odd behaviour, an help welcome...

[GroovySuzanne]

hi all,
I have registered for this forum as a last resort, i just cant explain my horses behaviour.
I have a 12 year old ISH gelding who i have owned for the last 4 years, i bought him a showjumping horse, but 2 years ago he had to have an operation on his stifle which ended his jumping days. Once he was back in work, I decided to try to aim him at some dressage which was unsuccessful due to him not being able to collect himself and not enjoying the work. I have decided that the best thing for him is to find him a nice home with someone who only wants to hack out, as he loves this will hack past anything with me. This is my problem.... he will hack past anything with me, and is as good as gold, hacks on the buckle end all the time, even on the busiest roads. With other people, however, he is not the gentleman that I know. I have had some different people ride him, so he gets used to different people for when people come to try him, and with people he knows he is ok, but with people he doesnt know very well, he is doing really odd things, he has bolted and thrown one person, and bronked with another, each time this has happened, it has been when I have not been around, because the person has ridden him several times with me there and he has been fine. this is completely out of character, he never bolts or bucks, (even my 58 year old mum who has never ridden has been on him in the school, and he was good as gold)
There is nothing wrong with him physically, he is sound, healthy, has had his teeth done, has had physio and is fine. There is no veternary reason for his behaviour, if anyone can help figure out why he is doing it, it would be really appreciated.

Thanks for helping,
Suzanne and Solitaire

 

[Cuffey]

Did he test you when you first got him?

I bought a TB many years ago from a teenager, I did know he was being difficult with her--refusing to hack past certain places but she was studying hard and only rode at weekends.
He definitely tested me to begin with--would go so far from yard stop/spin etc and refuse to pass eg cottage with barking dogs
I persisted and had 2 good years with him, he needed work every single day, the harder he worked the better a horse he was, so sold when pregnant, he repeated the exact same behaviour with the new owner until they got a measure of him

 

[Meowy Catkin]

It's probably a confidence issue. He feels safe with you and the other people that he knows. However with strangers or people that are even slightly worried (and to be fair alot of people aren't 100% confident when they try a new horse) he doesn't feel safe. When you are around, he probably is still looking to you for security, even if you aren't the one who's riding.

 

[GroovySuzanne]

he did test me a little, but it was stopping and rooting himself to the spot (which most people can deal with, he moved eventually) not bolting and bucking. he has never done this, i just dont understand it, all i want is to find him a nice home, its like he doesnt want to go.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I have a horse like this. Absolutely brilliant lad, a go anywhere, do anything kind of horse. Used to having different riders, but, if I slap an idiot on his back -someone who thinks they know how to ride and arrogant with it, my horse will warn the rider to show a bit of respect or stop doing what they're asking, because he has no intention of hacking out alone with a twit when the sensible option is to bugger off and return home.
I only let reasonably confident, sympathetic riders take him out without company and then he's fine.

 

[Snowysadude]

My boy is the same but he did the same to me when I first got him, we worked through it and now hes an angel for me and one other girl who rides him a bit but can be a git to hack only with others! I however am not in the same situation as you having to find a loan home so cant offer much constructive other than mabye get him used to others riding him in company before someone goes out on their own - that or find someone who is confident but interested in Loaning near you and get them riding him every day in company to build up trust and then on their own so they can take him and you not worry? Ahh my wishful thinking

 

[GroovySuzanne]

Thanks everyone for your help!
I am hoping your right and its just him testing people, not a very nice way to do it though.
fingers crossed he will behave himself. xx

 

[Indigo Moose]

Are the people that he was very bad for significantly heavier than the people he's good for? He may just have a sensitive back and protest having a heavier rider on board. Something to think about.