Problems using a sand school

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BigRed

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My horse had been going well in the school and doing well in competition. Then as the sand surface started to dry, he decided he would not go forward and eventually started to nap and rear.

He has been thoroughly examined by the vet, the physio and the saddler and they all say nothing is wrong. He hacks out with no problems and walks, trots and canters normally and without resistance.

My vet thinks he is being difficult and says I should ride him more firmly. I have been as tough as I am prepared to be on a horse who is clearly unhappy in the arena. I admit he is a nappy sod at times, but we have gotten through this and I find it hard to believe the soft and obedient hack can have a problem in the school, unless it is the surface.

The school I use belongs to a neighbour. It is proper equestrian sports sand with some plastic granules. I harrow it, but I am not allowed to water it. I want to know if anyone else has a horse who cannot "act" on sand.
 
Does your farrier have any suggestions? Maybe you could try with pads and see if it's a sensitivity issue? Though it sounds like he's fine on other surfaces so I don't know why dry sand would be different.
 
Dry sand can be very holding and deep. I'm not sure I would want to be forward going on it - it must take a great deal of effort. Can you use a different arena, or school in the field?
 
A deep surface can often show up low level lamness issues. Has your vet seen you lunge and ride the horse on the surface ?? This would be my next thing to do. It could be many issues but issues such as spavins and back problems at the early stages, from my experience, can show when the limbs and body is put under pressure from the deep going. Also have you tried him in another school with different surface as that would be interesting to compare. The fact he used to be ok and now it's got deeper is not, indicates to me there may be an issue
 
I have this problem. Recently moved yards and the outdoor school is much, much deeper than my old one. So deep in fact that my mare thinks it is nice to roll in - which is naughty when on the lunge and VERY naughty when she completely forgets she has a rider on her back!

She has muscle problems and arthritic changes in her hocks and I think the deep sand causes her to be sore somewhere. I have also found that it really highlights how wiggly she is. The track tends to form a bit of a gully and unless I really focus on keeping her straight then her hind quarters swing out. Given we're riding in a gully that can mean one or both hind legs a few inches higher in the sand than her forelegs.

I can tell when she's getting annoyed because she starts to nap and the ears go back. My way of managing this at the moment is to try to only ride in the sand school when it has been raining / harrowed so the gully is much reduced. I do a fair amount of schooling in a paddock and then pop her in the sand school to do transition work, which avoids too much turning across the deep stuff. I know the spots where the surface is really deep and plan my schooling so we are walking at those points.
 
Can you simply go and hire a different arena or two to try the horse there? Ideally one which is also similar sand, that might rule out if he's just being nappy in your particular school or if it is in fact the sand he dislikes?
 
Have you tried trotting round on a sand school, on your own 2 feet. It is very, very hard work. Give the horse a change in surface, it is good for them anyway, they shouldn't be constantly ridden on the same surface.
 
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