New horse changes

[chancing]

Hi, bought my new boy in December after riding him for 6 weeks to try him out. Been absolutely perfect for my confidence back had nasty accident and totally wrong horse in August which reduced me back to lead rein to start with in October. He is still 100% to do everything with however recently moved yard and he is now very spooky and sharp out hacking and not keen on hacking alone - always rode alone before. He has put on weight and is feeling better was a little poor when I first got him. He is a lovely boy in every way very gentle just recently becoming sharper/more sensitive than before. Spoke to a few experienced people-I point out I've only been riding a couple of years and they say with the time of year and with new grass coming through him feeling well, changing yards and good feed he will be a little more on his toes than before.

Is there anything I can do? Don't want to have my confidence destroyed again. Thank you

 

[9tails]

If you've moved yard recently I reckon that's 99% of your problems, he's lost all his old mates and is probably feeling very insecure. Ground work would help to build up your relationship with him. You could cut his hard feed out too and see if that makes him a bit less energetic.

 

[Billy the kid]

new yard and spring in the air are probably why he is feeling abit bright! Mine is the same at the minute, hopefully he will calm down again soon for you, get him time to settle into his new surroundings. Is there a school you can ride in for now?

 

[chancing]

Thanks for your reply, have cut out hard feed now was only nuts and chaff. He moved yards with his other 2 mates who have settled much better. Ground work wise I'm riding 3-4 times a week, lunging him twice and he is brushed fully etc every night. Spend roughly 2 hours per day at yard with him. Any other suggestions? I appreciate just a case of riding through it with regards to hacking? That's what I've been told

 

[flirtygerty]

If you think he's knocking your confidence, sing as you ride, you could be expecting trouble and getting it, singing calms you down which your lad will pick up on.
Good luck

 

[Antw23uk]

Ride him everyday to keep the edge off him ... oh and ride it like you stole it

Im a confident novice and when my TB is on his toes and sharp (aka acting like a div!) I ride him like I've stole him! Basically nothing is getting me off or my confidence knocked

 

[Kaylum]

Lessons will help to get your confidence back.

 

[Emilieu]

Have you had your saddle checked since he has put condition on?

 

[Shay]

Do get your saddle checked. but you could also think about using a calmer to get over the spring sillies. They do all go a bit nutty at this time of year. Lessons with an instructor you trust would also help.

Unless someone has lost confidence themselves they won't understand. Don't let the "get on and ride it..." type comments put you down. They are lucky not to have been where you are - yet. But it happens to most of us at some point. You will get through it.

Singing is good - stops you holding your breath! The number of videos I have of my daughter coming back from injury a few years back singing at the top of her voice around a showjumping course!

 

[chancing]

Hi all thank you for the replies. I have to admit the man up and get on with it comments do get to me. Bit of an update: hacked out sat and sun round the woods last weekend with a friend on a very steady cob-he's a star! Brandy was fantastic had a canter jumped a log and went splashing in the pond. Monday and back to the school again fantastic. Tuesday ok. Wednesday-hard work has started shaking his head if he doesn't want to do something rode this through it and he was ok. Tonight I'm planning on riding-got my first ever dressage on Sunday so trying to practise as much as possible. Hoping he will behave. He isn't doing anything major just being a real handful to hack out alone, very Bolshy if desperate from his new best mate a 14.2 mare and has started shaking his head. Have looked into calming powders but I'm not feeding him at the moment so would have to begin feeding him again.

Saddle has been checked and had a new saddle arrive this weekend and was fitted to him. So no probs there, teeth etc all up to date also.

Thank you for your replies good to see I'm not alone.

 

[Circe]

First of all I just wanted to say that is an amazing achievement, for you to be on the lead rein 6months ago because of confidence issues, and now planning a dressage comp on Sunday, what a fantastic horse you must have.
Every time you have a good ride, that's another experience to draw on if you have a bit of a wobble in the future again.
Your boy might be getting a bit of a spring in his step from the grass, so a magnesium supplement might help. You don't have to start giving him a feed as such, just a handful of soaked nuts or speedibeet to hide the supplement in will be fine.
Moving home can have a big effect on some horses as well. When I moved my tb to a new yard, he was a complete nut job. I nearly had to move him back to the old yard. I decided I would give it a couple of months, then make a decision, and by the end of that time, he was back to his chilled out self. Your boy might just need a little time to settle. Just keep working him. If the head shaking is a problem, and you think its behavioral ( where he is trying to get back to his mates, ) then you could try popping a martingale on him for a few rides.
I have had confidence issues, and I do sort of see where Antw23uk is coming from, I think a lot of the time if you aren't feeling 100% confident, you have to fake it so your wobble doesn't become your horses wobble as well.
Kx

 

[chancing]

Thank you Circe! Dressage fast approachig on Sunday had a great ride this morning and going to hack out tomorrow with said reliable friend and cob. Fingers crossed he behaves Sunday. Thank you for your comments he is a lovely boy and he has been a gentleman 99% of the time so far getting me back riding. Will post an update Sunday if anyone's interested? X

 

[Primitive Pony]

I am sure you'll feel more confident out hacking after your first competition - great boost!

And also to say that I was in your position a couple of years ago - hadn't ridden for a long time, bought my first horse who was great to start with and then started to get tricky out hacking, nothing nasty just spooky and a bit daft, although at one point he would plant his feet and I could hardly get him off the yard. I had a couple of lessons with my instructor working on just this - arguably a bit embarrassing at the time but hey ho! ;-) And now that seems like a life-time ago. It sounds like you are determined to keep going which is the most important thing as it will get easier - even with the odd blip.

It did take time and perseverance but these days I trust my horse 100% and laugh at his daft spooking - it's always at a pigeon in a bush or similar, he'll walk past a noisy tractor without batting an eyelid...

Good luck on Sunday, and most importantly, enjoy it!

 

[Circe]

OP, how did you get on on sunday?
I hope everything went well for you?
Kx

 

[samleigh]

I had a cob on loan whose owner had given up on hacking due to his behaviour, the best advise I remember is breaking the long hack down into small sections, a whole hack can seem daunting but if your only concentrating on riding 500mtrs at a time its totally achievable to get round without incident.

 

[chancing]

Hi quick update. Sunday was fantastic. He behaved so brilliantly and I rode like a shaking leaf!! Managed to do whole test without incident scored 61.89% and came 6th out of 8/9. So pleased with him. Not worried about result but it did mean we got out first ever rosette!!! This morning I had a little jump on him and again he was fantasticly behaved. Just need to get through this hacking issue. I have posted on here to ask if anyone would like a buddy to ride out with on the quantocks but to no avail sadly. Thank you all for your interest. Hearing other peoples experiences have made a difference to my thinking also. Thanks

 

[Circe]

Fantastic, that's great news.
I'm sure the hacking will improve with a bit more time.
Kx