New Horse problem

B

bikina

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298
Location
London
www.expeditionequus.com
I know exactly why my horse is playing up, but I want to know how to deal with it. Basically, he is fine being ridden for a few mins, but as soon as he is out of his comfort zone he plays up - head shaking, trotting and cantering off, not listening to any commands and definatley not stopping!! Have thought of using stronger bit or a martingale. He was good as gold when I went to try him (twice). Opinions please.
 
How long have you had him? Has he settled in well? Any change in feed, saddle, bit since you tried him?
1. If you havent had him long, i'd say he's still settling in
2. If he still hasn't quite got used to his surroundings, he may be flighty
3. Any change may cause silly behaviour.
I'd be inclined to make sure hes comfortable and happy before I tried him in anything stronger..
x
 
There's your problem. Horse is probably bored, p*ssed off and feeling very fed up.

Move it or sell it.
 
hi lemonade,
My horse did this too to start with and being a quarter horse like yours they are super smart...he should also be laid back...
sounds like he knows how to mess you about..bet you are super lovely to him and he is taking the mick - like me.......you need to teach him whos boss...hows is his lunging..? I would lunge him for 30 mins every day..make him work and make him listen to you...talk to him as you lunge and go back to basics....if he plays up, dont get angry just keep asking him to carry on and be constant - quarter horse like to know where they stand.
I would walk him around in his bridle and saddle, with my helmet on and someone with me up the road, not riding him...Once you have established this well I would ride out with someone....I would not recommend using a stronger bit, I would also not use a martingale...have lessons, even if they are not western just have a lesson on him and start to get your confidence back...he will then start to respect you and look for his own confidence from you.
hope this helps....
grin.gif
 
I really think that unless you can give your horse meaningfull turnout and exercise you are on to a looser. And you will both become more and more unhappy.

Can you ride him out on a good old hack for couple of hours a day??? Or work him meaningfully in the school?? Or provide at least three hours of quality turnout?? If all the answers to those questions are no then you seriously, seriously have to review your situation. If not for your sanity then for your horses.

Sorry, I know it's blunt - but don't blame the horse - I can't see that the problems arise from anything other than boredome.
 
Thank you Twinkletoes - very sound advice. going to have a Western lesson at the weekend and was actually planning on riding him on the lunge this week with a friend and see how we get on that way. Hopefully we'll soon be working in harmony...
 
I do understand what you are saying AM but horses can be happy without much turnout. Our horses have slim to non in the winter (although they get lots of exercise hunting etc.) and they are quite happy in their stables munching a hayledge net. When they do go out they stand at the gate wanting to come back in again!
 
Sounds like he's settling in at the mo - probably a combination of him testing the boundaries and feeling insecure. You can help him feel more secure by showing him where the boundaries are. Do you have a secure field or school to ride in? If so, start off in there doing circles, serpentines etc, that's what I'm doing with my pony at the moment!
 
Lemonade from what i remember from all your posts you are wanting to do LONG distance endurance on this horse arent you?

So Im wondering how fit is he and how much work is he getting?
Didnt you say he hasnt been ridden since you had him bcause you were waiting for a new saddle, so the chances are he is also fresh too, espec if he isnt getting much turnout.

Ho much work is he getting a day?
 
Can't even imagine what Badger would be like hacking in London - he finds the civilization of a small hamlet quite frightening!
tongue.gif


give him a bit of time, he's probably just coming round to the fact that he is a towny!
smirk.gif
 
It does sound like he's just trying it on and the lack of turnout will be leaving him with lots of excess energy. He's a criollo isn't he? They're used to running free on thousands of acres so it'll take a bit of adjustment for him.

If you haven't got time to work him for at least 1 to 2 hours everyday then is there someone else you can ask to ride him for you? If you're having brake problems then I would advise being very cautious hacking him out until you've got that sorted. Lunging is great with or without rider, though will also make him fitter so it's a delicate balance.

Also what are you feeding him? Avoid fizzy feeds... anything with sugar or molasses in. Again horses like Criollos are used to a very poor diet and anything with too much sugar can send them dolally
 
Sounds like too much energy and not enough work to me.

Yes, you're right, some horses do take well to being in (mine is stabled nearly all the time) but these horses do tend to be worked hard and have very carefully adjusted diets.

Mine gets one hour a day and for the most part, he wants to come in. However he's also on a horse walker for an hour a day, schooled for an hour a day and then hacked or walked in hand for maybe 45 minutes. His diet is absolutly perfectly balanced to account for his work and he has plenty of roughage.

My inclination in this case would be to get him turned out more, work him more or pay for someone else to be working him. The problem is, once horses are on top of you in this way, its hard to get them back down again in my experience without vastly increasing their out time.

Whats he being fed? Is he used to being in or has he come from a very turnout heavy routine?
 
Aaaaaaaaaaaaah yes! you were the person wanting to do a london to japan ride?

How much work is he in? Id be putting in some serious hacking hours with him given what you're aiming for. The amount of work i listed that mine was in is just for dressage fitness...
 
As other posters have said, he will have been used to getting alot of turnout and alot of riding. Didn't you say that he had been trained to jump through fire? If you want to do endurance with him, you need to be riding him alot and also get some good turnout for him. From your previous posts, it seems he has had a complete change of lifestyle and it will take him some time to get used to it. What are you feeding him? I would give him ad lib forage and that is all. He definitely doesn't need any cereals or molasses.
 
Thanks all! He's getting ad lib forage and the occassional carrot, out for at least 1 hour a day plus walking or *riding*(!), takes everything in his stride when being walked out - under train tunnels, past busses, along main roads with white van drivers, the works - but on board, in an enclosed space, goes loopy-lou! Have been riding him through his madness and not getting off until he starts responding. Going to have some schooling sessions and start lunging too.
And yes, I am the London to Japan girl!
 
What was his rountine like before you brought him?
I would say he is still settling in.
I think one hours turnout probably isn't sufficient, that he is getting over excited and taking the mick as he has too much energy
 
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