Problems with my ex eventer

[LoriotDaudaie]

I bought my 11yr old horse just over a year ago and although he does some lovely flatwork at home I am having problems jumping and hacking him.

He has had a very successful eventing career and 2 years ago he was for sold for £35,000 before being sold to a friend for £6,000. I was told that the reason for the huge drop in price was that a guy bought him for his girl friend who decided to take up riding again but she got fed up after a few months and in a fit of rage he basically gave the horse away.

I was told that he had never really hacked before and although he is perfect in traffic but he can get quite nervous of manhole covers etc. I am working on hacking and have managed to go out on a few nice hacks recently which is great.

My main problem is jumping... He sometimes gets very cocky when jumping and can act like a bit of a diva and other times he charges into the fences and then runs off afterwards. If he knocks a pole he panics and charges off thinking he is going to get beating. I have had saddle/back/eyes/teeth checked and all is fine. He is the most sweetest horse to handle and it really isn't like him when he flips out.

Does anyone have any ideas on working with an ex event horse as I have tried EVERYTHING I can think of but I don't seem to be getting anywhere

 

[Weezy]

What is his registered name? Have you had a look and analysed his record? It sounds as tho it all went wrong with the previous owner and he was sold cheaply because he had become difficult...

You are going to have to take it slowly and rebuild his confidence. You could also have him scoped for ulcers if he is a nervy horse you may find this is a problem for him.

In the meantime I would do lots and lots of pole work, small grids, nothing too taxing so as to have nothing but positives to gain from you.

As for hacking, do you hack with company?

 

[LoriotDaudaie]

His registered name is Loriot Daudaie. I have spoken to ex riders (Emily Llewellyn and Bruce Menzies) who have competed him in the past 3 years and both said he is wonderful but is too bold.

I have started doing simple grids etc but he gets so wound up and now starts to stop at the odd fence (which isn't like him at all as he loves to jump).

I hack both on my own and with others but he flips out without warning whether is is on his own and if we have an escort.

Thanks for your input ... I'll talk to the vet about having him scoped because ulcers have crossed my mind too and that is the only thing I have not had checked out.

 

[Weezy]

Well he has a clean SJ record, so for certain something has occurred since 09!

I would deffo be going the scoping route seeing that he freaks out in all sorts of different, and to him obv worrying, situations. Also a full lameness work up with a very decent vet would not go amiss.

It is great that you have spoken to his ex riders, you obv really care about him and I do hope you get to the bottom of the problem. With a good vet on your side and a decent trainer I am sure you will succeed

 

[LoriotDaudaie]

Thanks Weezy

 

[boxcarhorse]

I think sometimes when an amateur takes on the ride from professionals it can be really tricky... as the horse is used to being ridden in a very correct/strong way with no option for messing about.

You could try loose jumping him, jumping him on the lunge. And I'd be taking it right back to basics and doing lots of grids, starting quite small.

Also, have you thought of getting a professional to come in and ride him for you a bit, as it sounds like he's lost confidence and might just need a bit more help from his rider than you're able to give him?

 

[Kelpie]

can I just say, it really sounds like this has fallen on his feet with you and I’m sure you’ll get him sorted out.

I’d take a fair bet that a lot of this will resolve itself in time, as the horse gets to know you better/ learns to chill out in his new home/ learns to trust you.

The horse may well be used to a pro’s way of doing things at the moment but that doesn’t mean to say he can’t learn to relax and be fine with you..... and of course any change in home can anyway be quite an adjustment for the horse, so try not to worry too much.

One of my horses I got from a showing home that never really hacked and although he was always polite, if I wasn’t there telling him what to do 100% of the time, he’d get really nervous as he just wasn’t really used to someone not being there/ being left to make any decisions for himself – and he’d regularly get freaked out by the daftest of things.... now 3 years later he’s pretty cool about the hacking, much more confident, I can regularly leave him to mooch along on a long rein and be fine, etc..... but there was no real quick fix to it, it was just a case of initially giving the horse more of what he needed in terms of my riding being more, shall we say “strict” then it would normally be, but then slowly letting him get used to the way I like to be more relaxed about life and just taking everything in small stages.

Agree also with Weezy's comments above about + about keeping the jumps small for now/ doing grid work + loose jumping. Also, maybe even just give the jumping a bit of a break altogether for a bit?

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[DarkHorseB]

Not sure you are being told the full story about him to be honest. Cannot see how he could possibly have sold for £35k as a 9 year old having done only 4 PNs with dressage in the 40s Also no Bruce Menzies down as having evented him? I wonder who Emily was eventing him for and what happened after that?
The too bold comment could be a polite way of saying dangerously strong. It sounds like he has had a fright and a not very happy time somewhere in his recent past. I think I would be inclined to forget about jumping altogether for at least 6 months and just hack him maybe take him out to a few different places to hack him to maybe a beach or the forest to give him some variety. Basically put no pressure on him at all and try and build up his trust and confidence in you.
What is it you want to do with him - what aims did you have when you bought him?

 

[DarkHorseB]

If you google his name he has obviously been SJ'ed a fair bit too and that was what Bruce Menzies did with him I assume so maybe his value was a SJ rather than an eventer? That said the advert when they sold him did seem to sell him as an eventer rather than a SJer. They did describe him as a not novice ride so he is maybe one of those talented but quirky types.
Good luck in getting him sorted. Have you tried him on any calmers or looked at de-fizzing his diet?

Sadly it can mean when a horse has passed through a few pro riders hands they are not the easiest but they do often suit one horse homes where they can be lavished with more TLC and don't need to fit into a strict routine with others

 

[quizzie]

If you look on ffecomplet (SJ results from France), he is listed as a stallion, with results up to 2007. He was jumped extensively from 4yo.

So I suspect he was gelded when sold to the UK (assuming he HAS been gelded?!!)

The late gelding & extensive SJ record probably gives some clues to his current behaviour.It will take a long time to get him to chill out, but hopefully will get there eventually.

 

[LoriotDaudaie]

I think sometimes when an amateur takes on the ride from professionals it can be really tricky... as the horse is used to being ridden in a very correct/strong way with no option for messing about.

You could try loose jumping him, jumping him on the lunge. And I'd be taking it right back to basics and doing lots of grids, starting quite small.

Also, have you thought of getting a professional to come in and ride him for you a bit, as it sounds like he's lost confidence and might just need a bit more help from his rider than you're able to give him?

I have been riding for over 20 years and have had many difficult rides, studied at Warwickshire College and am a riding instructor. I did think of the possibility of me being the problem but I have had a few extremely good riders ride him and he still has his flip outs.

 

[LoriotDaudaie]

Thanks everyone
I do really care about him and he is an angel to handle, one of the nicest horses I have ever met so will persevere. I just wondered if anyone had heard his name and re-called any incidents he may of had, if someone had the same kind of problems with ex competition horses or any ideas on things to try as I am at a loose end.

I will keep you up-dated on any developments

 

[muddy boots]

I am currently occasionally riding a similar horse. He's been a successful eventer and SJer before something going wrong (not sure what) which ended his career and caused him to be passed on.

He only hacks in company now and panics about some things. He feels very green out on hacks, I suppose this is because he hasn't done it much. He likes to be "ridden" out on hack - ie to feel plenty of leg, I have to sit and ride properly too not bimble about.

His owner has had sucess dressage and he's sweet. He has similar quirks though. His owner and instructor are keen for him to take it steady and for us to be patient.

Not much help - just wanted to say he sounds a bit like your boy.

 

[LoriotDaudaie]

Hi everyone,

Been a long time since I updated. Things have been going great, long schooling sessions and hacking round the block afterwards gradually venturing further each time. I also took him to a local riding club Annual show to do a show hunter class and he was an angel.
Taking very small steps and seems to be working

 

[OneInAMillion]

Hi everyone,

Been a long time since I updated. Things have been going great, long schooling sessions and hacking round the block afterwards gradually venturing further each time. I also took him to a local riding club Annual show to do a show hunter class and he was an angel.
Taking very small steps and seems to be working

Glad to hear it is going well. Often taking little baby steps is the answer

 

[LoriotDaudaie]

Had Tex Gamble the back man to see him yesterday and he did a little work on him, he said he thought there was something wrong with his mouth so he had a feel around, low and behold Lucinda Stockley saw him today and he had a huge hidden wolf tooth that has now been removed. I am changing dentists as my usual one missed it. Thank heavens for Tex and Lucinda, hopefully now his mouth has been sorted and he is much more comfortable we can move on.

 

[paddi22]

fantastic! i had a similar problem were one dentist missed a problem. Thank god you got a second opinion.

 

[Countrygirl]

So pleased for you.

Another vote for Tex and Lucinda from me - they are both fabulous and I won't have anyone else to do my horses now. They are worth their weight in gold.