Poorly ears or just being silly? (+project pony update!)

Suzie86

Suzie86

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Everything going very well with project pony who I have now had a couple of weeks with the aim of bringing on and selling. He is a 13.2 5yr old NF very sweet. Came from dodgy 'rescue centre' and I got a bargain and they were desperate to get rid of him as he was 'dangerous' to ride!! Anyway. Poor thing could barely walk as feet hideously overgrown. Also OBESE! So feet have been trimmed now and he is finally sound after being a little sore for a few days, no surprise there!! He was broken to ride but never properly so I have taken him back to basics and started again. He has been a little star and I have ridden him a couple of times now in the school just in walk and trot and he seems to know a fair bit and isnt phased by much. Our yard is fab and has loads of land and a cross country course going through loads of fields, with tracks to ride on and gallops etc. Decided to take him for a wander yesterday. Boyfriend came too on foot and we just mooched about in the fields. He seemed so happy bless him. Had a little trot and then managed a good canter - our first (he was 'dangerous' because he would apparently chuck the kids off in canter!) He was a star. Really sensible. A little rushed and unbalanced as you'd expect but seemed to love it and pulled up easily. Even trotted over a teeeeny weeeeeeny jump! About 6 inches but he loved it! I think with another month he will progress so much :) So very pleased with my little man!!!

Anyway only issue we have is getting the bridle on over his ears. He hates it. Rushes backwards and throws his head about. He even does this when you take the bridle apart and build it on to him. He is ok with ears touching normally - not great but just seems a little headshy. And no probs getting headcollar on/bridle off. Not sure if its worth getting the vet to check them or if its just psychological - what do you think? I don't know if this was a problem in his last home.

Sorry for how long and boring this was!! Will take some new piccies of him soon :)

Ta
 
Could he have been ear twitched in the past? I know a horse who is very wary of one of his ears being touched when bridling because of that. Besides general trust-building I've found distractions and going very quietly but clearly are best. Also changing the environment where you bridle (as long as you remain somewhere safe of course!) so it is less likely to remind horse of previous incidents and trying putting your hands around his ehad form a few different angles to see what he reacts best to. I did wander if it was because I knew about the twitching that is was so bad for me (as in me being tense making him tense etc) but it was noticed by two people who knew nothing of the history too, so it was definitely the horse remembering what had happened before.

Sounds like you're doing really well - good luck!
 
thanks guys - I know nothing of his background apart from the last couple of months and very little about that either!! Think I will get his teeth checked out and also see if the vet can look at his ears. knowing where he came from he could have anything wrong with him really!! He is a stubborn little monkey so I'm not ruling that out either ;) but I would rather it be that than him being in pain :( Think he will be a fab little pc pony for someone - I cant wait to find him a lovely home :)
 
feed him treats and rub his face with the bridle and then walk away. Repeat until he doesnt care about the face rubbing. Then extend the rubbing up to his ears, until he doesn't care about that either. If you are at the stables all day, once an hour, if not at 15min intervals when you're there.
Good luck with him, he sounds like a star.
 
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