New horse-new problems.

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midnight mayhem

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Ok, I'll try keeping this short-bought new horse three months ago, allowed him to settle in for a while before riding. He was bought as bombproof quiet type as something I could share with my novice nervous sister. I already have a mare who is complete opposite of this little horse. Anyway the only time this horse wakes up is when food appears and when he is being hacked out on his own. My sister is in tears because she can't get him moving (in the school) and in the grass/jumping feild he tears the reins out of her hands very very quickly to eat the grass, she tumbled over his neck the last time landing in a heap on the floor. Pony just continues to eat grass :-/ anyway so I get on him and I must say he leaves me a breathless red faced mess and kicking like a 6 year old on a thelwell pony. Highly embarrassing! He's not even bothered by the crop. I do get him moving but not without all this fuss and bother! I've never considered using spurs before but now thinking I should try, but that won't help my sister (too novice) anyone got a rocket for this pony I could aim towards his ar*e? No, but seriously he's a sweet little thing just very frustrating. Bombproof is what I asked for and bombproof is what I got. Next time I'll ask for 'push button' please. :-/
 
Book some lessons with an instructor, he sounds sweet but untrained, and you need practical help that an internet forum will not be able to provide.
 
Put some grass reins on for your sister. Do some lungeing and get him moving forward to voice commands. What is he like out hacking following another horse. Try not to nag, ask him to move forward with a squeeze,if he moves reward him by not nagging. If he ignores either give a big kick or use whip, make sure you release reins so he doesnt get pulled up or confussed
 
carthorse said:
Put some grass reins on for your sister. Do some lungeing and get him moving forward to voice commands. What is he like out hacking following another horse. Try not to nag, ask him to move forward with a squeeze,if he moves reward him by not nagging. If he ignores either give a big kick or use whip, make sure you release reins so he doesnt get pulled up or confussed
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I agree with this and may be good to get an instructor to help as well.Sounds like a nice pony otherwise albeit a big monkey. Needs someone getting after him.
 
I'm yet to try lungeing and instructor. I'm kind of thinking I'd like the challenge for a while first and want to gather as much ideas, tips etc together to aid me along my way. He responds to voice commands better than he does anything else but in a very slllooooowww way of going. He'll hack out with other horses fine, in front, side, behind but remains asleep. They gallop off and he reluctantly canters a little way before trying to break into a trot-just as long as they're in sight. I get zero reaction from a squeeze of the leg so nothing to praise. When I do praise him for anything he takes that as a sign to stop what I've praised him for doing! He responsed to big kicks and whip very reluctantly and very slowly.
 
Sometimes just waving the whip around will wake them up. Friend was having a lesson on her ex-RS cob, instructor had her waving the whip over rider's head, over horse's bum, and smacking her riding boot with it. Made the pony take notice, and no pain involved.
 
Ah mo-jo I tried that first before using the whip as that is all it takes my mare to listen. This boy simply yawns at such things. The carrier bag on the whip might be worth a try ridefast. I'll certainly be doing that-and pray he doesn't turn round in circles trying to eat it-he goes for anything that rustles in the hope of food! But he might get the message if I slap it against his side. My sister thinks we should dangle a carrot on a string in front of him- I am seriously beginning to consider this. Lol ;-)
 
My new forest was a lot like this - I gave him naf ener-g supplement. Gives them positive energy without making them naughty. He is a lot sharper to the leg now but still has same bombproof attitude :)
 
Also he sounds unfit - you did leave him for a few weeks to 'settle in' How about hunting? That normally gets event the brain / leg dead going forwards......
Plastic bag on the end of the whip.......what a brill idea, I must try that with my non forward going TB - I was reduced to riding him in spurs this w/e becuase he is so awful (but he is wonderful hunting) and was wonderful in winning races in the past......just hates hacking!
 
Echo Bravo said:
You wanted a nice palcid ride, and you got him, so if you don't want him I'm sure there is plenty of people on here who would be happy to take off you hands me included.:D:D:D
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There is placid - and there is just dreadful.......I want quiet - but I also want a horse that moves forward from the leg - and does not stop, if I stop kicking / squeezing / shouting/ waving a plastic bag.......and I am not even the OP.......!
Echo Brave - you sound as if you would be happy with a clothes horse, as long as someone pushed it along steadily.......do not confuse 'placid' with reluctant / dull / lazy!!!
 
I'd assume a lot of its being unfit. I'd wake pony up, hacking with lively company & go hunting, fun rides etc. Not sure I'd be tying a plastic bag to a whip or making a racket to get it moving, the last thing I want is a horse that learns to shoot off at sudden noise or a plastic bag on a fence.
 
Rachaulstar-I will certainly look into that supplement, currently he's got a lot of grass in his feild. He lives out so no hay yet and feed a small amount of chaff, nuts and linseed. He's a very good doer so don't want lots of feed yet. But a supplement is worth a thought. Echo bravo, I guess it's the old warning 'be careful what you wish for...' he he. But he truely is a lovely boy and I never really believed the meaning of 'bombproof' until now. I don't regret choosing him for one moment. :-) also with the extra bonus of him being very very pretty.
 
I agree with the grass reins - work a treat !! The other thing that really helped us is transisitions - walk.stop.walk.trot.stop.walk. It will leave you knackered after five minutes, but it may just do the trick. I still do this now - canter.stop.trot.walk.canter.stop. He actually really enjoys second guessing what I'm going to say now so I try and catch him out ;)

Do a search for "Lazy Pony" on here, think lots of threads will come up - many mentioning oats (did nothing) Naf EnerG (he hates it), red Cell (expensive).

I think the key is transitions, lots of walking to get him fit and good old grass reins. Gook luck x
 
I've taken him on some fun fast rides with a couple Of adrenaline junkies on my yard-he cantered a little bit when I pushed him, fun rides are an idea..as long as I'm not going to embarrass myself with resorting to flapping my legs lol. Thanks shysmum-the transitions thing has been the only real thing that has kept him going, I think he lives for the 'stop' transitions lol and you're so right about the being knackered in 5 mins. Lol I don't know who's more unfit me or pony but I'll certainly keep the transitions up. Off to do that search now :-) thank you everyone for your positive advice and comments. :-)
 
we went out for a fast ride with two big hunters last week, and my poor little lad couldn't keep up (he was squealing at the other horses to wait for him :eek:), so he steadied up and we had a lovely canter to meet them.

I know Shy is very fit, as we ride most days, but I adore him for what he is - and he's not built for speed ! He loves a bit of jumping - on the days he wants to - and a bit of mini cross country, turns his hooves to a few tiny dressage movements, can tolerate about 15 minutes of serious schooling, and hates being in the show ring. BUT we both love plodding about and I am so lucky to have him , we go all over the place, with my pup beside us, and they play sticks together. :)

Good luck, and don't give up - they're worth it :D
 
Dressedkes, Many thanks for you idea I needed a clothes horse that needed pushing, from a whizzy trotter and a welsh sec D who has a mind of his own, to a Irish TBx who is placid most of the time(he likes to jump from paddock and back again) to a youngster who hasn't decided yet what he wants to be. Placid comes to mind as something very nice to hack out on.:D:D
 
Ahh shysmum that's lovely and what it's all about really :-) I have a good relationship with my other horse whom I've had for 10 years now love her to bits. The newbie is not built for speed either even if he were fit. I'm yet to try jumping. Poles on the ground are no prob. Shy sounds lovely though. You clearly love him :-)
 
Echo Bravo said:
Dressedkes, Many thanks for you idea I needed a clothes horse that needed pushing, from a whizzy trotter and a welsh sec D who has a mind of his own, to a Irish TBx who is placid most of the time(he likes to jump from paddock and back again) to a youngster who hasn't decided yet what he wants to be. Placid comes to mind as something very nice to hack out on.:D:D
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Good response Echo Bravo - and glad you did not take offence at my tongue in cheek post!
I have just taken on a TB/ID who is lovely - placid (at the moment) but I do like forward going with the placid thing - as do you, clearly! x
 
Well seeing that my nice placid one cracked one of my ribs yesterday when having his teeth seeing too. Something with it's head between it's knees sounds ideal(tongue in cheek):D:D
 
Echo Bravo said:
Well seeing that my nice placid one cracked one of my ribs yesterday when having his teeth seeing too. Something with it's head between it's knees sounds ideal(tongue in cheek):D:D
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Rough with the smooth.....I have a lovely scar on my lip from clipping a youngster last year, several black toes from just walking in the stable (these ID/TB's - seem to lack a few basic stable manners), the new one, whilst very quiet to ride, has a habit of rushing forward at 90 mph when I put his rug on (and yes he is tied up - and yes I have tried the other way as well....in fact all ways, and he is getting better, as am I at hopping out of the way, but a pain, literally) Boring now - time to call it a night on all this challenging horse chat!
 
Well he is what he is, and you got what you wanted, and it all sounds surmountable so if I were you I'd feel really positive about him :)

Firstly I'm going to take a punt and say he's probably overweight?? If so, perfect time of year to start dealing with it. You've said he's a good doer so unless he's loosing weight then food is unlikely to be your answer, but make sure he's getting all his vits and mins...D&H equibites are great for this IME. If he's in, soak hay for 12 -24 hours and feed ad lib, if he's out restrict grazing and be ready to restrict again from March onwards.

Snatching grass is just rude, he is likely to be a 'give an inch, takes a mile' sort of chap...so don't give an inch at any point!

I have a very laidback coblet, and over the years I've learnt he is super clever and if he gets bored he just switches off. I don't know if yours is like this but if so, keep him guessing, different stuff everyday, loads of transitions, pole work, pony games, jumping.

I also have an 'ask nicely once' policy, then he gets a firm tap with the whip. I insist on active transitions, proper effort in canter. Mine loves changes within a pace, attempting his own little cobby medium trot etc.

Is yours clipped?? If not might be worth thinking about de-fluffing a bit...mine perks up if he's cold!

I did ride with spurs in the end, but only after getting him fit, getting 150kg of weight on him, and trying pretty much everything else. I also fed oats, oil and propell plus - but you really can't do this until weight is firmly under control and he's fit.

Basically get him fit, push him out of his comfort zone, and be bossy! Good luck, it's very satisfying when you succeed :) And you get pretty fit in the process!
 
It might be worth having a blood test done to make sure he is not deficient in something vital - it sounds like an energy problem to me. This might be why he is so keen on eating grass. Also make sure he hasn't got red worm as this can make an animal obsessed with food.
 
I would have to agree with the suggestions of transitions. I have a lazy TB who was dead to the leg when I got her nearly 3 years ago, but with her it was the previous owners over use of spurs IMO.
Transitions helped me so much, it got her thinking and working properly and she is fine now! Don't get me wrong I do have to push her but she is 100% improved on what she was!

I do also wonder if he is over-weight, in which case getting the weight off, getting him fit would be the best thing to start with!

Also with a horse so obsessed with food I think you need to try and get out of this habit. Routine should help with this and I would say defiitely do NOT give him treats as this will only fuel the fire!

Good luck :)
 
Update on new horsey :-D. So ive been doing a bit of work with poles and popped up a couple of small jumps just to see if I could get him over! Well, as soon as he saw those jumps he woke up, ears pricked up, head came up and he gave me the most beautiful canter and took these jumps with only a turn of my head needed to steer him and a squeeze of my fingers to steady him. Turns out he's a super little jumper and will turn a corner as sharp as I ask-i was shocked to say the least. Then I tried lunging. Wouldn't go out at all, turned straight into me and even reared on me. He was VERY upset. I could tell these were avoidance tactics but why just with lunging? What a confusing little pony he is.
 
This is often the problem with "safe" ploddy types. They're worth their weight in gold but do like the slow life! The issue is made worse by the fact that these horses are usually bought for/by nervous or inexperienced riders so the sweet but ploddy horse susses this out and uses it to further avoid work! Resign yourself to the fact that you'll probably always be puffing and red in the face riding this sort of horse and be careful about any serious attempts to change him because you'd change the very nature of the laid back lad you've got! But you can start re-writing his rule book and number 1 is that he MUST go forwards even if it's slow and even if he stops moving forward the minute the legs come off. He MUST respect legs! Another way to wake up this lad is to use the "whip-whop rope". You can buy this or just make your own from a length of soft rope, knot the business end and fray it. You're not aiming to hurt him with it, just surprise him. The very instant (and every single instant after that, or it won't work) he stops or won't start giving "forward" slap his shoulders side to side with the rope. You can do the same with the ends of the reins. Take up a loop and slap, slap, slap, slap either side of his neck. As you do it, hold a piece of mane or the saddle because he WILL shoot forwards and the last thing you want to do is jab him in the mouth which is a "no". Once he understands this, he'll probably then spend most of his field thinking time working out a new resistance. Be prepared and stay one step ahead of him! A good ploy is to do the whip-whop and if he starts to ignore it surprise the lliving daylights out of him by adding some serious and ear splitting red indian whoops, pony club kicks, bang 2 saucepan lids together, anything to get him moving. Your challenge is that you need to remain 100% alert at all times so that every single time he won't go forward, you GET HIM GOING FORWARD by doing absolutely whatever it takes! After a while, you will have the same sweet, safe horse who will actually go forward when asked, even if his face tells the story! Good luck, he sounds gorgeous x
 
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