New horse reared :/

[[59668]]

So I've had the new 5yo for 4 days. Had 2 lessons and he was so awesome. Brave and not at all spooky. Super easy to handle.
Took him up the road and back alone on day 3. Not at all nappy, bold and brave past scary things. On the way home he spotted a truck that wasn't there on the way out and he did some mini rear/spin type things. Managed to stop it escalating and we got past it. Same behaviour back at the yard when I was trying to line him up to put in the gate code and he was confused. But managed it.
Today went hacking in company. Same again...mini rears and spins....at the gate code thing on the way out. Like he doesn't understand and his reaction is this. But...he then put in a really big rear and spin.
Went for the hack and he was so so bold all the way round. Not spooky at all. Did the gate on the way back in and also repeated lining up at the code thing as if we were going back out and managed to manage the situation so we had no rearing. Still had running back and head tossing though.
I'm gutted as you can imagine. He wasn't cheap. I really like him and he is generally so easy so far.
It feels like it's his "I cant" reaction to something he doesn't understand. Or when there's too much pressure. OK he's 5 and I've had him 4 days. But my concern is this will be what he does to many things he's not seen before or has seen but doesn't understand the context of.
I've messaged the seller but of course they will say he's never done this.
Am I over reacting and should I just continue to manage to stop it escalating to full on rearing or should I just say no right here and now? Or give him the benefit of the doubt and time to settle/get brave!
Was 5 stage vetted. Saddler coming on Tues. Dentist coming on Fri

 

[AmyMay]

Oh, gutting! How much pressure was put on him trading wise prior to you getting him?

 

[[59668]]

Oh, gutting! How much pressure was put on him trading wise prior to you getting him?

I guess you mean training wise?
He's been out to combined training and was at a yard with xc and gallops with an eventer so has seen/done quite a lot. I hacked him alone and in company and the only thing he did was squiggle about a bit with little mini hops when I asked him to go in the water. Then he went in. I didn't think anything of it tbh.

 

[AmyMay]

Training! Sorry.

I’m just wondering if he’s done too much, feels the pressure now of something new and his default is ‘up’.

At the end of the day, this is only a decision you can make... Bloody difficult decision.

 

[[59668]]

Training! Sorry.

I’m just wondering if he’s done too much, feels the pressure now of something new and his default is ‘up’.

At the end of the day, this is only a decision you can make... Bloody difficult decision.

You're so right. Oh god why is this so hard. I really do like him.

 

[SEL]

I have one that reacts like this to anything new and you have to break down what you want into a succession of small asks with a lot of reward.

You've done a lot in just a few days and I wonder if it's blown his brain a bit. Perhaps a bit more down time allowing his to process might help??

 

[[59668]]

I have one that reacts like this to anything new and you have to break down what you want into a succession of small asks with a lot of reward.

You've done a lot in just a few days and I wonder if it's blown his brain a bit. Perhaps a bit more down time allowing his to process might help??

I've been wondering the same. If he's the type that looks like he's coping then one little bit too much and this is what happens. But it's obviously in there as his reaction. I guess my thinking is if it's literally only in this sort of situation as a reaction to pressure when he doesn't understand the question then it's manageable. In theory!
This week should be an easy week...day off, saddler, hack, lesson, dentist.

 

[AmyMay]

Why not drop the lessons? Hack and chill for the next 10 days and then make a decision.

 

[Cortez]

He's young, he's new, you're a new rider, doesn't understand. I certainly wouldn't condem him at this stage, but continue training him to new things, and be very, very sure that you're not pulling on his mouth whilst you're doing it.

 

[[59668]]

Why not drop the lessons? Hack and chill for the next 10 days and then make a decision.

I kind of feel like I need the lessons tbh. There's nothing very exciting happening in them. Lots of bending and walk trot canter....I sort of feel like I need them for me if that makes sense?

 

[[59668]]

He's young, he's new, you're a new rider, doesn't understand. I certainly wouldn't condem him at this stage, but continue training him to new things, and be very, very sure that you're not pulling on his mouth whilst you're doing it.

Thank you. I will for sure be so so careful with my hands. I'm glad we have the dentist on Friday too. Vetting did mention sharp teeth so I've been giving him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[SEL]

I kind of feel like I need the lessons tbh. There's nothing very exciting happening in them. Lots of bending and walk trot canter....I sort of feel like I need them for me if that makes sense?

But nothing exciting to you can be a lot for a young horse.

 

[[59668]]

But nothing exciting to you can be a lot for a young horse.

Hmm true.

 

[AmyMay]

I kind of feel like I need the lessons tbh. There's nothing very exciting happening in them. Lots of bending and walk trot canter....I sort of feel like I need them for me if that makes sense?

Makes complete sense. But would 10 days of quietly walking about without any lessons impact you that much? Sometimes doing the opposite of what we need or think we need can have far better results for both horse and rider.

 

[Melody Grey]

I find youngsters and inexperienced horses have problems with gate codes/ opening gates etc. Some find the transfer of rider weight for you to reach out quite unnerving. Also patience can be an issue. Break it down to smaller stages. Like just approaching and standing at the keypad, then a bit more patience with you reaching out to touch the wall.

 

[[59668]]

Makes complete sense. But would 10 days of quietly walking about without any lessons impact you that much? Sometimes doing the opposite of what we need or think we need can have far better results for both horse and rider.

When you put it like that....no it probably wouldn't really!
I was sort of thinking along the lines of keeping his momentum going while making sure I stay on the straight and narrow! But perhaps you're right.

 

[[59668]]

I find youngsters and inexperienced horses have problems with gate codes/ opening gates etc. Some find the transfer of rider weight for you to reach out quite unnerving. Also patience can be an issue. Break it down to smaller stages. Like just approaching and standing at the keypad, then a bit more patience with you reaching out to touch the wall.

Thank you! Yes I think I probably do need to break things down for him even smaller than I was expecting. He seems such a mature old head in some ways that it's easy to forget/not appreciate he's 5.

 

[Melody Grey]

Thank you! Yes I think I probably do need to break things down for him even smaller than I was expecting. He seems such a mature old head in some ways that it's easy to forget/not appreciate he's 5.

? I’ve had to specifically work on gates with every single horse I’ve had, whether they be young or more established. I think there’s more to it than we think.

 

[Cortez]

When you put it like that....no it probably wouldn't really!
I was sort of thinking along the lines of keeping his momentum going while making sure I stay on the straight and narrow! But perhaps you're right.

On the other hand it might be wise to have an experienced eye on you both until you know each other better.

 

[AmyMay]

Thank you! Yes I think I probably do need to break things down for him even smaller than I was expecting. [bold]He seems such a mature old head in some ways that it's easy to forget/not appreciate he's 5.[/bold]

That can be a real problem. Remember he is young. His brain is young. Momentum can be preserved even when things are slowed down and all pressure taken off.

 

[[59668]]

On the other hand it might be wise to have an experienced eye on you both until you know each other better.

This was my thought with the lessons...more for me than him. I'm not novice by any means but ALWAYS like to have weekly lessons to keep me right.

 

[stangs]

He’s in a new place with horses and people he doesn’t know. Sounds like he’s getting overwhelmed, hence the proper rear. Give him a bit of time to settle into things, I think. If you want to ride, have an easy lesson. Otherwise I don’t see anything wrong with just spending time with him on the ground while he gets used to thing.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Do you need to lean forward to do gate code? If you do have to could you be giving him conflicting commands as I fund if I have to do a gate , as I lean forward my kegs go back and I'm unaware I'm actually asking my horse to walk forward then obviously with the front end I'm asking him to stop! Totally confusing for horse. I'm now aware of my legs but my lad is well used to it so puts up with it!!

 

[[59668]]

That can be a real problem. Remember he is young. His brain is young. Momentum can be preserved even when things are slowed down and all pressure taken off.

Thank you. Man look how much he's taught me in 4 days!
Honestly he is something special though. Trainer loves him and thinks he could be awesome too.

 

[[59668]]

He’s in a new place with horses and people he doesn’t know. Sounds like he’s getting overwhelmed, hence the proper rear. Give him a bit of time to settle into things, I think. If you want to ride, have an easy lesson. Otherwise I don’t see anything wrong with just spending time with him on the ground while he gets used to thing.

Thank you for this. Overwhelmed is the vibe I got off him. And confused.

 

[wren123]

My only thought would be that if you were going to try and send him back you should do so sooner than later.

But I sincerely hope that he works out.

 

[[59668]]

Do you need to lean forward to do gate code? If you do have to could you be giving him conflicting commands as I fund if I have to do a gate , as I lean forward my kegs go back and I'm unaware I'm actually asking my horse to walk forward then obviously with the front end I'm asking him to stop! Totally confusing for horse. I'm now aware of my legs but my lad is well used to it so puts up with it!!

Interesting. I do have to lean forward.....I need to think this through more

 

[AmyMay]

Thank you. Man look how much he's taught me in 4 days!
Honestly he is something special though. Trainer loves him and thinks he could be awesome too.

If that’s the case, spend all the time he needs to get it right. I’m almost tempted to say ‘turn him away until May……’

 

[TheMule]

As the owner of 2 rising 5yr olds, I can totally foresee both of them potentially behaving like this in the situation you have put your new horse in, and yet neither of them have ever reared/ spun before.
Take it slow, let him adjust to his new life- work him, but keep everything very easy to understand. Get off to open the gate for now, don’t carry on and create more of an issue.

 

[[59668]]

If that’s the case, spend all the time he needs to get it right. I’m almost tempted to say ‘turn him away until May……’

?? nooooooooo! Don't say it?