Naughtiness or lack of training? Help!

[tiffjolijester]

Last year I bought a gorgeous chestnut gelding (chestnut thoroughbred why on earth would I be so crazy!) he was very skinny and terrified of everything.
I have experience with thoroughbreds but he is really testing me at the moment, he came home and was a dream to ride in the arena then suddenly started rearing when I got on him and spinning until I came off I had everything checked and all was ok then came misbehaving for the farrier rearing and forcing his legs down when having shoes put on so had him checked again and nothing!
Started working him again after a few weeks off to get the all clear and my dream horse was back going beautifully in the arena and started doing small jumps which he really enjoyed.
Now he has began throwing his head in the air when cantering so I have no control and he's very sharp, I have no idea what to do, some days he goes on the bit and others it's a battle. He isn't keen on a martingale as if you get on and the martingale touches him between his front legs he kicks off. He is a very sensitive horse and I've put a lot of time and effort in to building trust with him as he came to me in a bad way.
I currently ride him in a snaffle but don't know whether to get a hollow mouth or something with a copper roller.
Can anyone please help?

 

[blitznbobs]

Ulcers?

 

[tiffjolijester]

Ulcers?

Has had them previously actually before I bought him are there any particular symptoms? He's good on the ground it's literally every now and then when he's ridden x

 

[AmyMay]

So, the usual questions.

Saddle checked?

How much turnout?

What are you feeding?

 

[millikins]

It sounds like a pain issue if it's only when ridden and only sometimes. What checks did you have done?

 

[bonny]

What is the horses background ? Age etc ?

 

[tiffjolijester]

So, the usual questions.

Saddle checked?

How much turnout?

What are you feeding?

Hi, saddle checked and all ok, he goes out for about 11 hours a day and lives out in summer. Currently feeding pink mash, Alfa a oil and Pegasus mix.

 

[tiffjolijester]

It sounds like a pain issue if it's only when ridden and only sometimes. What checks did you have done?

He's had back, teeth, saddle all checked. Also had a scan done at the vets and has had a physio out to see him and nothing. I also thought it was pain especially with what he was doing with the farrier.

 

[tiffjolijester]

What is the horses background ? Age etc ?

He is 13 and he has had quite a few owners and been through York sales twice I don't know much

 

[bonny]

He is 13 and he has had quite a few owners and been through York sales twice I don't know much

What’s he like out hacking ?

 

[tiffjolijester]

What’s he like out hacking ?

he is good when we go out spooks at the usual silly stuff such as bag monsters but he always has his ears forward

 

[AmyMay]

I've always fed Alpha A Oil, but I know some find it a problem - heating the horse up etc.

Ulcers may be a good place to start with your investigations.

 

[bonny]

Sounds like he’s maybe just not the horse for you

 

[AmyMay]

Sounds like he’s maybe just not the horse for you

How on earth do you come to that conclusion??

 

[mandyroberts]

Pain related but I'm not sure what with the checks you have had but a reoccurrence of ulcers as others suggest is a reasonable suggestion.
Does he behave the same with someone else riding him? Or is it too intermittent to tell?
If he is good out hacking (and the odd spook means nothing in my opinion) is it when you ask him to come together in the school?
Have you asked him to go in the same way out of the school?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Hi, saddle checked and all ok, he goes out for about 11 hours a day and lives out in summer. Currently feeding pink mash, Alfa a oil and Pegasus mix.

Try a different feeding regime! This is what my boy does sometimes! I have a fantastic feeding programme now but his bad behaviour turned out to be ulcers and allergies to alpha alpha soy and molasses! Now he only acts like a turd occasionally lol 😆 happy days. Fee free to pm me , believe me i have been through everything with my tb 😍 but wouldn’t swap him for the world

 

[Barton Bounty]

Has had them previously actually before I bought him are there any particular symptoms? He's good on the ground it's literally every now and then when he's ridden x

The symptoms he has are symptoms of ulcers that and being touchy at his girth flank and chest! Xx

 

[Carrottom]

When his teeth were checked did the EDT check for wolf teeth (maybe blind). Sometimes they don't comment on them in an older horse as they assume they are not causing a problem. I had blind wolf teeth removed for a 12 yo ex-racer, they tend to fit bits very high in the mouth, problems can occur when the bit is fitted lower and the horse works in the contact. I definitely would not use a roller bit.

 

[elliejhb]

With regards to the martingale could you use a breast plate with martingale attachment?

 

[AmyMay]

With regards to the martingale could you use a breast plate with martingale attachment?

That wouldn't solve the problem as there's still a strap between the legs.

 

[attheponies]

I stopped feeding Alpha A as I found both my horses were becoming more and more jittery as I increased their rations through the winter. It contains molasses and I now only feed molasses free. I think I would definitely check for ulcers too.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Sounds like he’s maybe just not the horse for you

What!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would check for ulcers again and neither of my Arabs can have alpha a oil it can be like rocket fuel for some horses

 

[fredflop]

To clarify what scan has the vet done?

When was the last time teeth/back/saddle were all checked?

 

[elliejhb]

That wouldn't solve the problem as there's still a strap between the legs.

Just thinking it might be a more secure fit so not move as much if that is what upsets OP's horse.

 

[dixie]

He does sound like pain issue somewhere. When I got to the martingale part my first thought was ulcers as my gelding had ulcers and hated his martingale being attached to his girth. There are other signs and there’s a good video on utube which I’ll dig out.

 

[dixie]

Hopefully this link will work