Not sure what this means!

[Janah]

Please treat me gently. My boy comes in during the day out of flies, heat and to restrict his intake of grass.

On the last few occasions of going down to hack out he refuses to come out of stable (he knows the difference between me turning him out in his field and being ridden). I have cajoled him out on two occasions. Hacked out and he has the handbrake on, though has bucked when asked to canter, not nastily, put down to yahay! He has power walked home however.

This am same thing, not keen to come out of stable, gave in and groomed him inside, gave up on riding him.

Is he trying to tell me he really doesn't want riding or is he taking the proverbial?

He is a Highland x TB and 20yrs old so no fool, maybe I am?

When he had last jabs vet told me he has missing heartbeats (can't remember the correct term) but is common in unfit horses and goes away with work.

His tack, teeth, back, worm, dentist, farrier are all up to date. He looks well eats and drinks normally.

Advice please.

Jane

 

[pip6]

Do the flies bother him on the hack? Is he feeling the heat? Maybe you could go for a hack when you bring him in (before he goes into his stable) when it's cooler & less flies. If it's a new behaviour & you've had him for years I would guess something is bothering him. It's not like you've suddenly gone soft overnight so he started to take advantage. When I had my elderly highland x arab she was a smart girl & very definately knew when she didn't like something. Personally I'd give him the benefit of the doubt & see if I could figure out what it is. Maybe even he gets more grub in the stable so it is just he's hungry & doesn't want to leave his hay.

 

[Janah]

Pip6, thanks for your input. I do give him a little feed when he comes (hi fi lite and cider vinegar) in but he has a bellyful of grass so I leave him for an hour or three so he can digest before I take him out. He also has a lie down and chills in that time. I give him more Hi Fi Lite when he has been ridden.

Jane

 

[Abbeygale]

Is he just objecting to coming out from his stable once he is tacked up? He hasn't bumped himself coming out of the door with his tack on maybe, and so he is now unsure about coming out of the door with his tack on - as in associating being tacked up with bumping himself IYSWIM? Have you tried tacking him up outside the stable maybe?

 

[QUICKFIRE]

Him not wanting to do things is a form of napping! (after any forms of pain have been ruled out). When you hack him out be firm, don't get into a battle with him, make him walk out as if you have to go somewhere in a hurry, if he won't turn a circle and start again, it won't be a quickfix, but if you do it daily and all the time! also on the return journey do the same to slow him down, turn a circle and slow him down by doing half halts, we sucessfuly, have schooled our horses for years on the road. The rule is consistancy!

 

[Janah]

He knows we are going out for a hack as I turn up in jods. I always groom and tack up outside. Think he is taking the Michael to be honest!

Quickfire, i think you may be right.

Jane

 

[Abbeygale]

He does sound as though he is being cheeky - but I always like to give my horses a couple of chances - just in case there is something the problem. But if he is still power walking home, then it can't be too bad!! lol

If everything else looks ok, then I would get on and just be really firm, and firm enough that you get responses to what you ask him. So if you ask him to walk on once, make him do it. if you ask him to bend / flex, he must do it. Can you maybe take him hacking somewhere different, and see if a change of scenery snaps him out of it?

 

[Boulty]

Is it only on the way back that he perks up no matter how long you're out for or is it more after the 1st 20 minutes or so? If it's not always just on the way back and it's just for the 1st 15mins or so then it could be that he's a little stiff from being stood in the stable for a few hours and that with his age this shows more that it might have when he was younger. As has already been mentioned it could also be that he's not thrilled at the idea of going out in the heat initially and would much rather stay in his nice cool stable, maybe if at all possible you could try riding him at the coolest part of the day and see if it makes any difference. If you always take the same route all the time you could also try taking him a different one (or do the same route backwards) to see if this catches his interest.