Lost Nerve vs Horse Behaviour is there a chink of light - Long post

Flibble

Flibble

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Please read to the end I know some of you cant wait to read half a paragraph and then respond Ta muchly.
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OK some of you may know that my horse is lovely but he is big and he is 6.

When he bucks they are big I cant sit them and come off and I am actually having staying on lessons on how to sit a buck. He has only done it on four maybe five occasions in 17 months but it scares the pants off me.

Every time I pack my nervous nellie knickers away in the closet they have to come back out again.

The big thing besides the bucks is 'Excitability' from time to time something will set him off when he is being led and he frightens me as I have not had a horse like this before he will either do a little rear or he will raise his head nostrils flared do a big fire-breathing dragon snort and prance with his tail well elevated.
I deal with it but have an overwhelming desire to let go and leg it.

OK so Last Saturday I got walloped off big time and have spent a very depressed week. It was my fault because I saw the warning signs and chose to ignore them.

Over Christmas I have reduced his feed and made sure I spent as much time as possible pandering to his ego.

My breakthrough - I think - he hasnt been ridden for two days but has had some wonderful playtime with four equine pals so today I lunged for 20 minutes before I rode - just in case.

A horse at the other end of the arena went ballistic so the lad did his Flame throwing dragon impression and got ready to give ballistic big time - I stood there and said very firmly NO! and gave a quick jerk on the lunge line and he went immediatly from prancing snorting man to lungeing schoolmaster poppet this means he listened to me and I got his attention doesnt it?

OK finished thanks for reading.
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You're doing well lass
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When leading, try using a pressure halter rather than a normal head collar. I use one on the Dizzy one - if I didn't she'd be giraffe head and off across three counties
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I take it you've had the usual checks re. back/tack/teeth
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How about trying a daisy chain on him for a while? f he can't get his head down, he can't buck
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Hugs hun.
 
He is only a 6 year old and they can be scary. Plus he is big so when he sticks his head up he will be much much bigger than you. Mine is a stonking big wb with way too much attitude , and here is the bad news, he is 15!!
Be firm and fair but at the end of the day if he is ruining yor confidence he may not be the horse for you.
You don't say how long you have had him. It may be you are still getting to know each other. It took me the best part of a year with mine.
 
I have had him 17 months and yes when he does fire breathing dragon he is huge.

I am not a quitter and he is so good the rest of the time if I can just get control during the snorty times I'll be fine.

Erm MrsM whats a Daisy Chain - Lordy that sounds a thick question!!
 
Well done for sticking with it. Hes only a baby and if I were you I would knock off all the hard feed as he obviously doesnt need it for energy levels. You will find that lunging is a good way to bond with him and he will get to know your commands and hopefully work from your voice when your on board in due course. I had a mare that was only 5 and she was like this for a time, a case of a teenage "Kevin" I think. She grew out of it as she matured and hes probably testing you. As long as your wearing everything to protect yourself keep doing everything that you can to assert your authority.

Some tiring out hacking work may help with plenty of hills thrown in may help too.

Good luck with it!
 
It sounds like you are doing the right things, does sound like he is testing your confidence for sure, but keep at it, its tough but hopefully he will become less prancing,snorting dragon and more quiet lamb, every owners dream
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I second a pressure halter, am considering one for my old mare who seems to be regressing!! She was better as a 6yr old than her 9yrs now!
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i would just keep him on ad lib good hay and work him really hard, to the point that you start to over discipline him. lead him then make him halt and wait. etc. lunge him and make him behave. ride him and do lots of walk trot walk halt etc. and insist he does it firmly. do not pander to his ego its big enough by the sound of it. make sure he stands like a rock to be groomed rugs feet etc. put him in his place at the first movement. once you have done this for 6 weeks then you can start to lighten up on him, as he should be respecting you. dont worry if he drops a little weight from no hard feed as long as he is being polite and mannerly. once you have manners and respect you can start giving him some alpha a and maybe some blue chip. by spring he should be happy, adjusted and ready to do all that you ask from him. also a few lessons would be great for your confidence and his manners and attitude. Good luck!
 
I must be honest here in the 17 months I have had him he has come on in leaps and bounds excuse the pun.

He was a nightmare in his stable and is such a gent now I could sit cross legged with him and drink tea out of a china cup. The bucking and the snorty dragon are the last two issues on my current EEARGH why did I but a big young horse list.
Old memories are a funny thing I had a 6 year old mare years ago who was silly until she was 8 and my lad I had at 4 was silly until he was 6. OOPs maybe it takes me 2 years and I had forgotten.
 
Hi Flibble - I am in exactly the same position as you and I REALLY don't have all the answers. But from what you say you are doing better than me - so well done - don't give up
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I have been told several things which helped and they are ...

- if he starts to play up then pick up one rein only and keep turning him - when he calms ride him out from the turn in any direction you can and keep going.
- Resist grabbing both reins (I know it is tricky!) because he is much more likely to get a decent balanced buck in and unseat you if you get hold of the front end.
- get him out hacking - lots of miles with company - just chilling. Include long trots and canters where you can but keep it calm and let him look about and take in as much as he is able.
- I would tend to avoid gadgets if you can as they can make the stress levels rise?

Oh and please report back on your progress
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Good luck
 
My trainer who is brilliant says that if I get my position more secure I can teach him the buck is an inappropriate reaction and he will start to let me tell him how to 'panic' ie Mum should I run.

Every time I have been bucked off he has always come back to look for me and blown up my nose to check me out.
 
Sounds exactly like my lad! His speciality is rearind when led and flybucking like mad! 99% of the time he is an absolute gem now (mind you, it took a couple os years to get there) but every now and then, the monster comes back. I have give up on leading him and personally I rather ride back from field bareback (if I can get on, he is 17.2) but if he must be led it is in a bridle, always! And with the flybucks, the secret is to kick him on quite harsh if we are out - even shouting - and if we are in the school and I can feel it coming then just put his mind back to work with some more complicated exercises... The good old smaller circle or changes of direction and pace always work a trick. And if he is really scared and not just playing up - a good old scratch on the withers seems to settle him more than anything ... Anyway, good look with your man. Big horses are big fun ;-)
 
I think he sounds like a fantastic horse and you just haven't fully got to grips with this bit of him. Mine had a rearing blip, a 'nap' which was homeward bound, rather than a refusal to leave. Not allowed to go back as fast as he wanted, he would rear. Took me ages and much screwing up of courage to get hold of him and make contact with the bit of brain responsible for remembering exactly who is in charge. I analysed the problem - deep insecurity on his part which still does surface occasionally - and bossed him in a way which took the worry from him. I can now settle him before he starts and it's only posts like yours which remind me of the traumas we used to have.

It's getting control of the natural instincts - his and yours - and coming out of it intact. You'll do it. You love him and have already come great ways. You are nearly there, don't give up now!
 
The leading him is 300% better than it was. The big issue is every now and again something in the distance always at roughly the same point on the compass but could happen anywhere on the yard is like putting a firelighter up his arse. Not sure if it is animal smell, mobile phone mast or motorway junction flyover.
 
Re the leading issue - I have a similar problem with my new mare. 16.3hh and I'm 5'4". The Monty Roberts pressure halter is a godsend. No more lifting me up / rearing / spokking / bloshing/ etc, just calm, head by my elboe, leading.
 
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