MarvelVillis
Well-Known Member
My gelding was backed in May last year and we have primarily been doing hacking since then. We did a small amount of light schooling last year for a couple of months before stopping for winter. I didn’t turn him away over winter in the traditional sense as I wanted to keep him ticking over, so we were doing a couple of small hacks a week and he’s had week long breaks periodically.
A month or so ago I decided to reintroduce some school work. A few sessions in and he was becoming reluctant to go forwards to trot and he would often plant. He had a saddle check and we established his saddle no longer fitted him well, so we put the planting down to the saddle fit and got a new one fitted. Since then, he keeps planting in the school. We can get him forwards if my instructor encourages him forward with the use of a lunge whip (gently). He’s up to date with everything else - physio, feet and teeth (although the dentist is due next week). My instructor thinks it may be pain memory from the ill fitting saddle before and he’s anticipating pain. I’ve been worried it’s pain related elsewhere but he’s never planted out hacking before, and he’s a saint to hack (in company and alone), so I think if it was pain related, he would be demonstrating those behaviours more frequently? Is it just a case that he’s trying it on a bit? Or maybe it’s a confidence/balance thing in the school? I haven’t been very firm with him when he’s planted before as I’ve been worried he’s uncomfortable and I’ve not wanted to push him. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced the same and how they’ve overcome it? My instructor is riding him next week so I’m interested to see how he reacts with a different rider.
A month or so ago I decided to reintroduce some school work. A few sessions in and he was becoming reluctant to go forwards to trot and he would often plant. He had a saddle check and we established his saddle no longer fitted him well, so we put the planting down to the saddle fit and got a new one fitted. Since then, he keeps planting in the school. We can get him forwards if my instructor encourages him forward with the use of a lunge whip (gently). He’s up to date with everything else - physio, feet and teeth (although the dentist is due next week). My instructor thinks it may be pain memory from the ill fitting saddle before and he’s anticipating pain. I’ve been worried it’s pain related elsewhere but he’s never planted out hacking before, and he’s a saint to hack (in company and alone), so I think if it was pain related, he would be demonstrating those behaviours more frequently? Is it just a case that he’s trying it on a bit? Or maybe it’s a confidence/balance thing in the school? I haven’t been very firm with him when he’s planted before as I’ve been worried he’s uncomfortable and I’ve not wanted to push him. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced the same and how they’ve overcome it? My instructor is riding him next week so I’m interested to see how he reacts with a different rider.
