The work in the school sounds ideal for making him think.
(BTW, must just say- he is normally exceptionally well mannered- backs up, moves over etc on command- but has got a bit out of hand when leading to/from paddock 'box' whilst I've been away)

 

[Cash]

Agree! Lunging should be fine too as long as he's not allowed to just belt about. Work on a small circle in walk and practice walk halt walk transitions. Once he is really concentrating on you then move up to walk trot walk transitions. You can also practice turn on the forehand,turn on the haunches and reinback, all good discipline for when you get on! good luck - Saturday's not far away now

Yes, I work on getting him doing lots of transitions- he is good with walk-trot, trot- canter, canter-trot and trot-walk transitions but isn't great with walk-to halt; I think we need to work quite hard with that. I'm going to try and find someone who'll walk at his head just so I can re-establish that command with someone reiterating at his head.

I'll also have a go at turn on the forehand etc as well. I actually taught him to reinback ridden by doing it in hand first so I could use the voice aid he'd learnt to teach him when on board. Haven't tried much non-lateral dressage other than that, though!

Can't wait to get back on

Thanks everyone.

 

[MrsMozart]

Ditto poles . Put out cones to go round. Put tarpaulin down to walk over. Give him one of the big inflatable balls to 'kick' about.

Lots of walking around. Stopping. Starting. Turning. Backing up.

Play with him

D1 does this with LC (will be doing it more now I suppose). He loves it . Ears pricked, interested, follows, and they just play as well

 

[baymareb]

Take him in the school in hand and 'wind him down' not up!

People expect TB's to be full of energy and bad mannered and give them loads of work and make them even fitter and stressy.

Use the time in the school making him use his mind, you could use poles, ask him to move around,over, back up etc; get him listening to your voice - all in walk!

Totally agree with this. Backing up is great exercise for their back and hindquarters incidentally. Nice way to begin working those muscles back up and into shape.

TB's in my experience love to think and play games. I know mine does. In fact, it's a full time job finding new things to keep her brain occupied!

 

[kirstyl]

Quote: -Yes, I work on getting him doing lots of transitions- he is good with walk-trot, trot- canter, canter-trot and trot-walk transitions but isn't great with walk-to halt; I think we need to work quite hard with that. I'm going to try and find someone who'll walk at his head just so I can re-establish that command with someone reiterating at his head.

If you work him on a small enough circle so you can reach him to tap under tummy with lunge whip if nec, you should find it easier to do your halt transitions. Use your whip at the shoulderor in front of him to keep him out and indicate you want him to halt. And give half halts with lunge line, mine responds very well if I lift the hand holding the line up. Very much about your body language too - be tall and authoritive - shoulders back, stand tall etc!!