Now what...?

LaurenM

LaurenM

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I have a nappy unconfident cob who was getting better - I even managed to hack him up the road and back last night after walking him inhand a few nights in a row.

Today however, we were hacking in company - the other horse spooked at some mountain bikes so my horse decided to run for home. I couldn't stop him, spin him etc - he just wouldn't listen. (He is in a gag at present and had a full cheek snaffle before that).

We took them both straight back out again on a more familar route but my horse's fear just seemed to increase - i.e. tanking off into fields, refusing to stop at roads etc.

I've struggled with my nerves with him recently but still feel safe on him - it's odd. He's effected quite alot of people hence him never being owned for long periods of time.

I want to address the matter and feel that I have the patience. I'm at a really friendly yard where people offer to ride out with me - for which I am really grateful.

What next though; stronger bit i.e. pelham, send him away for reschooling, continue to work as I am - ridden 4 times in company and once on his own a week.

I feel lost :(
 
hi,
sounds like you have had a scary moment!

I would get everything checked first before you go down other routes in case there is a reason he is being nappy, have you checked his tack fits well, hi teeth have been looked at, his back looked at, etc.

If there is no obvious causes for his behaviour then i would get a professional to come and hack him out for you and help you out.

hope you can correct this problem.

laura.
 
ditto above +
maybe if you wouldn't want to send him away just try and have a few lessons with an experienced instructor so he can perhaps guide you on what to do/how/etc?
 
Hello,

Yes teeth, back and tack have all been checked. He went barefoot last Monday so he's abit foot sore - joints don't look swollen or feel hot.

He just seems to keep himself locked in fear sometimes - but only when the other horse is upset first.

I know there is no easy result but I just thought we were so close what with him hacking happily on his own last night.

Thanks for the advice :) x
 
totally agree with the above - just last week my instructor rode my nappy horse out along a lane he hates, it was brilliant to see how she dealt with it.

Being excperienced, she wasnt scared at all so dealt with it firmly and forcefully - she went along this "horse eatign " lane 7 or 8 times and to watch how his napping decreased was amazing -

also i saw he didnt buck, rear, or try to throw her off, despite beign very grumpy he was beign forced to do it - seeing this has so inspired me to do it.

Ask a very experienced rider or an instructor to ride your horse out, you walk behind and watch how s/he deals with it.

Good luck!!!xxx
 
did he behave like this before he went barefoot?

Maybe you should stick to riding on a surface for a bit as it can be a shock for their feet to suddenly have their shoes taken off and still be expected to do the same amount of hacking. Although im not suggesting this is why he is behaving like this but it is quite tough on a horses feet if their used to shoes and suddenly have them taken off.
 
He was barefoot when I bought him and I've had the fronts on for about 6 months maybe?

He's worse with the gag in than a full cheek snaffle, which makes me doubt that a pelham would make alot of difference. He's had teeth problems in the past with previous owners so he does tend to avoid the bit anyway but seemed alot happier with the snaffle.

He's also worse riding with mares, and especially worse riding on a path he's never been on before - regardless of who is hacking with us and how much calmer he is fed!

I'll speak to the YO tomorrow to get a recommendation for someone to come out.

It would be so nice to have an event-free ride. What made it worse though was another rider advising me that I shouldn't have my 'pony on public roads' - this was after she advised that her horse would kick mine if he so much as sniffed hers whilst we were waiting for a van to drive past us on a narrow lane. Is it wrong to sometimes expect a bit of empathy from a fellow rider - she left me in tears. :(
 
Hello,

May sound strange, but have you had his eyes checked? I had a friend whose horse used to do exactly the same as your boy, and would freak out for no rhyme or reason, especially when out hacking. He'd had a high turnover of owners too, and he was just written off as a highly strung showjumper.
We were shocked to find out that he was actually quite blind, seeing as he was so good at jumping (in hindsight, he could probably distinguish jumps due to the brightly coloured fillers and poles).
He was particularly bad in unfamiliar places, and when he got scared he would just go - as I am sure you know there is no stopping a panicked horse!
Anyway ... just a suggestion from previous experience that I thought may be of some help. Really hope you get it sorted soon :) x
 
That's an interesting point - thanks for that.

He had them checked when he was vetted and a few months ago when he was vaccinated so wouldn't have thought so. He is a worrier by nature though and you can see in his facial expressions that he's worried - he's like a little puppy in that way!

I will double check his vision again tomorrow - thanks again x
 
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