welshcobmad
Well-Known Member
I got my new horse about 3 weeks ago, he’s a 17.2hh TB & we’re getting on fab. Through digging around & hunting down old owners, I’ve learnt in the past he’s been used mostly for showing in lightweight hunter classes competed very successfully at HOYS & even won at the Royal Windsor & Supreme Champ county level. That was about 3yrs ago now, he developed a small splint & had a roaring issue so that was the end of that – he had his larynx lasered, successfully in the way that his performance is absolutely fine, but the noise is still there. So he was being wasted in the field really & was sold on at a low price with good intentions so he wasn’t left doing nothing. Long story short I bought him in a bit of a state from his 2nd owner in 3yrs with very overgrown feet (he lost all 4 shoes in the first week I had him just in the field whilst waiting for my farrier to come up) & he rather resembled a glorified hat rack. The spillers feed lady came out to our yard 2 days after I bought him & he weighed in at 599kg – should be pushing 650kg at least 
He had a week to settle in on just good grass & the last 3 or 4 days been put on Winergy Condition & pink powder, I’ve been hacking him out almost daily since then just getting used to each other etc, yesterday we had our first proper go at flatwork/jumping in the paddock on the yard (waiting for the school to go in at the mo) & his flatwork is to die for, extremely well schooled, fab brakes very light & responsive & even tried to do a flying change (very very rusty as that’s probably the first time in 3yrs for him but he tried). I’ve bought him as an all rounder really to do bits of everything on from showing & hacking to fun rides & xc – nothing serious though.
Last night after warming him up on the flat we put a pole out, he trotted up then cantered over it, fine. Did it maybe twice more then put up a very very small cross pole literally fetlock height & as he turned to it he started bunny hopping & threatening to buck as if napping from it, then tried again a few times & he just ground to a halt just as I was going to think about turning for it.
The original owner said he can go around a 3ft course fine but in what fashion I don’t know & the girl I bought him off hunted him. So I’m assuming he’s either been bullied around & held, or pushed into it without really knowing what to do. If you catch him unaware & turn him off a circle to it with not much of an approach he pops it quite happily, it’s the turn onto a decent straight approach he gets really funny with & if he does manage it he rushes. We tried going back to flatwork after that but it had got him all stressy & he wouldn’t relax again. He could have been tired after the flatwork, he’s still lacking muscle obviously so that’s another point but still for something that’s up to his fetlock there isn’t really much excuse for kicking off at the scale which he did. Only wanted to trot it once or twice then leave it there.
He’s a bit of a miserable horse really, hates being handled in the stable, being stabled (weaves slightly), hates being tied up & brushed, rugging up & his saddle going on but its literally just the putting on the back, girth doesn’t bother him – apparently he’s always been like this & he soured towards most of it from the showing & being stabled for days on end.
As he’s so big we think it’s a matter of his saddle being dragged off & chucked up onto his back in a hurry plus he’s high withered & has a white mark on the highest point where rugs would sit & dig in. His saddle sores have gone & he’s loads better already with me - making a point of lifting his saddle on & off plus rugging with a quilted vest over his wither makes a huge difference he’s not lifting a back leg anymore, with the saddling he’s still doing faces but not snapping at me or leg going up. So we think he’s rather precious of his wither & rightly so, rather than it being a proper back issue & he’s just so in the habit of pulling faces it’ll take a lot to stop, but we will see. Plus he loves living out 24/7 now so appreciates the stable more when he’s popped in for 5.
But regardless, first on my list obviously is back & teeth check, he’s been with me 3 weeks & had his feet done & restarted his jabs so picking through slowly.
I personally think he’s never been taught to jump properly & has been just pushed at with someone assuming just because of his size he must be able to do it, so he’s worrying hence the behaviour by either stopping point blank & panicking or rushing it – the flat work as I said was spot on.
So. Obviously get he above looked at so make sure there is no back issues. Then my plan is lots of muscle building & fittening work including on the lunge in a pessoa, get his flatwork tuned right back up & to get him enjoying himself with hacking, some local riding club showing shows, dressage & fun rides – no pressure or poles in sight unless he follows over a log or something on a fun ride willingly. Then start with pole work on the lunge & loose jumping so he can suss it out for himself, the slowly I’ll start riding him over the poles & go from there
Hopefully he will start to learn its something to be enjoyed & start taking it in his stride.
Does this sound like I’m thinking along the right lines?
Will try getting some pics & a video up later
He had a week to settle in on just good grass & the last 3 or 4 days been put on Winergy Condition & pink powder, I’ve been hacking him out almost daily since then just getting used to each other etc, yesterday we had our first proper go at flatwork/jumping in the paddock on the yard (waiting for the school to go in at the mo) & his flatwork is to die for, extremely well schooled, fab brakes very light & responsive & even tried to do a flying change (very very rusty as that’s probably the first time in 3yrs for him but he tried). I’ve bought him as an all rounder really to do bits of everything on from showing & hacking to fun rides & xc – nothing serious though.
Last night after warming him up on the flat we put a pole out, he trotted up then cantered over it, fine. Did it maybe twice more then put up a very very small cross pole literally fetlock height & as he turned to it he started bunny hopping & threatening to buck as if napping from it, then tried again a few times & he just ground to a halt just as I was going to think about turning for it.
The original owner said he can go around a 3ft course fine but in what fashion I don’t know & the girl I bought him off hunted him. So I’m assuming he’s either been bullied around & held, or pushed into it without really knowing what to do. If you catch him unaware & turn him off a circle to it with not much of an approach he pops it quite happily, it’s the turn onto a decent straight approach he gets really funny with & if he does manage it he rushes. We tried going back to flatwork after that but it had got him all stressy & he wouldn’t relax again. He could have been tired after the flatwork, he’s still lacking muscle obviously so that’s another point but still for something that’s up to his fetlock there isn’t really much excuse for kicking off at the scale which he did. Only wanted to trot it once or twice then leave it there.
He’s a bit of a miserable horse really, hates being handled in the stable, being stabled (weaves slightly), hates being tied up & brushed, rugging up & his saddle going on but its literally just the putting on the back, girth doesn’t bother him – apparently he’s always been like this & he soured towards most of it from the showing & being stabled for days on end.
As he’s so big we think it’s a matter of his saddle being dragged off & chucked up onto his back in a hurry plus he’s high withered & has a white mark on the highest point where rugs would sit & dig in. His saddle sores have gone & he’s loads better already with me - making a point of lifting his saddle on & off plus rugging with a quilted vest over his wither makes a huge difference he’s not lifting a back leg anymore, with the saddling he’s still doing faces but not snapping at me or leg going up. So we think he’s rather precious of his wither & rightly so, rather than it being a proper back issue & he’s just so in the habit of pulling faces it’ll take a lot to stop, but we will see. Plus he loves living out 24/7 now so appreciates the stable more when he’s popped in for 5.
But regardless, first on my list obviously is back & teeth check, he’s been with me 3 weeks & had his feet done & restarted his jabs so picking through slowly.
I personally think he’s never been taught to jump properly & has been just pushed at with someone assuming just because of his size he must be able to do it, so he’s worrying hence the behaviour by either stopping point blank & panicking or rushing it – the flat work as I said was spot on.
So. Obviously get he above looked at so make sure there is no back issues. Then my plan is lots of muscle building & fittening work including on the lunge in a pessoa, get his flatwork tuned right back up & to get him enjoying himself with hacking, some local riding club showing shows, dressage & fun rides – no pressure or poles in sight unless he follows over a log or something on a fun ride willingly. Then start with pole work on the lunge & loose jumping so he can suss it out for himself, the slowly I’ll start riding him over the poles & go from there
Hopefully he will start to learn its something to be enjoyed & start taking it in his stride.Does this sound like I’m thinking along the right lines?
Will try getting some pics & a video up later
