New boy has lost his confidence :( - long.

Flibble

Flibble

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I have thought over posting this for ages and ages and ages so would request all the nice helpful people reply.(I know there are more of you than the other sort)

Ok had new boy since end of March 7 year old Irish Cob exhunter 15.3.

I have had 6 months of pure heaven with this boy and could do anything anywhere. I have always been aware that he can get nervous but it has never been an issue.

He has now become very difficult to hack out and I believe it is all since we had a disasterous hack when he did a mahoosive spook I fell off and he galloped home down a busy main road TG someone up there looked after us and we were both ok and in fact I remounted at the yard and took him back out on the ride.

Since then he has become more and more unpredictable spinning 180 degrees and napping with little rears and striking out (only when ridden).

I made the mistake of hacking out once with the wrong horse who was a nappy little shxx and didnt really give us any help and we had to return home which I hate doing because the rears got very silly.

So what have we done so far (unfortuately the ride from hell with nappy friend was the day before I went on holiday :( )

I gave him my holiday week off out 24/7 being a horse.

I had already had a saddle fitting now it has arrived and now I have a wider comfier saddle for him.

I have had the EDT out and there is zero issues in his mouth.

I have had the Chiro out and although there was a little tightness nothing major.

Next steps Only Hack out with Horse A or Horse B who he knows and are both good blokes.

If riding on own stay on farm so we are in a position to get help quick.

Increase lessons with instructor.

What else can I do to increase his confidence in me ? I think that if he went somewhere to be fixed it wouldnt resolve the issue that he is a worried boy with me and I feel I may be missing something.

Feed wise he is on turnout plus a bit of hay when in oh and for the detail people I give him an apple and a carrot chopped up when his neighbour gets fed enough food for Hannibals army in a bucket.

He is a good doer and probably too well
 
I would say carry on hacking with known and trusted horses who will bolster his confidence.
Only hack alone for short distances where nothing is likely to go wrong. As you increase in confidence, so should he, and you can start to wander further. So start with going out the yard, end of road, turn around and come back. When you can do that without issues and with confidence, go a little further.
It just sounds like you need to find your confidence in one another again.
 
My horse used to be fabulous to hack, then had a scary incident with some llamas and started doing exactly what your horse is doing. It shattered my confidence.
I went back to leading out in hand, then long-reining (I long-reined for about six weeks!) before getting back on. I then did the same route, over and over and over until she realised that there was nothing scary about it. If I am riding out in company we go further afield now and she has improved fantastically - when in company she goes at the front and the napping (touch wood) has stopped 99% of the time.

But I had to go back to complete basics to get back to where we are currently. Good luck - just make sure that as the horse has lost confidence he doesn't shatter yours as well - I am still not totally confident hacking alone.
 
Thanks he does do it in good company but only if in front. So hacked yesterday with a good friend (saint) and when we realised he couldn't cope up front I kept slowing down so his pal got in front. He is so nice I am devestated this has happened to him. He is having a pamper day today an in hand session tomorrow a ridden lesson Tuesday and then back out with same friend Wednesday.
 
That is the wierd thing a little anxious but more upset that I cant react quick enough to reassure him.

I lost my confidence completely a couple of years ago and I like this guy so much I believe if we can get through this we will come out stronger.
 
Posted too soon and can't edit, damn phone!

Then start long reining, may just help to break the habit and you may be more confident on the ground? Start from basics and then slowly build up again?
 
I think he will be picking up on your upset about it too which I realise is hard to change.

Some good suggestions on this thread already. I'd go with the long lining if you feel confident enough to do it and hacking out in second position on the way out and drift to the front on the way back if you can. Even for short periods and drop back before he has time to get in a flap about it.

You could also try despooking him and doing some groundwork to reinforce your position as the boss so he feels he can rely on you.
 
I think you've answered your own questions in your original post - all your suggestions sound imminently sensible.

Hacking with sensible ones is obvious as you will also be more nervous hacking with the dizzy horses which will be transmitted to your horse.

Confidence needs to be built up on both sides so work on the both of you as you have suggested and it sounds like you can get back to where you were before your scary experience.
 
Lol, took me a while to get coordinated with my hands and feet and two lines!! But in the mean time I have always found walking in hand a good confidence builder, for both of you. Even if you don't want to walk the whole ride (if you are lazy like me) you can ride where you are comfortable then get off and lead before you think there is going to be a problem, don't let it start just 'take the lead' and be firm but fair and get him past whatever it is he doesn't like :) hope that makes sense!
 
I feel your pain and am sorry for you. I had exactly the same happen to me. Had a lovely uncomplicated hack who I used to hack almost every where without thought. Then it just seemed we had something happen on every single hack we went on from herding cattle accross the road to aggressive dogs jumping out of farmers 4x4s, bonfires, to hundreds of motor bikes out for a spin on the country roads at the same time etc etc. Lost all confidence in me as everytime I took him out something horrible would happen. Never was right again and ended up only hacking out with other people. Very sad. I am moving to Cyprus in a few years and look forward to uncomplicated hacking out there.
 
Is there a simple circular hack that you can do in (good) company again and again and again week in week out - boring for you (and your friend will need to be patient too!) but just seeing the same sights again and again they may increase his confidence as he'll know exactly where he is going every time and what he will see. Absolutely agree with those above to do this hack in hand, long reining, friend walking at his head etc. but just keep to he same old boring route until you're both feeling much better about it. then try new routes. You can then come back to the 'safety' of the old route if you find you tried new ones too soon.
Different things work for different horses, obviously! but this worked for mine
 
Oh dear, glad to hear you are okay. Mine has been similar. Always mercy, used to panic and flip out at slightest thing but I finally thought id cracked it, at least a little local route alone. For months he's been doing it brilliantly. Then this last week he's lost his nerve, no idea why. Planting on the road, running backwards, little rears and plunges if I put pressure on him. Complete tantrums today even with sensible company due to a tractor in a field in the distance. I came home feeling really disappointed. I think I'm going to stick to hacking in company for a few weeks, or lead the road bits, plus do a lot more ground work. Frustrating though.
 
Flibble said:
I had already had a saddle fitting now it has arrived and now I have a wider comfier saddle for him.
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Could the behavior tie in with the change of saddle? Maybe the new one appears better but horse doesn't think so? I hope you sort it and I'm glad you aren't too badly hurt.
 
Flibble said:
Exactly my thoughts. Something is definitely wrong he isn't this naughty. I am going to rest then make a plan.
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I presume from this you mean, with him (physically?). Can you be sure of this? From what you have said, you are rebuilding his confidence. He is not that old or experienced, you say "ex-hunter", I take this to mean that was his previous job. Therefore, hacking out solo is going to be quite new to him? I have found that both ex-racers and ex-hunters can fool you as they seem very worldly, they've seen an awful lot. But always in company! And that's where riders like us who love to be out and about just us and them can come unstuck!

You've said yourself you think he's lost confidence. An under-confident horse can panic and do whatever it takes to get himself back home - his "safe place". Just a thought, maybe too much too soon, when you were both on dodgy ground? Did you get a massive hold of yourself and ride out physically confidently, even if you were not there mentally?

I just wonder as 6 months of saintliness then this would point to the fall, for me. And horses do not lose confidence over one incident - but we do. What I'm trying to suggest is, the confidence knock is far more likely to be yours than his. And you may well be riding him differently. It may well be your confidence needs rebuilding, not his, and you need to go very slowly to do this. Lessons will help hugely (if your instructor is good! Has she had experience of similar?).

Best of luck, not trying to be harsh just trying to prevent you going down the (expensive) route of spinal x rays and whatever else!
 
Polos Mum said:
Is there a simple circular hack that you can do in (good) company again and again and again week in week out - boring for you (and your friend will need to be patient too!) but just seeing the same sights again and again they may increase his confidence as he'll know exactly where he is going every time and what he will see. Absolutely agree with those above to do this hack in hand, long reining, friend walking at his head etc. but just keep to he same old boring route until you're both feeling much better about it. then try new routes. You can then come back to the 'safety' of the old route if you find you tried new ones too soon.
Different things work for different horses, obviously! but this worked for mine
Click to expand...
That is exactly what I was going to suggest. You are bound to feel anxious after coming off on the road and the horse running off. I know I did in similar circumstances. I think you will both regain your confidence with more practice - Good luck!

Sorry I've just read your next post and seen you've come off again today, glad you're not seriously injured. Take several steps back until you have both regained your confidence.
 
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Ive recently been in a similar situation to you as our horse has bolted with me twice resulting in two falls, one of which I went to a&e with.

I have only had him for one month and fell off the first time 2 weeks ago because he suddenly bolted with me. He's never nasty on the ground, and I just thought he was a little unsettled and nervy as he's only 7.

However, on Friday he did the exact same thing again but worse. He decided to bolt across the school for absolutely no reason. I was so surprised as we had taken him out for a walk along the roads and had been working in the school for a good 15 mins, and I had been riding him around 4 times a week for the past 2 weeks since the first bolt with no problems and having lessons.

But today, an instructor came to see him for the first time and he was really fidgety and unsettled, so we took the saddle off and he played around wih his back. I then got on, and he was so flighty as if he was going to bolt again.

What's hes doing isn't normal, especially because he doesn't have a nasty temperament whatsoever, so we think he could possibly have kissing spine. I know this doesn't mean every horse has ks, but it does make sense, as the twinges are unpredictable, and horses commonly want to run away from the pain. I'm not sayin your boy has anything like this, but it could be a pain relaed source, especially if he's never done this before. Sorry for the long read!
 
Although pain issues have to be ruled out there is always the fact that the horse has learned that he can do this and has got away with it so will continue to do so as long as he is picking up on 'worried' vibes (understandably) from the owner.

What is he like of someone more experienced takes him out?

He has to be stopped from spinning and spooking. When he shies away from something then make him turn back against himself, if he plants and starts napping and you are not confident or strong enough to give him a quick one two behind your leg then make him stand facing the right direction and wait. When he wants to go, wait a little longer and then you ask him to go so he is going forward on your terms.

Cut any hard feed right down to nearly nothing.

Making him turn back against himself is very important. If you get to a spot where he always spins carry your whip in the side he spins to and carry it so that he can see it right by his eye and do not be afraid to wave it at him.

Riding with a quieter horse is sensible but make sure that your horse is at least a neck in front or you will be teaching him to be a follower.

Good luck.
 
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