idiot TB running backwards down riverbank- what would you do?! HELP

[legaldancer]

To keep it brief(!), I've owned this horse for 4 years, having paid quite a lot for it. He is now 11. It started to become nappy about 6 weeks after getting it. Previous owner wouldn't take it back & denied that it had ever behaved in that way before, & obviously thought I was a complete numpty. Having lost confidence out hacking on it, my friend took it out & was dumped twice. The horse had napped, run backwards into a ditch, got smacked, plunged out, & bronced.
I sent the horse to a schooling/ selling yard & they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They hunted it for a whole season & it never put a foot wrong. I had it back for the summer & loaned him out to a teenage, fairly novice girl who hunted him all season, & again he behaved for the 18 monhs she had him.
He's been back with me since February & I've had help with exercising him from a teenage boy. I don't allow him to take the horse out on his own, so I always accompany him. Everything has been fine until yesterday.
We went out on an organised pleasure ride with teenager riding him. All of a sudden as they began to trot on the horse stopped & planted himself, then ran backwards down the riverbank (twice) & I was amazed that they didn't go over backwards! I was horrified. The boy smacked him & we got him moving again.
Later, queueing for jumps he planted himself again & just wouldn't budge, despite horses coming past him. When he did go he charged off with his head down. This happened every time they stopped after that.
I know the trick is to keep horses like that moving, but how can we snap him out of it?
He's had his back & teeth checked & is fine. He wears a nose net all year round & even hunts in it. But I don't think that was the cause.
I'm so dissappointed at his erratic behaviour, & think I'll cut my losses & sell him cheaply. He's obviously another talented but quirky TB.
Full English Breakfast it you got this far!

 

[MrsMozart]

*wipes last piece of fried bread round plate and sits back, replete* Ta hunny.

No idea as to why he would suddenly do what he did with the teenager, if he's been fine up until now (hacking out etc.). It sounds as though you're not getting much, if any, pleasure from owning this expensive horse, so it sounds like selling would be the way to go. What about Project Horses?

It's like our Little Lad. There are things he's good at and when he's happy he's fine; it's those odd moments when he'll be a complete basket-case without apparent rhyme or reason.

 

[f_s_]

I have no idea either why he would start to do this again.

I presume that you have had all the necessary checks done, teeth, back, saddle etc ( I'll take it that you have)

Anyway, it sounds like you have put a substantial amount of time and money into this horse, over and above the purchase price, and you are not getting the benefit from this, therefore, it would probably be an option to sell and buy something else.

I know this doesn't help with his problem, but, after being through these tricky situations, believe me, life is too short and you should be enjoying your horse.

Good luck, hope you find either a cure, or a new owner for him.

 

[Flame_]

I'd stay away from rivers!

Seriously, maybe finding a hunting home is the way forward.

 

[Cuffey]

Having had a TB which thrived on work--hunting twice a week brilliant, including hacking several miles to meets and back, give him time off and he would nap and spin 100yds down the road.
So yes agree with finding him a home where he will work hard even maybe get someone to try endurance if his feet will stand it.

 

[Fiorano]

Hi. I have a nappy tbx who is clausrophobic (sp?) and agrophobic!! My sympathy is with you there is NOTHING more frustrating than an intermittant nappy horse! I'm still working on it with my boy but I bought June's Horse and Rider yesterday as on the front cover was an article 'Nip the nap' which features a guy in Oxfordshire who specialises in working with nappy, difficult horses. Might be worth a read. Good Luck.

 

[legaldancer]

I think I will sell him as I'm getting no pleasure from him at all. Yesterday was quite like hunting, even the hounds were out, so that's why I found his behaviour odd as he's usually fine in company & out hunting, infact he's very laid back in those circumstances.
Cuffey - you could be right, maybe he needs to be working even harder. I do hunt regularly during winter, but am short of time during the season as I have another sane TB I hunt.
Hope you all liked the brekkie - Roast dinner coming up next!!

 

[chestnut cob]

Was it a ride like a sponsored/fun ride where there are lots of different groups, or everyone in one group like hunting? My IDxTB gets like yours on sponsored rides so I just simply don't take him. He is a fabulous hunter, proper point and go, but can't cope with the atmosphere and the "rules" on a fun ride. Took him to one recently and we spent 6 of the 8 miles sponning round, cantering sideways and on the spot, jogging, throwing his head around, bucking, rearing and running backwards (oh and cantering backwards...I didn't even know horses *could* canter backwards

). He's done a similar thing a couple of times out hacking in the 7 months I've had him - he does it when he's so worked up about something, usually not being allowed to go at the pace he wants to, that he just can't contain himself or calm himself down.

No ideas for how to stop it as not worked out how to stop my horse from doing it either! If you don't get any pleasure from him then sell - it's too expensive a hobby not to enjoy it.

 

[bushbaby28]

Really sounds like your not getting any pleasure from this horse so maybe it really is time to move on. sounds like you've done everything you can to correct his behaviour and sounds like he'll be a great hunter!

Was about to say maybe it was just the excitement/strangeness of the sponsored ride but if he loved hunting then you think he'd cope with a sponsored ride as well.

good luck with it all. must be a hard decision after going through all of this but if hes happier somewhere else, and your happier without all this on your head then theres your answer.

 

[ladyearl]

Sad though it sounds I think cut your losses while you are still ahead. For some reason you haven't gelled with the horse so before he really starts to annoy you/worry you sell him on and find yourself a horse to enjoy.

ps love what you did with the gravy!

 

[legaldancer]

It was a fun ride with the Bloodhounds where everyone was in a big group, so not that different to hunting, just slower & only 2 hours.
If there were any hesitations thats when he started, but I've never seen him do it out hunting. He always stands at the meet & during hunting & isn't the type who jig-jogs etc.
I do think he might have moved forwards quicker with spurs though, but don't think it would prevent it from happening in the first place.
I've seen racehorses do this going down to the start, & usually someone has to lead them. Obviously that doesn't help in my case. Yesterdays antics were pretty dangerous though & luckily nobody was hurt.

 

[Parkranger]

I had a TB who was lovely but just wasn't enjoying what I was doing with him - he's now owned by a teenage girl and out competing most weekends and doesn't put a foot wrong.

I think maybe you need to sell him on and get something a bit easier for you.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Having had a TB which thrived on work--hunting twice a week brilliant, including hacking several miles to meets and back, give him time off and he would nap and spin 100yds down the road.
So yes agree with finding him a home where he will work hard even maybe get someone to try endurance if his feet will stand it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely agree. Sounds like a horse that needs a job.

 

[iffyliffey]

I completely sypathise with you having a nappy tb.
When i satrted riding mine he had a real napping problem, to the point where he wouldnt leave the yard. And when out would suddenly plant himself, then often try to run backwards, spin round and head for home. Luckily though he has slowly improved with calm but firm riding, he now loves going out and will lead without problems, although he will still test the boundaries occasionly.

I think that i have been lucky with mine but it sounds like you are not getting any enjoyment out of this horse, and i would be thinking about whether this horse is worth it or if you would be happier with another?

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

I have a 16.2hh cob that behaves like that

Its only happened a handful of times in the 3 years we have had him. He is also a superb hunter but cant cope with queuing. He locks solid and nothing will move him then he will suddenly explode with no consideration and yes the running backwards is horrible. I have found that the best way to sort it is when he roots to the spot,either i will quickly put him onto a circle, walk or trot but really ask him to work.If not enough space then i hop off, lead him forwards/past the problem, get back on and he is fine. Not the ideal solution but it works for us. Plus he is very good about standing to be mounted.

In fairness, the woman we bought him off DID say it was his one quirk. He is so good in other respects we have been happy to work through it. We have noticed that if we can keep him in full work then it hardly ever happens. Its almost as if he "forgets" what he is doing and panics.