My new horse- he is a bit odd, any ideas of how to help him?

charlie76

charlie76

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I bought a new horse last week. He is a 10 yr old 16hh Hanovarian Gelding. He came from the stud where a very well known dressage horse came from and was kept entire until 3 yrs ago and imported to the UK as a 6 yr old.
He is a very sweet horse but I am having a few concerns about him. Firstly, he is very introverted in the stable. He doesn't come over to you, not even for feed and when he is in the stable its like he is on another planet, he has no 'sparkle' in his eye. Its very sad.
When you are dealing with him he won't look at you.

Ridden wise he is ok but when you first get on him he is very backward thinking and I have to really chase him forward for the first 5 minutes otherwise he won;t go. If I kick him, nothing, if I tap him with the stick he ignores it or bucks. The all of a sudden its like a lights switched on and he goes!
I have tried hacking him but he is still reluctant to 'enjoy himself' even out hacking.
He is the same on the lunge.

I know before I had him he was a little overpowering for his owner and he didn't get turn out ( he is now) or hack. I get the feeling he was allowed to be a bit nappy too.
I also feel that he has been ridden in an underpowered fashion and its blocked his natural paces and forwardness.
Even more strange, he seems to find it difficult to find his balance in rising trot , he almost feels unlevel, if I sit he feels totally differant.


when I took him on I was told that no one can touch him when he has a rider on but he has been fine with that, he was also supposed to be difficult to mount but again no problems.


Any suggestions to un lock him and his mind?
 
Sounds to me like he needs to enjoy working and being around humans again.

If it were i would be doing a lot of hacking letting him stretch find his feet and just enjoy it before starting to ask for harder work.
I would also be doing a lot of groundwork showing him that humans can be fun afterall and often come with tasty things to eat =)

My boy was very similar when i first got him and just letting him realise everything could be fun worked a treat.
Good luck with him
 
This sounds odd, but would you call him "machine faced"?

This is a term I have heard used to describe some Icelandic horses when they have no spark, can't look at you and generally are existing rather than living.

Does that make sense?
 
He's still very new to you, I would give him time as it sounds like there are alot of changes going on for him (sounds like for the better!). If you can just do jobs around him, spend time just petting him and getting him used to your voice (and that you can be trusted in a confined space like when in the stable). If turn out is new to him, are there horses in surrounding fields so he isn't alone? Sounds like he is also needing to get used to a different way of riding, it will take him a while to get used to it. I would have thought that a straightforward understanding but not fussy approach with 'fun' stuff like nice grooms and hacking, perhaps popping a little jump etc should help him come out of his shell, get to trust and know you, and settle in.
Sounds like he has landed on his feet, should be so rewarding when he starts to chill out!
(um, and pics?!!)
 
It could just be that the changes to his life are affecting him at the moment, give him time to form a bond with you and I'm sure he'll get that sparkle back again.

In the meantime letting him know that life is enjoyable with some pleasant hacks, plenty of turnout, groundwork etc is all you can do really, along with spending time grooming and getting to know each other. I think sometimes we can underestimate how hard moves can be for a horse, they have to get used to a new handler rider, new hacking routes, new stables and fields and new horses to establish pecking orders with. For a sensitive horse it must be very difficult.
 
I would try getting him out with others in the field (sounds like you're turning him out so that's a good start), and getting him out in an open field with others for a good race (would help him learn to be more forwards of his own volition) and maybe just give him time. Ron was a bit like this to start with and he's now almost (but only almost) affectionate with me.
 
BobbyMondeo said:
Sounds to me like he needs to enjoy working and being around humans again.

If it were i would be doing a lot of hacking letting him stretch find his feet and just enjoy it before starting to ask for harder work.
I would also be doing a lot of groundwork showing him that humans can be fun afterall and often come with tasty things to eat =)

My boy was very similar when i first got him and just letting him realise everything could be fun worked a treat.
Good luck with him
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This^^^

My horse was exactly the same when I bought him, seemed rather aloof and lacking a personality.

I tried turning him out as much as possible in company (24/7 in my case) lots of hacking and praising him as much as possible. I realised he was just lacking in confidence really.

He is now the most fantastic 'person' who is easy going but definitely has a 'sparkle'. Don't worry too much about it, you have only had him a week!
 
I wonder how much of this is due to his time as a stallion? I'm thinking little or no turnout and people handling him badly - either frightened of him or over dominating him? I'm sure with plenty of turnout and sensible handling he'll be a different horse. Oh, and ditto lots of hacking. Presumably you had him vetted? Best of luck with him anyway, he sounds like a poppet!
 
I can't really help but I remember there was a thread on here a little while ago about a horse that was put onto a oil based diet for similar reasons (I think) and it worked a treat - maybe a change of diet would help?
 
You need to give him time, time and more time. He will probably have come from a completely different regime than the one you have him in now - and is probably totally shell shocked.

Take him out hacking with a friend, let him relax, chill and enjoy things (even if he has to learn to do these things).

You've only had him two minutes. Give it time (I'm talking months).
 
Sounds as if he is well and truely fed up.

Have you got time to let him be him? By that i mean dont school/compete/expect anything of him?

Try ansd just hack about, bumble around and allow him to enjoy you and more importantly, life in general?
 
It does sound like he has just completely switched off.

Have seen this with a couple of SJ'ers - they have been completely robotized by routine and never having much fun and it's been too much for them so they've zoned out.

Time should bring him round - that and doing lots of different things and things to make him think - have you tried putting toys in the stable - stable mirror? Anything to just get his interest a little will help him to come out of himself.

If he has mainly been ridden in sitting trot that may explain why he feels odd when you go rising trot - not having the weight from sitting trot may make him a little unbalanced - the more rising trot you do the better he should get.

Poor lad sounds as if he's not had the best of times to be so turned off - good luck with him and hope you bring him round.
 
Frances144 said:
This sounds odd, but would you call him "machine faced"?

This is a term I have heard used to describe some Icelandic horses when they have no spark, can't look at you and generally are existing rather than living.

Does that make sense?
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I've never heard that term before. Sounds very like my mare when I first got her, just no expression or reaction to you at all. In the stable or field she had no interest to see what you were up to or normal horsey noseyness! Even treats were eaten, but no change in her at all. A year on now and she is the huggest horse ever! She will always follow you around the field just by your elbow, stand and watch you poo pick (and sniff around you every now and again to check you aren't pinching food out of her field!), little nickers every now and again, even if you walk up the end of the school near to her field she chatters to you! - no food around as she doesn't get alot of treats! She is a total softy and def a mummys girl now!
If your chap is like that then try not to worry, given time I'm sure he will get to know you and relax!
 
He was the same with his last owner- I think its how he was 'handled' in Germany as a stallion- not allowed to be a horse and under a strict routine. I don;t think its a change of home.

I am giving him daily turn out,
He just seems fed up and worried to express himself.
If I ride him in a field and let him go he doesn't know how to react.
 
To be honest, sounds like bit of a sad situation! And sounds like he is a bit dead to the world!!! What do you think, emotional? Or physical?

I would hack out (on the longest rein you can get away with) and literally spend as long as it takes (a good few months min) having some fun and getting to know him and getting him loosened up and thinking forwards and enjoying work again (maybe even boxing to new places etc)
Groom as you are now and spend some time with him... He will soon unwind and relax and come into his own I am sure...

How does he react in the field?? you say he was kept in before, so he may need some time adjusting to a new routine and thankgod for that to be honest! Sounds like a lucky horse now.xxx
 
Time, patience and no pressure?

He sounds as if he is totally switched off to me.
Possibly a busy yard, busy staff without time, or inclination, to spend a little one to one time with the horses?

I have a mare that came from a Training yard, she lived in a dark 10' x 10' stall apart from when she went into the arena to be worked, and I mean, worked. Trainer insisted on perfect manners and push button performance, if a horse didn't do something right it would repeat the procedure until it did.
I do hasten to add that I absolutely never saw any evidence of abuse, the horses were all well managed and not scared of people. She was completely dull, no light in her eyes, no animation, no personality, no inclination to have anything to do with me, an automaton - it took about a year before she realised that she could actually dare to do something of her own volition and I wasn't going to correct her.
 
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charlie76 said:
He was the same with his last owner- I think its how he was 'handled' in Germany as a stallion- not allowed to be a horse and under a strict routine. I don;t think its a change of home.

I am giving him daily turn out,
He just seems fed up and worried to express himself.
If I ride him in a field and let him go he doesn't know how to react.
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Deffinately sounds to me like he just needs to learn to have fun be a horse again almost. Just let him have a nice relaxing summer, doing fun things.
That and lots of grooming sessions and one on one time with you he will be a different horse in a few months.
 
Sounds to me that because he was kept in 24/7, he just switched off in his stable

Depression springs to mind!
He has moved from his buddies, he has a strange new routine and everytime you stable him he probably thinks "great, shut in for another week, may aswell switch off"

He obviously lacks confidence aswell. As others have said, put him out in the field as much as you can. I would just hack, get his natural paces back, go different places and built a relationship with him.
 
jenhunt said:
that would be my next suggestion, i'd just be reluctant to do that with a new horse as you need to start to form a bit of a bond first IMO.
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I definately wouldn't turn him away. Part of his problem will probably be that he's never been a 1 person horse before - and needs to learn what it's all about.

I don't imagine it's 'work' that's a problem, just his lack of interraction. And that can only be remedied by interracting daily and in a meaningful way.
 
Turning away isn;t an option however he is out during the day and in at night. He just seems sad. But then on the other hand, when I ride him in the school he has a bit of an attitude at first as described, he tries to not go at all which shows he can think for himself some times. It took me 10 laps of the school to get a trot out of him a few days ago then all of a sudden, he wakes up and he is off! I don;t want to be on his case all of the time.
 
Have you had any blood tests done on him?

My vet went down that route when my pony appeared to be depressed. He looked into liver function and anaemia as far as I can remember.

Mine ended up being down for about 18 months and we think he was affected by moving location with me, leaving a yard that he had been on for 11 years.
 
Maybe try doing something completly random and new that he probably hasnt done before and could be fun for him whilst helping to create a bond.
Might catch his attention - i dont know what though! Maybe Some fun ground schooling or a like a handy pony course - over tauplin, open gates, round poles, gymkana games? All abit silly really but might help him forget himself abit and think for himself. Nothing under pressure though - jump him in hand, teach him a trick like to bow, ride bareback - I dont know!
Whats he like on hacks with others? Might get him thinking forward if you could hack out with a jiggy fast walking type and indulge in a few races!
Sorry if this is completely stupid!!
 
A lot of things may be going on here. Difficult to say without meeting you both.

But my two penn'orth fwiw.

I think he has been used as a horse and a horse alone. Ridden and covered and been a horse first and foremost. As a stallion he may have been kept on his own for a long time and during his formative years, so may not actually find it very easy to speak "horse". What is he like with the other horses in his field? Does he interact in the herd environment or take himself off because they tell him to?

With you, you say he is not interested in interaction in his stable or ridden really.

Maybe he has never been asked to interact with anyone particularly. Some horses are naturally aloof but tbh your description sounds like a horse that has not bonded with anyone or any other horse at your yard or maybe at the previous one.

You say he cannot be turned away, ok so what about doing something different from regular going round in circles in a school. What is he like to hack? When does he come alive? When does he shine when you say thank you? What floats his boat?

I think you have to bring the fun back into his life. You have to find out what makes him tick. It could be the smallest thing but it is up to you to look for it because he sounds very machine faced to me.

Our Icelandic had sweetitch for a year (he came from Iceland to Scotland, home of the midges). He had walked and walked and walked 24/7 for a year and was dead in the eye. He couldn't look at you, he just went through the motions. We don't have sweetitch here (midges can't land long enough in this wind!) so we treated and cured that. We rode him and just went out and about a lot. He hates the school. He wanted a bottom to follow - he was from a trekking centre - so we kept within his comfort zone and let him "come out" in his own time. It took about 2 years before he could look at us.

Horses like this are a huge challenge in their way. They are not mean or horrid, just stop shining and smiling and it is up to you as the owner to give that back to him.

Sorry for the waffle!
 
He doesn;t know how to interact with other horses. He is out with a small pony and for 5 days he ignored him- yesterday I saw them grooming each other. If another horse looks at him he runs away.
At the moment I can't find anything that gets him intrested- not even a treat.
He won;t look at you. I scratch and groom him and he takes no notice, just stands like a statue.
 
I take the point about completely turning him away but IMO every time you bring him back into the stable you are encouraging him to take a step back into his 'depression'. If you could let him live out 24/7 with a few carefully selected companions, with the interaction with you being grooming and feeding, not in the stable but not tied on the yard either, he should relax back into being a horse. It really does sound as though he has been expected to be a machine in his younger days, how sad! I do think that this is going to take a long time to resolve completely.
 
Bless him. My old girl was like that when I got her - an old polo pony, been used as a work horse for years with no real affection or attention.

Time and patience won her over. She didn't even know what a treat was. It took me a month to persuade her to have a handful of nuts from my hand, then I started sneaking in polo's and carrots. Now she loves her treats!

Persevere with the attention, even if he doesn't seem to like it. As much turnout with friends as possible (ideally turn away although I know you said it wasn't possible). Keep "work" to a minimum and do fun stuff - hacking, pole work, small jumps, maybe even some small XC?? Do you have access to gallops, or even a large field, and a well behaved "nanny" to play "race" with?

Thinking back, I reckon it took a good 9 months for Ra to come out of her shell. She started by enjoying the odd treat, then a scratch, then a groom, then she started enjoying her work more. Strangely though, she only really came out of herself after 10 years, when she became my only horse for the first time. Now she's a right cheeky old cow! She demands scratches, pushes for treats, and has even been known to raise a hoof to try and kick the door in impatience to get out in the morning!

Treat him as you would any other horse, give him a bit of time, I bet he'll come round :)
 
He has been kept on his own I think for a long time.

He doesn't speak horse, let alone human and you have to keep him in an environment which is within his comfort zone to let him get some confidence in himself, in his relationship with other horses and you.

I am glad he is out with another pony and one that hopefully is not confrontational or bossing him around too much.

I would take him for walks in hand like taking a dog. Go for miles, even without a bridle (just a headcollar), take the dog if you have one and both chill.

Stop thinking about the schooling and what you want, you both have to go back to square one together.

When you are walking talk to him, anything, about the price of eggs. Just talk and sing and chat and watch his ears. See if one is pointed at you listening. Ask for basic manners, like standing still at a road junction and if he does what you want, give him a little scritch on his neck. Start to develop a very small dialogue with him, not over-enthusiastic hugging, just a quiet conversation between him and you.

This horse is going to take a while to start communicating with you. He honestly doesn't know how. It is just the way he was brought up, or rather wasn't I think. You don't want a horse that is totally reliant on you for everything. It is very encouraging that he is grooming another horse. That is very basic and encouraging.

Does any of that make sense?

Look at your body language too. Are you confrontational? Are you looking at him with head erect and direct eye contact? If so, drop your shoulders, drop your eye contact and lower your voice. Approach him side ways on not full frontal and look at what your body is saying to him.
 
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