Need some advice on my horse

[ariellaII]

My horse has all of a sudden started getting himself very worked up when out hacking. He won't stop at give ways etc and when is asked to stop will eventually stop then just walk sideways or backwards and he is very strong. When cars pass him he is reluctant to stand and tends to swing his rear end out into the road and when they have passed him he will just go sideways until he is in the middle of the road. He has had his teeth, back and tack checked, don't know if he is just being an a** or is just getting himself worked up as he is very very sweaty after a short hack. He has been this hack so many times before that he could do it with his eyes closed and has never acted like this.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this with their horse? Is there anything I can do to overcome this? My instructor said he is just chancing his luck as he is only 5 and is still very babyish. Don't know if he is just trying it on or he is genuinely frightened or getting worked up by something

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place!

 

[JanetGeorge]

When something suddenly starts to go wrong with a young horse you have to look seriously at what has changed. I disagree with your instructor - this is NOT 'chancing his luck'. Young horses can and do push the boundaries at times but thery don't go from being good out hacking to being bad out hacking for no good reason.

so - look at the possibilities:

1. He's had a fright
2. YOU'VE had a fright and it has made you tense up on him - and THAT frightens him
3. He's lost confidence in you as his 'leader' - so he's out there in the big bad world alone
4. He's not getting enough work, is getting fitter, has had a change of food (new haylage??)

I would ask your instructor to hack him out & see if he 'chances his luck' with her!

 

[tuppence's fortune]

i would take him back to a few basics like walking him in hand and asking him to stop ext in his field or manage ext if he is fine doing this then how about trying a small hack out on a country track (get horse box if needed to take him there if there isnt one near by) and see if he is like it when there is no cars ext to excite him. another thing is, do you always ride out with other people or on your own or both? it could be that if you and he are used to hacking out with others and then you go out on your own he panics a bit being on his own, try going out with an older experienced horse which is not going to get twitchy on the road and where you can let them walk next to him (them being nearest the traffic) and see how it goes. i hope some of that has helped if not please let me know and will try help further

 

[Dancing Queen]

When something suddenly starts to go wrong with a young horse you have to look seriously at what has changed. I disagree with your instructor - this is NOT 'chancing his luck'. Young horses can and do push the boundaries at times but thery don't go from being good out hacking to being bad out hacking for no good reason.

so - look at the possibilities:

1. He's had a fright
2. YOU'VE had a fright and it has made you tense up on him - and THAT frightens him
3. He's lost confidence in you as his 'leader' - so he's out there in the big bad world alone
4. He's not getting enough work, is getting fitter, has had a change of food (new haylage??)

I would ask your instructor to hack him out & see if he 'chances his luck' with her!

WSS!