Really upset - don't know what to do!? Sorry Long and Ramblin'!

MrsHutt

MrsHutt

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Went up for a lesson this afternoon, gave Hugo a good brush, a carrot and a cuddle! The Hunt was going by, so all the horses, including Hugo were a bit 'hoppy', also very windy so didn't think anything.

Took him into the school (went in nicely after being reluctant last week) and was going to walk round waiting for instructor. There was one of the little girls in there poo picking and he jumped a bit when he saw her, then was very 'lively'. I walked round a bit, but he was getting more and more excited and wouldn't walk steadily (little girl left). I felt he would be 'off' given half a chance. Then instructor came in and he went really lively and I couldn't control him. Really scared me - so I got off.:eek:

We got one of the yard girls (probably the best rider there) to come in and ride him a bit, but even she struggled. She said he was very sharp when she took him on a hack (last week) and thought that if anything had popped out at him, he would have been off and she wouldn't have been able to stop him.

They can't really use him on the school as he is so sharp and strong now, so he's not being ridden between my visits - not that I would take him out now, I am just too scared.

I don't know what to do. Last Sunday we had such a good lesson; he started off not listening and being very nosey! But by the end I really thought he was listening to me and did everything I told him.

It is almost like he has gone wild - he's living in a mixed herd, which he isn't used to. He can't cope with a group lesson and is too strong for the youngest girls to even take to the field.

This is not what I bought! What can I do? I have no come-back with the seller, I know. YO says sell him before I become too fond of him (I do love him already - but I know I can't keep a horse I can't ride!)

I know to some of you expert riders this won't sound like any sort of a problem, but I have so lost my confidence, I am sitting here crying as I type this and am so disappointed. I thought we were going to have such fun together.
 
What are you feeding him, how much turnout is he getting and how often and how hard is he worked? If it is any consolation a lot of horses are a bit above themselves at the moment and it will all be easier when the weather improves!
 
Is it just this week he's been full of it then?

I know recently a lot of even the dopiest of horses have been a bit lively.

Could you call the previous seller and just have a chat? You haven't had him long, maybe there is something you're feeding him that might be making him behave like this.

Do you keep him at a riding school? If you can't go up during the week, could you get someone to lunge him every other day to just take the edge off him.

You haven't had him long.... he may not have settles into his new life.
 
He's living out at night (rugged and not clipped), he has ad lib hay in the field and gets one small mixed hard feed when he's in during the day. I did wonder if that could be something to do with it, but she says there's nothing there to hot him up and it's just a bit to keep his condition while living out. He's not being worked as much as I would like. I had hoped that he could be used in the school in the week (I can't get there in the evenings until they get lighter), but YO says there aren't many who can cope with him. He had been on one or two hacks, but that was when he first came - this seems to be a recent development!

I must say that all of them up there were a bit 'bonkers' today (Hunt, we thought)!
 
Personally....I would say the Hunt wound him up! All the beasties in the yard would have been a bit yahoo that day is my guess!:)
Give him a few days to settle again, get back on on a non windy day and see if he is improved.
I must admit....as an instructor myself I am getting a little tired of the posts on here where the poster has been told to sell the horse by the instructor...... Perhaps a change of teacher?
Best of luck
Bryndu
 
Don't cry. :0(

I think lots of horses are feeling abit full of it at the moment. My mare who has always been sharp had turned over a new leaf 1/2 way through last year and was quiet as you like. (even took her hunting with no sillyness, truely amazing!) Unfortunately she had to have a few weeks off due to the ice and an abcess and has returned to stupid head again. She jogs and bucks in trot if behind. little sod.

She lives out 24/7, is ridden 4/5 times a week but is on ad lib hay (but no hard food) so I figure she is just feeling well and hopefully will settle but my point is that lots of horses are feeling full of themselves just now and if your boy isnt getting ridden much and the hunt has just gone past of course he will be sharp.

Increase your turnout, cut your feed and try to excercise him more, even if you can only manage to lead him round - at least he is remembering youre the boss lady! If still scaring the bejesus out of you in a month or so then maybe sell him then, in the meanwhile try to stay objective and not fall more in love (not easy I know!) and dont be sad.

also I found putting a strap accorss the front of my saddle, like a handlebar really helped me, something to hang on to when they are being a bit full of it!
 
First - sympathy - I know how you feel, because I've been there and still visit occasionally, to be fair.

Cold weather, too little work and too much feed/ food of the wrong kind can send any horse a bit nuts. I have to be really careful what I feed otherwise my kind, willing gelding turns into a turbo nutter headbanger. It also sound like you've not had your horse too long, so it might be worth considering whether he's getting a bit above himself because he's not getting consistent boundaries.

If my confidence drops, I try to do things where I still feel comfortable. That may mean lunging or longreining first. Getting an instructor (like you have) is also a really good move in my opinion.

These are just ideas/suggestions. It's not wrong to admit that he's not the horse for you, but don't feel you have to give up yet either. Take your time and good luck.
 
Unless he desparately needs condition, I would cut out the hard feed and just give him a handful of low sugar chaff when the others are fed. I would also lunge or loose school him before you get on next time you ride.
 
MrsHutt said:
He's living out at night (rugged and not clipped), he has ad lib hay in the field and gets one small mixed hard feed when he's in during the day. I did wonder if that could be something to do with it, but she says there's nothing there to hot him up and it's just a bit to keep his condition while living out. He's not being worked as much as I would like. I had hoped that he could be used in the school in the week (I can't get there in the evenings until they get lighter), but YO says there aren't many who can cope with him. He had been on one or two hacks, but that was when he first came - this seems to be a recent development!

I must say that all of them up there were a bit 'bonkers' today (Hunt, we thought)!
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I'd ask what is in the feed.... I know she says there's nothing to hot them up, but some horses just don't get on with even some non heating feeds (my old boy couldn't cope with any form of sugar beet! Sent him nuts!). My friends incredibly lazy cob (barely has a pulse) is so full of it at the moment he's had his "energy filled" feed reduced back to Hi fi as a token gesture.

Don't know about where you are, but there was a very strong cold wind today. Got right up my girls bottom!

Could you pay them to lunge him for you if they won't use him in the school?
 
first of all ((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))

It can be very difficult to decide when enough is enough. However, it sounds like you haven't had him long? He may still be settling in. Very good idea of if you can have him lunged a couple of times a week to take the edge off. What about lunging him before riding, if he's being fresh?

I agree with the other's that many horses have been out of sorts lately. F has been difficult to catch and normally is stuck to me when I'm in the field.

What does your instructor think?
 
Mine isn't getting any hard feed at the moment, he is out in the day and has hay at night and a handful of chaff with vit/min supplement with a bit of SBP to mix.

He is normally very laid back was like a racehorse yesterday, very keen and raring to go.
I think your horse needs to drop ALL hard feed, apart from a bit of chaff so he thinks he has had something. He needs exercising in the week, and then a 2 hour hack on Saturday and again on Sunday, repeat for 2 more weeks and then see what he is like.
 
If i was you i would cut all hard feed out it doesnt take much at all to affect some horses, if the hunt was there it will have had an impact even my youngsters who have not hunted yet go off their trolley when they hear the hunt one of them paces around the field and goes off his feed for a couple of days.

If your horse has hunted in the past it could have exited him, and if your horse is in good condition it wont need the feed and it will be contributing to the behaviour some of mine can handle feed but a couple you only have to show them the feed sack and thier attitudee changes for the worse.:eek:
 
As the others have said cut out all the hard feed, or at least find out what's in it. We had a pony only used to have to see a bag of barley and he went nuts, and sugar beet which is considered to be fattening and none heating was definitly a no no. The horse we have at the moment was on box rest and ad lib hay, no hard feed at all, and it only took a couple of days before he stopped looking for food when the others were fed.
 
Thank you everyone for your nice, kind, helpful replies (made me cry more! Whimp!)

I think I will ask her not to feed him - he LOOKS fit as a fiddle! When he arrived he wouldn't eat the sugar beet in the feed, and I noticed today he had eaten it all up! I think that might have something to do with it.

I will ask the girl who rode him today to take him in the week for me (I'll pay her) and see how we go. I had fully intended to take him for a hack today (although weather was not what they had promised!), but there was no way after that (non) lesson! I really lost all the confidence I had regained since the fall (September). :(

Another of the 'expert' riders is going to take him out tomorrow first thing for me. I will go up at lunchtime to see what's happened.

I have never lunged an horse - I wouldn't know where to start! If I did, I could go up early evening and do that - maybe there is someone there who can help me; I'll ask.

Thank you everyone, so much (have a chocolate digestive now, like I am!). I have a glimmer of hope, I think?!
 
as others have said, cut the hard feed, lunge him hard before getting on, try to get more exercise into him during the week, lead him to and from the field in a bridle or chifney or bitted headcollar, and avoid the hunt. If none of this makes any difference, maybe try a magnesium calmer in his feed. If that doesnt work im afraid you might have over horsed yourself. But, i wouldnt just get rid of him right now without trying a few things first. TBH he just sounds way too fresh! Everything has been a bit loopy lately!
 
MrsHutt said:
I have never lunged an horse - I wouldn't know where to start! If I did, I could go up early evening and do that - maybe there is someone there who can help me; I'll ask.
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get someone to teach you - stand in the middle to see exactly what they are doing and seeing and take it from them after a while. Its not that hard once you get the knack, you just have to be firm and keep them going forwrd. Good luck!:)
 
Mrs Hutt, is he on working livery? How much of his daily care do you do yourself? I'm wondering if it would be worth looking for an experienced sharer. It sounds to me as if he could do with a bit more regular work. (Maybe no riding school work at all, who knows how it would turn out?).
 
Tinypony said:
Mrs Hutt, is he on working livery? How much of his daily care do you do yourself? I'm wondering if it would be worth looking for an experienced sharer. It sounds to me as if he could do with a bit more regular work. (Maybe no riding school work at all, who knows how it would turn out?).
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Yes, he's supposed to be working livery - but he's too much for anyone there, apparently. I look after him when I can (not weekdays, term time) I think you could have a good idea there - there might be someone willing to share - trouble is, I want to ride weekends and holidays (I'm a teacher), evenings in the summer. That's when everyone would want to ride! I know from when I was looking to share - I could not find my 'opposite' person! My friend will be able to ride for me in the summer (she has a terrible broken leg at the moment - horse fell on her), but she will want something VERY safe and ploddy (as we thought Hugo was!)
 
MrsHutt said:
When he arrived he wouldn't eat the sugar beet in the feed, and I noticed today he had eaten it all up!
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If that is normal molassed sugar beet (which I suspect it is likely to be if you are at a RS) then that is almost certainly part of the problem being 20% sugar!
 
hi 1st of all hugs and dont panic or tell yourself you cant cope. Im having a wobble or close 2 1 with my horse as hes been a bit fresh lately.
tHEY ALL GET SILLY AT TIMES AND NOT JUST ONCE.
iF YOU ARE UNSURE BE HONEST AND ASK SOME1 TO HELP YOU. hOW ELSE WILL YOU LEARN. Looks as if youve been doing so so far which is good
Grrr sorry just saw caps was messed up again...

Take it slow, take help. A firm but fair hand is best with horses and you can learn from who ever helps you how to enforce it.

Im just looking in2 possibly getting a share for my horse so I dont loose my nerve on stuff. I hope im getting there before theres a real problem. I will sit myself down and give myself a talking too lol:rolleyes:
 
Strongly recommend you get your teacher to teach you to lung properly. 15/20 mins of proper lunging is hard work for a horse and should certainly take the edge of your horse. I have been riding for years and competiing at quite a high level. At a dressage lesson with a International dressage rider, he decided to give all his pupils a lunging lesson instead of the normal ridden 1. I thought I was wasn't bad at lunging but the lesson taught me SO much from an expert. Now I know really how to lung properly my 2 horses have improved their balance, are much keener to use their backs and really enjoy being lunged. I thought initially the lesson was an expensive 1 with no riding...it was 1 of the most valuable lessons I've ever had.

Don't give up yet, it seems early days, certainly having a hunt anywhere closeby is enough to send plods into outer orbit! Good luck.
 
Ah, Mrs Hutt, I totally understand and I reckon that today with the wind and then the hunt scenario, combined with maybe more food than he needs and restricted turnout was just a bit too much for him to remember how he's supposed to behave!

It's not as though you've just bought him and today was the first time you'd ridden him st his new home (that's a very common problem) you have been getting on really well with him and were feeling confident riding him.

Echoing the other posts, I'd get someone to ride him for you for a couple of weeks, learn to lunge and then when he's begging for mercy, hop back up and trot on!

Most horses are eejits at this time of the year!

Good luck and try not to worry x
 
Try not to get too disheartened - its sounds like its early days and he's still settling in.

Cut out the hard feed (sugar beet is a definate to get rid of :) my pony goes loopy on it - like kids on sunny d!! ) and get someone confident to ride him in the week to try and get him in a bit of a routine.

I'm sure its a combination of the weather, the newness of the yard, the hunt etc etc. I moved my pony 3 weeks ago and he has become tricky to ride - spooky and silly and just hard work. He was a little horror today because of the wind too. He'll settle soon, as I'm sure your boy will.

Its always tough with a new horse and new yard - Hugo is probably just unsettled and a bit fizzy perhaps due to the food / weather etc. Don't give up x
 
A little trick I also use which works at this time of year is to ride in an exercise sheet. The newmarket type fleecey ones are good as they don't flap about. My pony gets really silly in the cold / wind - and having the sheet on seems to keep him a bit warmer and the wind off him, and it helps a little bit! ;)
 
Aw sorry to hear that he is starting to scare you :(
The weather does play a part in the way horses act, today ours were on their toes as it was windy, spot was jumping at things normally dont bother him, and he was VERY forward when we were trotting on our hack, if I had let him we would have been cantering up the road, (I usally have issues getting him to walk out on a normal hack!!)

Personally I would re think his feed, if he isnt living out all the time he may not need it.
Spot is way too fizzy if hes kept stabled, so he lives out 24/7, may want to think doing this?
I would get him lunged every day by the riding school/livery yard, and I would either loose school him or lunge him before you ride him.
It may be the time of year, as the horses are always more 'naughty' in winter
When you do ride him get him focused on his job, by changing the rein, doing transitions etc this may help

Hope it works out for you :)
 
maxapple said:
A little trick I also use which works at this time of year is to ride in an exercise sheet. The newmarket type fleecey ones are good as they don't flap about. My pony gets really silly in the cold / wind - and having the sheet on seems to keep him a bit warmer and the wind off him, and it helps a little bit! ;)
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Thanks - I can borrow one of those sheets, if need be. The more people have replied (and PM'd me - thanks ladies), the more I am sure it's the feed. Definitely knocking that on the head! YO has txtd me this evening and said she will teach me to lunge! So that's a positive. I am not giving up yet!

I will try a few more things before I'm calling the small ads dept!

Have stopped crying now ;) (maybe also to do with horrid personal issues a bit?), and feel much more positive and determined. Thanks to everyone! xx
 
If it helps at all, my horse who I trust 100% usually in all situations, tore off bucking twice today, and they weren't exactly tiny bucks, six or seven in a row. The other day she cantered down the road with OH too. All due to not enough fast/jumping work. When she jumps often enough (every couple of weeks will do if there's cantering to be had in between), she's a complete dobbin, could put anyone on her. I'm going SJ tomorrow - I want my horse back lol! Sugarbeet also sends some horses doolally.

I'd cut out the beet, and freeschool him/get someone to ride him in between your visits, making sure he gets some decent 'fun' fast work and some jumping. He's fresh, underworked and on feed he probably doesn't need. That will change any horse.
 
If I'm getting this right, you only bought him a few months ago, yes?

If I were you I would do several things:

1) phone the previous owners and ask what he was being fed with them (incl brand of feed, type of feed, quantity of feed, any supplements, how much forage and what their fields were like in terms of grass). He looked like he was in condition before you bought him so he didn't need any change from what I can see. I would also make certain that he is getting the right vit&min quantities for his size as from my experience a lot of yards are very lax with this and it can really effect their temperament.

2) I would check to see if he really needs the rugs you are putting on him as for instance my two are only just not getting too warm in a 200g rug with mostly grown out coats at the moment as it has warmed up so much in the last week. Overheating can also make them act strangely as they get generally annoyed.

3) if the horse is on working livery and they can't use him in the school the yard should have made you aware of this before now and either shown you how to lunge yourself or arranged a different system so that he can be used in the school.

I would say the main thing is to get his diet as close as possible to how it was before you bought him and then make any decisions.

Good luck and feel free to pm me if you would like :)
 
Sounds like he's got everyone frightened of him,I'd find a smaller livery yard so he's 1 to 1. Horses aren't machines or push button. I'd sell him on to someone who would enjoy him or you take responsiblity for him 24/7
 
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