New owner help required

M

Marshmallow29

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 October 2009
Messages
807
Visit site
We have had a 14.1 hh cob since the summer and she is lovely. I don't really ride her because I am not very good yet and I am probably too old to learn. She is my daughter's horse really, but I do help exercise her, mainly by lungeing and loose schooling.

The problem is that we had her clipped at the weekend and she wasn't ridden until today when she was very stroppy. Do you think it was because of the clip and the fact that the weather has got colder? She didn't do anything horrible, but she stamped her foot a couple of times before my daughter got on and she tried to bite me (which is nothing new, she's always done that) and then she was quite strong to ride and wanted to tank off in canter and trot. She also got the better of daughter at one point and carted her off in the opposite direction to the one in which she was originally going. Daughter perservered and eventually horse was back to normal self. Should I worry, or do all horses have days like this?
 
Most of it is probably just a 'bad day' but I'd take a hard look at her saddle - sounds like she is associating being mounted with discomfort.
 
In my experience the turn in weather can cause these things! Ours are being very naughty recently with cheeky bucks, napping etc and we have put it down to the weather suddenly becoming cold!
You daughter did the right thing by perservering so that the horse doesnt win and eventually the horse will learn she can get away with it
 
Yes very common for them to liven up after a clip! I am sure she will settle down again soon (well done to daughter for perservering and getting her going well in the end)
smile.gif
 
If she hasn't been ridden since last week then she might just have lots of energy to get rid of. Apart from that, she is female and we all have days like that ;-) Good luck! x
 
I wouldn't worry to much - she is a cob, has been clipped and not ridden for 4/5 days and its winter!!
smile.gif


Having a cob myself I would say she is feeling full of herself as she hasn't done anything for a few days and has been clipped (always perks them up a bit!). Is she being fed? and if so what is she being fed? If she isn't doing any work just give her fibre - hay or chaff. The grumpiness etc while being tacked up could also be hunger - how is your grazing? Let her munch a haynet when she comes in. Trust me the worst thing to do is to fill a cob up with coarse mix and leave it standing around in a field doing nothing.
 
Yes it could be the clip, feeling the cold air on her bare skin. Also during the summer, the heat makes most horses feel sleepy.

Might also be worth having her saddle and teeth checked too esp as she is new to you.

By the way, you are never too old to learn how to ride!! Lots of riding schools give lessons to adults in adult only classes and you should give it a go a couple of times.
 
Thank you for replies
smile.gif
I have just bought a new saddle for her and the lady who fitted it came highly recommended. My daughter's instructor has seen her ride in it several times now and she says that it is a good fit, unlike the previous saddle which used to lift up at the back. I bought the new one as soon as I realised that there was a problem because I'd hate to knowingly cause any pain.

I am not 100% sure what she is fed because I let the lady who looks after her for me deal with that at the moment whilst I am learning what to do. I don't want to do the wrong thing you see
smile.gif
I have her turned out in the morning and then she is bought in again in the afternoon and I go up and brush her and pick out her feet and give her a bit of exercise and some cuddles. She always seems to have hay in her stable, either on the floor or in a net overnight. I think she gets fed a small handful of pony nuts and some chaff (if that is the small, chopped up stuff that I have seen in her feed bucket? Sorry, I really am a beginner when it comes to feeding). I think the other big horses get a lot more food but they go out and compete.
 
I have sat on her a few times and walked round and I am going out for a walk on her on Saturday with my friend on her horse. She's promised to look after me
smile.gif


I had her teeth checked shortly after she arrived because the other horses were having theirs done. She needed a little bit of rasping, but the dentist said her teeth were basically fine and she didn't need doing again for 6 months. Thank you for mentionning it though because I need all the help I can get. I am always asking questions at the yard and people have been really kind to me.
 
Dont worry, it will all make sense with time.

Pony nuts, chaff and hay for a cob in light work is correct, you wouldnt want to feed the same amount to a cob as a competing 16 h horse.

My horse is 16.3 and has bigger feeds than the ponies he is with.

Its great that the saddle has been checked and replaced, it will need checking and possibly reflocking in about 3 months. Do you know when her teeth were last checked?

She sounds like a very lucky and well looked after horse.
 
Yep that will be chaff!!
smile.gif
It sounds like your yard has got things pretty well sorted - find out what chaff etc she is on and if they have molasses on them. Molasses is just sugar which will make your horse fizzy if she is not being worked. Other than that she sounds fine with her hay. Cobs are just greedy!!
blush.gif
How old is she? I find with my cob - especially in the winter - that she needs to be worked at least every other day to stop her getting bored and stroppy - stroppy for a cob usually involves you getting dragged somewhere whether you are on board or on the floor
crazy.gif
. I would also suggest that lunging will be more constructive than free schooling as you are in control rather than her just charging around doing what she wants!
smile.gif
 
Her teeth were done in August so I think they need doing again in February according to the dentist. He comes twice a year to do the others' teeth so I am booked in as well. That sounds a bit wrong I think! I mean Chloe (horse) is booked in with dentist. I wouldn't fancy having that thing round my head and a big rasp shoved in my mouth
shocked.gif


We do love her and are trying our best to give her a nice life. We just bought her a beautiful stable rug and she looks lovely and cosy in it now most of her fur has gone
smile.gif
 
I will ask about the chaff. Is molasses a type of sugar?

I've had a few lungeing lesssons and I really like doing it and Chloe seems to like it too. I accidentally cracked the whip at her last time though and she didn't half get a move on
smile.gif


I haven't done the loose schooling much as I've only had a couple of lessons and am not confident to do it on my own yet. I think it might make a nice change for Chloe to do it instead of lungeing some weeks? My friend has offered for me to loose school her horse (who is really good at it) and then do Chloe straight after whilst she watches me and tells me where to stand.
 
You are doing a great job looking after her, she is obviously a well loved and cared for cob. The gag for teeth rasping looks gruesome doesnt it? I was quite concerned when my horse first had it done, but they dont seem to mind too much.

Its lovely getting new rugs, be careful, it came become addictive, I hate to think how many rugs my horse has!

Any questions, feel free to ask.

You are doing everything right and as slinky unicorn says, lunging would be good. I also think some ground work would help too and strengthen your bond such as getting her to walk and trot in hand, move backwards and sideways when asked - very useful when in a confined stable environment!
 
Hello and welcome
grin.gif


Ditto the others (I'm being very lazy today
smile.gif
). When ours are clipped the first few rides are always interesting, espcially if there is a nip in the air
cool.gif
. Add the no work for a few days and it's a recipe for Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy
grin.gif
. Something that you'll be aware of next time round, which is what this is all about, always learning
smile.gif
.

Have a hot choccy and pull up a chair
cool.gif
.
 
I wouldn't worry about cracking the whip every now and then - a little bit of speed won't do her any harm!!
smile.gif


It sounds like you are getting on well with her - there is always lots to learn with any horse so just keep asking!
smile.gif


As for rugs - well I think most of us on here probably have a rug or two more than we really need.....
wink.gif
grin.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top