just back from the yard, i feel like a giant failure.

SultanaRama

SultanaRama

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ive just got back from my yard, went up to try a new bit out, it was all going fine, then i had nearly finished and my 11yr old decided to behave like he had never been broken! :confused: when i asked him to halt quater came of the track, ask again spinning around and not stopping?! so i made my hands very light tired to sit very quietly so he could settle again and he would get to corners and try and launch off, was trotting and cantering at the same time....all completely out of character and it started only on one rein and was fine on the other. took him right back to basics didnt ak for him to be on the bit just to walk and stand all the mean while people are around us on their extra well behaved dressage horses.

i just feel like a massive failure, i litterally want to cry. i had to just give up and get off in the end before he threw me off. really shouldn't come back from the yard in a worse mood than you went! any help? :(
 
could the new bit have hurt a part of his mouth? he might needs his teeth doublechecked as it might have been a pain reaction if it was out of character.

sorry you had a bad day, believe me though, all those dressage people have had their bad days too!!
 
It happens to us all....even the very best riders and horses. They have their off days just like we do. I have done just the same as you on many occasion. Sometimes it is better to get off and leave them than carry on getting more and more irritable. You have to know when to pick your battles. If he continues to be a prat then patience will pay dividends in the future.
For tonight just put it down to him having a moody and don't beat yourself up about it.
 
Don't worry. Was on newly backed 4 yr old the other day, just about to finish and then he threw a paddy after being as good as gold. Worked him through it, and ever since he has been fine.
My horse has an internal timer. Is fine for about 45 mins and then make very clear that he wants to play no more when schooling. I have to work him through it otherwise he is gets wise after 10 mins next time.
 
If its any help i too have just come in from the yard and I feel like giving up. I am 50 years old with 2 yearlings, what on earth am i thinking of? I'm too nervous and too old for this.
 
yeah i was thinking this, his teeth arnt due to be done untill july they are always kept on top off, if it carries on ill deffo bring that forward. even afterwards i untacked him and he just seemed to suddenly hate me!

bit of a blow that! :(
 
OP - believe me my 'dressage' horse does a damn good impression of a reining horse when she feels like it, so i feel your pain!

I would check his mouth tbh, dee did this for a while, had mouth checked couldnt find anything, she became worse so got second opinion and turn out she had cracked a tooth and the nerve was being agrevated.
 
yep as always!
Horsesfoever- you are never too old! My mum is 10 years older than you and bought as horse because she always wanted one, and then worried that she had done the wrong thing. Have fun and enjoy them!
 
the reason it might be his mouth is that my lad had the same reaction one day. on closer inspection he had eaten a branch or something and scraped his mouth, he was sore sometimes when the bit hit it. could be something similar for you..
 
You don't say why you changed your bits but if your horse could do 'what he wanted' in the previous bit but then found that you had more 'control' in this new bit it could just be a temper tantrum. Always worth getting teeth checked and also that the new bit wasn't pinching or to tight or even to fat for his mouth.
 
Does he get Mondays off? I ask because Mick does, then on Tuesday he is awful. I call it Terrible Tuesday. I can ride Wednesday and Thursday, same excercise and he is amazing. Then he gets Friday off. Works Sat and Sunday, Monday off, then we are back to Terrible Tuesday.. :D
 
MickeyMoo said:
Does he get Mondays off? I ask because Mick does, then on Tuesday he is awful. I call it Terrible Tuesday. I can ride Wednesday and Thursday, same excercise and he is amazing. Then he gets Friday off. Works Sat and Sunday, Monday off, then we are back to Terrible Tuesday.. :D
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LOL. I'd give him tuesday off as well then and go straight onto wonderful wednesday........
 
carefreegirl said:
You don't say why you changed your bits but if your horse could do 'what he wanted' in the previous bit but then found that you had more 'control' in this new bit it could just be a temper tantrum. Always worth getting teeth checked and also that the new bit wasn't pinching or to tight or even to fat for his mouth.
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i changed my bit because i normally ride in a dutch gag, but need a snaffle type of bit to show in. i swaped to a waterford lose ring and he was fine in it didnt lean on it and then BAM was an all might prat! :confused:

ill try again though, persistance is key?
 
Mmmm, sounds like you might need to take a step back from this. This problem has obviuosly started with the different bit, and also you say he was going one-sided.

Both these things could be symptomatic of pain, somewhere, either in his mouth, or back, or somewhere else.

Personally I'd press the pause button coz your horse is deffo telling you something, and I would suspect pain - somewhere.

I would be inclined to get a physio out to check his back, and while you're at it have the saddle checked as well; plus his teeth. I wouldn't take any chances.

Sorry, all this is gonna cost you money! BUT I do think you need to give your horse a chance and listen to what he's saying to you.

Also: sorry to be brutally honest, but if there's a problem, then slapping a different bit in a horses mouth ain't gonna solve anything - its a matter of finding out what the issue is and then working back from that. But from what you say, he's not in the habit of doing this all the time, this was as a reaction to the bit - and so I think you need to check everything to see what's going on.
 
Waterfords will give a completely different feel to a snaffle and can actually be quite severe. I recently tried mine in one as she got very strong xc. I worked her in the school first to see how she reacted and she was great in walk and trot but in canter was unrideable yet canter is her strongest pace so that went straight back to YO's bit box.

Is there no one near you that is a Bitting expert ? or maybe an instructor that knows you and your horse ?
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Also: sorry to be brutally honest, but if there's a problem, then slapping a different bit in a horses mouth ain't gonna solve anything .
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i didnt change my bit because there as a problem, like i said i need one i can show in, you cant show in a dutch gag. and if im being honest its more likely to be him being a drama queen, becuase he was falling asleep in his stable and i tacked him up and made him do something.

Also i have read alot about the waterford, and there seems to be a real split reaction to them, some people recommend them and some think they are awfull, i dont want to get into all the arguements ive seen about them but i think everyhorse is different and its all trial and error really. so i think ill try him in this again, and then his gag and if hes still being an idiot then call the vet in.

but at the end of the day, hes a chestnut and they are all as bad as each other!
 
aw sorry u had a bad day, I wonder if after having the different bit in his mouth and working to it for a little while it became uncomfortable? hes obviously trying to tell you something if this is out of character.
These things happen tho :( and they happen to everyone.

(sending you caramel chocolate eggs and wine)
 
mattilda said:
It happens to us all....even the very best riders and horses. They have their off days just like we do. I have done just the same as you on many occasion. Sometimes it is better to get off and leave them than carry on getting more and more irritable. You have to know when to pick your battles. If he continues to be a prat then patience will pay dividends in the future.
For tonight just put it down to him having a moody and don't beat yourself up about it.
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^^^ ditto this.
The amount of times i have just got off and 'given in' to my pony. But then it is always better for another day as neither of us hold a grudge with each other (ok, i don't hold the grudge - pony couldn't care!) It does tend to make you feel worse when others seem to have it so easy on their perfectly trained horses. But believe me, they have their bad days to. When you see it happen it does make me smile and thing actually even they are human with 'normal' horses. Good luck for the next ride, hope it works out better.
 
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Why have you gone straight to a waterford though?
Why not try a french link first then a lozenge and then maybe a copper roller and if your still having issues then go for the waterford. (Which is a severe bit without a doubt)

Imagine having a chain in your mouth and then someone moving it and jigglying it. That is what the waterford feels like, it has its place but IMO that place isn't a horses mouth.
 
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