Need some advise

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TomorrowsDream1

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I have a beautiful 13yr old ID xTB gelding that I have now owned for 5 months. He has the best temperament and is fab until you start to ride him. He has the most unpredictable spooks which come from nowhere and for no reason. However, on Friday night the spook turned into a bolt across the school for no reason, heading for the gate he suddenly stopped, spun and galloped off. Leaving me flying through the air and landing on my right arm and hip.

After 7hrs on a spine board and a fully body scan I was lucky in that it was only severe bruising.

My question is, does anybody know of how I could stop this (if possible) If it werent for the spookyness he would be my perfect horse, but I am a nervous rider and am now considering my options about whether to keep him, which is breaking my heart as I love him dearly.

I have started a few weeks ago giving him NAF magic and I am sure that it has helped a little.

Any suggestions would be welcome.
 
What are you feeding him?

What is his work load?

What is his routine? Is he stable kept or grass kept?

I'd be inclined to remove all hard feed, chuck him out (they are always a little bit more tired IME when they live out). Lunge him before riding to get an excitement out as well.

Does he do it when anyone else rides him? Could he be picking up on your nerves?
 
Glad you are OK, sounds like a nasty fall!

There are a number of things you could try, as CrazyMare suggests a lot of turn-out, no hard feed, more work can help. Also getting an instructor to help you from the ground and maybe have a little ride to assess the problem could help.

The other thing to consider is a pain problem. Are his teeth, back and saddle checked regularly? Does he show the same problems on hacks, with different riders, at different places, or is he nappy in one area?

Having said all this, it may be that he is just not the horse for you. If he is making you loose your confidence (quite understandable given his spookiness!) it might be better to call it a day and try to find a more suitable horse.

Good luck!
 
He is hardly having any hard feed.
He is worked 4-5 days a week
He is stabled and goes out at 6.30am and is coming in before it gets dark, around 7pm
He is always lunged before riding and although at first he was spooky, he has been fab with no spooks and has been getting on well.
I have been putting him in the menage when not being ridden as it is here where he seems to spook mostly and worked with walking with him on the lunge and he has improved no end.
Yes, he does do this with other people, so I know that it is not just me (thankfully).
 
Get a very secure, grippy saddle and have regular lessons. If it keeps happening and you don't start to feel more confident about coping with it, he might not be the right horse for you.
 
I have had his teeth checked and everything else. No problems at all.

I have a fantastic instructor who also teaches me on my other horse which I have owned for 51/2years. He has also spooked with her, but she is an extremely experienced rider and it does not bother her.

However, she was with me on Friday when he bolted and even she says there was no way that even she could have stayed on.
 
I have an amazing Stubben saddle which is very secure and I love it. I also have lessons 3 times a week.

Like I said, I also have another horse which is absolutley fab to ride and I have all the confidence in the world with. Yes, he has the bare minimum of spooks, but that is usually when it is extrememly windy and I deal with this, no problem... However, he has never bolted and never put me on the floor.
 
Is he spooking at specific things? You might be able to build his confidence through ground work as you have been doing on the lunge. You've already said things have been getting better through your work with him so there's nothing to say things wont continue to improve. Easier said that done but try not to let this one set back completely wreck your confidence.

However, some horses will always be spooky no matter how hard you work and if this isnt something you feel able to cope with (I suspect mentally rather than in actual riding ability) then maybe he isnt the right horse for you. Confidence is such a huge thing with riding and it would be shame for this horse to ruin things with your other horse in the future
 
Glad you are ok, your post rather reminds me of the troubles I had with our tb mare, only in the arena.

Every lesson without warning and several times she would spook at things at the side of the arena, I hated it and began trying to anticipate it and it got worse. I didnt like to school her but was having lessons so I perservered.

She wouldnt do this now and the only thing that changed was the yard (this wasnt the reason we moved, we wanted all year turnout and have moved where there is no arena and we ride on grass but she is out 24 hrs a day) I can only think that the change was caused by increased freedom/turnout which has in turn made her a far more relaxed horse in all aspects.

She was obviously somewhat frustrated by almost living in a stable due to limited turnout and then mainly being schooled. She was probably bored of it. Now she likes to go to lessons in an arena and respects the surface - its far easier than working on grass. It seems that when intelligent horses get bored they think of other things to entertain themselves and it appeared she was looking elsewhere as she was bored and frustrated.

Maybe something to consider with your horse?
 
My youngster is a total nutter to handle, I feed her Magnicalm in the winter, it's by equine america (love those products!!) so it's relatively cheap, about £15 for 6 months, any magnesium supplement should help but I find this one good.

Have you tried lunging before you ride? Look at what he's eating, rich grass, hard feed etc. Does he do it with other riders or just you?
 
I had one very similar.Didn't have any bad falls thank goodness.If you want my advice sell.If there is one thing I regret it was strugling for 2 and half years with one that was totally unsuitable for ME. He went to a lovely home that could cope.Like you I am a nervous rider.I now have a suitable one and the difference is amazing.Riding is slowly becoming fun again.Discuss itwith your instructor.
 
awwwh dear ! i was in a similar situation to you, i had a welsh section D as my first horse, i was coming off riding school horses and never realised the difference that would be from actually owning one, how different they are. anyway. he bolted he rushed fences but he didnt do this at his old home. eventually after a few falls a few bolts and a few tears later, after 3 months of putting up with it i said enoughs enough and his old owner thankfully bought him back. he wouldve been the perfect horse if it wasnt for the bolting and unessessary spoking on hacks. i am not saying this is what you should do with your horse but i sorted feed, lunged him before working i tried everything and it didnt work, now i have an amazing ID X TB and i am so chuffed with him
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i was attached to my welsh and cried for days after he left but looking back on it now, it was the right decistion - as hard as it was for me. But i do wish you and your boy work it out and it doesnt result the way it did for me as theres nothing worse than selling a horse you love.
 
To be honest it sounds like you are doing all the right things re lessons, turn-out, checks, so unless you think it might be a hidden pain issue, it might be worth considering finding him another home so you can get a horse you can enjoy.
 
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