Loss of steering when on board!

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poiuytrewq

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I have hit a problem which is really confusing me. Its all a very long story but this little horse (nicknamed fondly Munchkin!) Had a bad eye and napped seriously (may or may not be related)
Eye was removed in January this year and he was given time off to adjust.
I then started him from scratch like a baby, to try and start afresh and hopefully work through the napping at the same time.
We began long reining and became better and more confident at this. Some days we worked on a circle on transitions, some days we "hacked" along the bridleway, through fields, down the lane and more recently on the roads. We long reined perfect circles, serpentines, practised standing and walking on etc etc all perfect- even on the advice of forum member started a little leg yield- He was quite the little pro!
During this time I have got on board a few times and its horrendous, complete lack of steering/control- feels down right scary!
So I went back to the long reining to confirm what he does already know about steering and stopping etc for a few more weeks thinking maybe he's just not ready.
Last night I long reined him first- fab really well behaved, we followed another spooky horse on a road hack and he was far braver than the "lead horse" ;)
Got home and got my daughter on him thinking he may be happier with me on the floor as he's used to.
Again it was really awful. He just has NO steering what so ever and tries to run through his shoulder.
I just don't understand what's happening here. I cant see why he has such a nice soft mouth when I'm long reining and absolutely nothing as soon as a rider gets on.
I broke him in 3 years ago and we've never had any problem with steering before, he used to hack and jump courses.
He's a very sensitive chap and I have to be careful not to loose his confidence.


Any idea's would be very gratefully received.
 
Do you long rein with saddle or a roller? Could you try long reining with someone on board? - Just to try and work out what the difference is between long reining and when you ride.
 
I rein him in a saddle and ive been wondering that myself.
Im not sure how it would work though as I thread the reins through the stirrups which are secured under neath him with a neck strap.
Would I still thread the reins into the stirrups but not secure them perhaps- would this be safe for the rider?
 
I'm not quite sure how it would work as I have never had to try it, but if you could work out a way it would certainly tell you if it was the aids while you were on board that are causing this, or the riders weight.

I'm not sure how big he is, but perhaps someone small and lightweight would work best. You could then lengthen the stirrups and tie them as you usually would. The riders legs would then not interfere.
 
His balance is totally changed by a rider on his back and everything will feel totally different to him, so much so that he is struggling with the cues you are giving him. Imagine walking down a street on your own, happily turning left and right at will. Then imagine doing the same thig with a heavy rucksack - your momentum will make it much much harder to turn quickly. When you started long reining him, did you have to educate him with well timed releases so that he knew what pressure on one rein or another meant? I would be starting him right back at the beginning under saddle - apply a little pressure and wait for a response before you instantly release. And bear in mind that momentum due to the additonal weight and difference in balance.
 
Thank you JillA Yes I see what you mean I still find it really odd though as he was a good ridden horse previously he is used to carrying weight and steering, would his eye have effected this?
Its not that he just wont turn where you ask but he almost feels like he wants to corkscrew- he really falls in. I will try as you said though for sure, anythings worth a bash! When I first started long reining he was a bit yawpy and didn't listen instantly maybe but in general was how he was before the op.

Cobs galore- he's little, just shy of 15hh. There is only me and my daughter really and I wouldn't trust her long reining with me on board ;) may give it a try the other way round though perhaps, if nothing else it would be really interesting to see how he reacts.
 
One of the girls in Competition has a one eyed horse. I'm not sure if the eye was removed prior to them getting it though. May be worth cross posting this in there??
 
CobsGalore said:
Let us know how you get on :)
Click to expand...


Certainly will. I will try and talk daughter into it today. She was visibly shocked yesterday though- her first time riding him since the operation and she said it felt scary and she had no control, like he'd never been ridden before. So disheartening.
 
amymay said:
One of the girls in Competition has a one eyed horse. I'm not sure if the eye was removed prior to them getting it though. May be worth cross posting this in there??
Click to expand...

Maybe yes, any extra ideas will be useful. Most people with one eyed horses, and there seem to be a lot around opinion is "mines great it jumped 7'8 the day after his operation" (okay I exaggerate but you get my drift!). I shall venture into Competition and divert her attention! Thanks x
 
poiuytrewq said:
Maybe yes, any extra ideas will be useful. Most people with one eyed horses, and there seem to be a lot around opinion is "mines great it jumped 7'8 the day after his operation" (okay I exaggerate but you get my drift!). I shall venture into Competition and divert her attention! Thanks x
Click to expand...

Just sorry I can't remember their name:(
 
Can you long rein him in a roller with the reins through the upper rings and see how his steering is? I'm just thinking that the angle of rein to the stirrup is different than to hands. Hope that makes sense!
 
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TandD said:
which way does he fall in? side with eye or side without eye?
Click to expand...

Both but he's worse on the right rein and its his right eye missing. Right has always been his worse rein even when he was going well.
Its virtually impossible to ride even a huge circle on the right- I mean around the field not a 20m schooling type circle.

I will try and borrow a roller tomorrow at work- good idea :)
 
No joy, Ahena has had a read but her horse has never struggled with one eyedness!

I think I will try the long reining with a rider, Get another back person out, just in case.
Umm, speak to a lady based at the same farm as the yard I work for who breaks horses very well, see if she might even pop down and have a sit on him. Try a roller with higher rings.
And just keep trying I guess....Im tempted to try and hack him along the bridleway, no roads involved and he's chilled along there, tucked in behind my horse and see if he relaxes and there is any difference?

Thank you to all who have tried to advise- I will keep you posted!
 
Hi I have ridden my friends who only has one eye.She had only just been backed when they realised she needed op and her vision was impaired before it was taken out. She is 100% and one of sanest horses I have ever ridden. I have just taken my new horse out with her for hack . Your problems do relate to horse I have just had to let go hardest decision I have made I adored this horse . He had been under vet and back had been looked at twice plus x rays, he had been backed but never 100% successfully .Its just turned out that he has muscle spasms from tension and they only seem to occur when he has been ridden/actually asked to move forward.Backing part was easy but asking him to move forward caused stress and tension relating to spasms.New trainer is working on different options feel free to pm is you want to discuss.:)
 
Cellie, Thanks for your reply. Im 100% this is related to his eye. Over the course of his ridden issues starting he's had vets check him, dentists, saddlers back people and instructors. All agree there is no physical issues (other than the obvious)
Also this particular steering problem happened at the time of the operation.
I know 99.9% of horses handle having one eye perfectly but am assuming not all and we have the one that isn't- Horses react differently to everything.
I have a KS horse who would be in huge pain ridden yet I could chuck a saddle on and hack him out no problem and tbh probably did for years before realising the severity of his problem (unlike several people I know who's horses nearly killed them!) They react so differently to things.
I am going to get the basic checks done again as this is a newer development! Im going to try a new back person as my much trusted one has moved away and a new saddler- just in case!
Ont thing I did think about last night is that I also removed his noseband to restart him (flash) as im not keen on them but maybe this is contributing? I may put one back on or a drop and see how that effects him.
 
have you tried short reining him? as you have done so well with long reins and this is possibly a bit nearer the sensation of how reins work when there is a rider? Though guess its not that easy with a 15hh! Hope it works out for you all.
 
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