Really 'backward' thinking TB...

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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I really don't know what to do! I ride in the same area as i turnout...could this be the problem? (i can't change this) She just doesn't want to go forwards, everything is such an effort for her especially trot to canter transition, just don't want to go forwards! She doesn't buck/rear/silly, just won't go forwards.

However, yesterday i did a little experiment, i put a small double up and the ears were pricked forwards coming into it and she did a canter stride in between without me asking so is she just bored?

Today, i took her out on a hack and she was silly in the stubble fields heading home to the point where i got off and walked. I can't do any sort of schooling with her because she just won't go forwards, i feel mean riding in spurs all the time and even then she's not that fussed.

I always carry a schooling whip but again the ears just go back. Have tried the usual - lots of transitions, stop/starts etc to keep her interested and doing a combination of hacking/schooling/poles etc and nothing works!

She is exactly the same on the lunge, the ears go back at me and you have to really get after her from behind.

She has been checked over by my vet. I use to think it was maybe ill-fitting shoes but she is now barefoot and and my trimmer says she is absolutely fine to be ridden.

Feed wise she is fed haylage and speedibeet.

Any ideas?

Help!!!
 
first thing id do is get teeth and saddle checked -very often horses not wanting to go forward have an issue they are backing off from.--always the place i start from:)
 
I would get her looked at by a physio, vets are not always good at seeing muscular type issues that do not cause actual lameness, also get the saddle checked, it sounds physical to me, the fact she enjoyed the jumping could just mean it gave her something to focus on rather than the discomfort.
 
archiepoo said:
first thing id do is get teeth and saddle checked -very often horses not wanting to go forward have an issue they are backing off from.--always the place i start from:)
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Both have been checked. If this was the case though, she would surely go forwards on the lunge when the saddle is off but she doesn't. Back has been checked. Teeth have been done.
 
Are you able to have lessons? Always helps to have a professional on the ground to see whats going on providing there is no underlying issue (as you have said, there isn't) :)
 
Sorry this may sound daft! I had wb who would "block", he wouldnt work through his back so i started off in walk 15 mins loosing him, long and low, counter flexions to soften, moved onto trot again repeation the walking exercises. Adding large circles, gradually asking for more such as smaller circles, sprialling in. Leg yeild. Etc Getting more power from behind, until i had "unblocked" him. Until i him working from behind and soft through his back into the contact i couldnt even entertain canterwork! Such a complex horse to ride, Maybe you need to try a different way of schooling her? Sorry what a ramble!!
 
Most horses will protest at working where they are usually turned out and relaxing, the fact the horse is forward going when hacking indicates your horse might be protesting to the boring field x
 
Ulcers? Feed a small amount of hay (not haylage) or preferably alfalfa before riding and see if it makes any difference.

Could be pain related elsewhere. Back etc.
 
digitalangel said:
Just had this exact problem. See my vid below. before i could barely get him to trot a 20m circle. his ears would prick for a pole, but he would die on me again soon after.

It was the saddle. Get a good saddler out. even if its expensive, its worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX7dbaZv_1g
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Wow, what a difference. I will get a 2nd opinion i think by another saddler however the saddle was a new made to measure.
 
deicinmerlyn said:
Ulcers? Feed a small amount of hay (not haylage) or preferably alfalfa before riding and see if it makes any difference.

Could be pain related elsewhere. Back etc.
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She use to be on hay instead of haylage and was still the same. I switched to haylage to add condition and i was slightly hoping it would give her more fizz!!!
 
Did i not read your thread correctly? Did you say your horse is refusing to go forwards in his turnout field, perked up a bit when you put a jump up, and is forward going out on hacks?
 
Although I sometimes ride in turnout fields, I'm not a fan of it regularly. It's their place to chill and not be worked, and I do find them lazier in their own fields.

Can you section some of it off for schooling in?
 
Aarrghimpossiblepony said:
When you say she was "silly" on a hack to the point where you had to get off, what do you mean?
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She gets a bit silly on stubble fields, ie, excitable especially when we head home....she just wants to go! I got off as i have had trouble with her sillyness before and we were fairly near a main road. I got back on a bit later and we trotted and she was forward and i loved it... it was fun... it was the most enjoyable ride (all of the two minutes of trotting) i have had in ages!
 
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