Is this just him being a brat or something else?

Does he have a full tummy before you ride him lots of fat horses are actually suffering from malnutrition and need more food not less a hay net or a scoop of chaff before he is ridden may make him more comfortable and more bidable
 
He gets hay in a trickle net and a tub trug full of chopped straw. He always has a handful at least of the chopped straw left in the morning. I know he doesn't particularly like it, but he eats it jut doesn't binge on it :) When he was muzzled he had the trickle net hanging up and one tied into a tub trug and left loose so he has to chase it around. Now hes not muzzled hes not gorging on hay so much, so just has the one net hanging up. He was also getting an handful of non molassed alfa a type stuff and a tiny handful of copra. Hes never without food. He has a complete meltdown if he is! I've ordered some small bales of straw and he can have that pretty much ad lib in my wheelie bin feeder and then a small trickle net of hay. He gets 5kgs of hay and 2kgs of chopped straw at the minute.

Ms.C I've had him since he was 2.5yr old and yes he has had a bad experience in the past sadly :( He went out on loan when he was 4yr old and they rode him in a different saddle that didnt fit, had some sort of incident where they tried to ride him through a XC water jump and he fell over, let him get a worm count of over 1500 and totally soured him of being ridden as he was sore and they just tried to clobber him through it and he shut down completely :(

I've had him back for about 15 months now. Got his physical issues sorted out, go him going very sweetly for a few weeks and then chucked him out on 30 acres with about 14 other horses. He had a ball! Came back into very light work May time. Had all the checks done again and was fine if very ploddy. Then I had all the checks done, again! and sent him off for schooling in June. He found 5th gear and was going brilliantly. Brought him home in July, had him ridden, he was unhappy, had all the checks done, yet again, found the saddle wasn't right, and hes done nothing much since until this last 10 days or so when we have started bringing him back into work.

Hes always had the potential to be a git on the ground, but hes always been stamped on from a great height when he tries it, and as time has gone on he was a very nice young cob. Hes not happy now and I know that, but I think its not happy "I dont WANT to" rahter than any issue. But its hard to be 100% as even my non horsey OH has said tonight how hes different and on edge, nervy almost. It could well be he just needs a bottom smacking and told to get on with it.

I know him inside out normally, and I *think* that after I see his reaction to my very, very competent instructor tomorrow then I will have a clearer idea. There is very definitely an element of knowing I'm not right and pushing his luck, its just that niggle that he does kick off when something isnt right, so is that why hes being such a pig, or is he just being a pig because he can? :lol:
 
Well who would have thought. The problem is me, not him. I'm an idiot and clearly shouldn't be riding unsupervised! My instructor did some ground work with him then rode him. He was foot perfect. I rode him and he was fine. Took him in and out of the school and he said no. Instead of a huge fight breaking out, my instructor got me to 3ie him calmly and properly and he was fine. I'm an idiot!
 
FrankieCob said:
Well who would have thought. The problem is me, not him. I'm an idiot and clearly shouldn't be riding unsupervised! My instructor did some ground work with him then rode him. He was foot perfect. I rode him and he was fine. Took him in and out of the school and he said no. Instead of a huge fight breaking out, my instructor got me to 3ie him calmly and properly and he was fine. I'm an idiot!
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Well, I couldn't possibly comment............
 
FrankieCob said:
Well who would have thought. The problem is me, not him. I'm an idiot and clearly shouldn't be riding unsupervised! My instructor did some ground work with him then rode him. He was foot perfect. I rode him and he was fine. Took him in and out of the school and he said no. Instead of a huge fight breaking out, my instructor got me to 3ie him calmly and properly and he was fine. I'm an idiot!
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You are not an idiot - he's a manipulative 5yo and knows how to play you! You are doing your best by him and don't want to see him ruined and he is making the most of it. Time to get tough and say no to the tantrums!

Well done for riding him through it - if you were an idiot you wouldn't have been able to do that would you? Clearly you are not an idiot - he is a Kevin ;)
 
You are bound to be tense atm, while you are concerned about your own health issues and what the future may hold for you. This is bound to translate into your riding and it is always easier to keep calm and relaxed when someone else is "in charge" and you can pass the responsibility for making decisions on to them. Nothing idiotic about it.
 
EQUIDAE said:
You are not an idiot - he's a manipulative 5yo and knows how to play you! You are doing your best by him and don't want to see him ruined and he is making the most of it.
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Talk about anthropomorphism. Whilst the OP is not an idiot, I have yet to meet a 'manipulative' horse. Some horse's are pretty intelligent, yes. But could they be described as manipulative? Hardly. The OP's horse just doesn't want to go in the school and work. End of. Now this MAY be because he is lazy, or overweight, or in pain, or rider not confident enough, who knows?
 
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Speedyfluff said:
Talk about anthropomorphism. Whilst the OP is not an idiot, I have yet to meet a 'manipulative' horse. Some horse's are pretty intelligent, yes. But could they be described as manipulative? Hardly. The OP's horse just doesn't want to go in the school and work. End of. Now this MAY be because he is lazy, or overweight, or in pain, or rider not confident enough, who knows?
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It was a jokey reply to the OP's jokey post nothing more. Have you ever schooled a youngster from scratch and experienced the terrors that they can turn into at 5? Manipulative, maybe not, but they certainly test boundaries and learn exactly what they can get away with.
 
EQUIDAE said:
F

It was a jokey reply to the OP's jokey post nothing more. Have you ever schooled a youngster from scratch and experienced the terrors that they can turn into at 5? Manipulative, maybe not, but they certainly test boundaries and learn exactly what they can get away with.
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Ah, I see. Didn't realise you were joking. Yes, I have broken in two of my current horses (oldest is 23, and just backed my four year old that I have had since a foal). I have also backed and schooled on four others not belonging to me.
 
Speedyfluff said:
Ah, I see. Didn't realise you were joking. Yes, I have broken in two of my current horses (oldest is 23, and just backed my four year old that I have had since a foal). I have also backed and schooled on four others not belonging to me.
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When your 4 year old turns 5, remember this post ;) winky smily indicating the tongue in cheek response.
 
I'm not sure manipulation is that far off the mark. He is pushing at all the boundaries, all of the time. He also susses out people straight away. He knows the RI isnt to be messed with, so he doesnt bother. He still tried it with me again today, and when he realised it wasnt going to escalate into a fight, but nor was he getting his own way he decided that actually, he probably could go where I asked after all.

I'm glad its me. I used to ride to a reasonable standard, I've just gotten into some bad habits after my accident, and bits of me dont want to work properly, and on top of that I'm weak and tired and my head is filled with cotton wool. So I'm riding badly and not thinking properly. All that I can fix with a bit of time and a lot of work :) I was quite upset about it all earlier, and just felt like an absolute idiot :( But I really am doing the best I can, and he really is an absolute pig some times :D

I'm going to have a couple of lessons a week for the next few weeks and try and work him a lot more in between. And most importantly I'm not going to let him make me try and fight it out with him. If I let it get to that point, then I've already lost.
 
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FrankieCob said:
I'm not sure manipulation is that far off the mark. He is pushing at all the boundaries, all of the time. He also susses out people straight away. He knows the RI isnt to be messed with, so he doesnt bother. He still tried it with me again today, and when he realised it wasnt going to escalate into a fight, but nor was he getting his own way he decided that actually, he probably could go where I asked after all.

I'm glad its me. I used to ride to a reasonable standard, I've just gotten into some bad habits after my accident, and bits of me dont want to work properly, and on top of that I'm weak and tired and my head is filled with cotton wool. So I'm riding badly and not thinking properly. All that I can fix with a bit of time and a lot of work :) I was quite upset about it all earlier, and just felt like an absolute idiot :( But I really am doing the best I can, and he really is an absolute pig some times :D

I'm going to have a couple of lessons a week for the next few weeks and try and work him a lot more in between. And most importantly I'm not going to let him make me try and fight it out with him. If I let it get to that point, then I've already lost.
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You have my sympathy and I can truly empathise. My now 7 year old mare can be trying and will, if you allow her, become less pleasant to deal with. I'm currently recovering from a hip op and have had problems with it for 11 months. Any sign I'm less confident with her and she can be more difficult - shes not dangerous but she is most certainly not forgiving. End of summer I had to give her and her companion a slightly leaner periods as they were porky - my OH poo picked for a few days during this time and she terrorised him by making a nuisance of herself (including rearing in front of him). Took me a good few days to nip that in the bud (I have sussed her to handle at last!)! Riding is a whole different story - one I'll deal with when I get my fit to ride confirmation!
If you're not well and have a baby be good to yourself and don't beat yourself up - everyone is allowed to have off days (him included). Stay safe and get all the help you can.
 
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