not sure if should be worried or not ........bit long

[Gentle_Warrior]

Here is the background, horse is a very heavy Suffolk cross cob, I mean heavy as in build, large muscled ar*se and deep chest etc. He is a weight carrier. He is 15 and in light work during the week at yard. He takes a while to warm up, can be very stiff behind but soon wears off. He is very happy and vet is happy with him etc.

He does not like school work, he spent over 5 years in a riding school.

school where we are is sand then lots and I mean lots of cut up rubber on top, it is very deep in places and seems slippy.

When I school him, very rarely as he does not enjoy it, he feels like his back legs are giving way has such or he is slipping. He does not do it out hacking which he enjoys. He is very on his forehand which through hacking we are improving.

Should I be worried ?

a) no he is fine, stop worrying it is the school
b) keep an eye on him and assess over the next month
c) get a friend to ride so that you can see him do it and then escalate to vet etc
d) school is rubbish do not use.
e) get instructor out to assess him and if need be escalate to vet etc

SOrry so long

xx

 

[brightmount]

Could you box him over to someone else's school with a different surface to see how he goes on something firmer?

 

[AmyMay]

He doesn't sound the type of build that would find school work easy - especially a deep school.

Personally if he finds it so difficult I wouldn't use it - and either school in a field or as lynwood suggested, box him to a different type of school.

I certainly wouldn't be worried though - but would just ensure that I didn't do anything to damage him by working him on a deep surface.

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

Thanks guys. It's been like it for quite a while and cause he does not do it hacking, I have 'ignored' it to a degree, but for some reason started to panic for no reason.

Cheers, he will be pleased not to go in there !!!! We only have a lesson about twice a year !!

 

[Shilasdair]

He probably finds it hard work on older bones and muscles, etc if it's deep.
You can school on hacks, in fields, etc without having to go in the school.
Or if you want to see him, why not lunge him (no side reins) on a very large circle (size of the school if possible) so you can assess what's going on?
S