Reassurance and may be hugs needed

[Boodles79]

We recently purchased my competent teenage daughter another horse, we ended up with a 6yr old from Ireland with a view to eventually event. He has done showjumping and lots of hunting, a lovely horse, nice and forward with lots of scope jumping. Went beautifully both times on viewings, a little green but nothing we couldn’t work with. 100times better than some of the other horses we saw in our budget which was healthy! Fast forward 10weeks and he’s proving to be a total handful Jumping, he has his terms, turbo fast and will evade the bit by throwing his head up or down to the point he’s head butted her more than once. Back, teeth, saddle all done by the best of the best. bit is gentle, daughter isn’t handy we have days where he’s lovely and days where he’s a completely different beast with no rhyme or reason. We are doing flatwork lessons every week, just looking for support / advice - Has anyone sent their horses away for re schooling jumping? Can’t even contemplate putting her out on the xc course or hunting field the way he is. he’s an absolute dream to have around isn’t a hot horse hacking or on the yard. 90% of the time he’s completely dozy.

 

[pistolpete]

I’m no expert but was he with a dealer? Was he ridden more than once daily before? Has his diet improved dramatically? Does he get lots of turnout? Loads of reasons horses change. It takes a long time to find all the buttons too.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

What's his routine like compared to before?
Has he got enough turnout /work if no turnout, how different is his food?

You say back teeth saddle done but what about SI/Hocks/Suspensories/Neck? Ulcers?

Have you had instructor/Pro have a ride see if they notice anything?

 

[Lauraback]

I would find a really good instructor who can help you work through this

 

[Boodles79]

Plenty of Turnout 14-16hrs daily - he’s in a night. Was in 24hrs a day before we got him due to bad weather.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Good instructor that will also get on him.
Years ago experienced SJ instructor used to jump my youngster first before i got on and had my lesson

 

[Boodles79]

Yes I’m trying to find a good instructor who rides! Our dressage instructor is fab and huge improvement already with his balance etc. he was 5 stage vetted with X-rays - all clear / good.

 

[ihatework]

It’s not uncommon for the wheels to fall off on athletic young horses who have come from presumably an experienced production set up?

As capable as teenagers can be - they just don’t have the depth of experience.

I’d say lower your short term aims/expectations and invest heavily in training for both horse and rider.

 

[Boodles79]

It’s not uncommon for the wheels to fall off on athletic young horses who have come from presumably an experienced production set up?

As capable as teenagers can be - they just don’t have the depth of experience.

I’d say lower your short term aims/expectations and invest heavily in training for both horse and rider.

I 100% agree. Sound like if I could find someone who will have him for a week to school him, then teach my daughter that would be the ideal.

 

[AmyMay]

I 100% agree. Sound like if I could find someone who will have him for a week to school him, then teach my daughter that would be the ideal.

What part of the country are you in?

 

[Katelouise]

Maybe take it back to basics and do loads of pole exercises, raised poles, bounces so he has to use his brain more and think about his footwork. Agree with everyone re instructors too, my four year old nearly went back after day three but so glad we kept going and couldn't have done it without our instructor. Maybe lunge first too to get any zoomies out before your daughter gets on, we had on cob we had to turn later to shorten the approach or he'd just latch on and tank at the jump if too long a run up. Good luck and hope you find something that works for you x

 

[Boodles79]

What's his routine like compared to before?
Has he got enough turnout /work if no turnout, how different is his food?

You say back teeth saddle done but what about SI/Hocks/Suspensories/Neck? Ulcers?

Have you had instructor/Pro have a ride see if they notice anything?

Yes neck done as part of back, he was xrayed. Ulcers is one thing we aren’t sure about but no other symptoms.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I’d have him ridden for longer than a week in order to establish a better way of going. If he came from a dealer then perhaps the previous owner found him quirky also. If he’s good most of the time and sound then sounds like he’s worth working with. Good luck.

 

[canteron]

I am no expert, but sometimes these horses are produced quickly for sale, so rather than slowly produce a confident jumping horse, they just make them jump …. It sound to me as if the horse has been rushed and is a bit confused.

I would be cautious about sending him away again there will be pressure for ‘quick results’ so ideally find someone who will go back to basics and teach the horse to think not blindly jump.

By yes, definitely possible and if you find the right instructor it will be a great step for your daughter becoming a true horse person.

 

[silv]

Could he have lost his confidence? I would try starting from scratch with poles etc and see if that helps.

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

It’s not uncommon for the wheels to fall off on athletic young horses who have come from presumably an experienced production set up?

As capable as teenagers can be - they just don’t have the depth of experience.

I’d say lower your short term aims/expectations and invest heavily in training for both horse and rider.

Totally echo this. Someone I know was in a similar situation, but she has worked very hard with a great instructor - lessons every week - and has made fabulous progress. Best of luck

 

[blitznbobs]

Dare I mention ulcers?

 

[HorsesRule2009]

Yes neck done as part of back, he was xrayed. Ulcers is one thing we aren’t sure about but no other symptoms.

Thats good re neck.

With ulcers sometimes horses show vert little signs other than a slight 'lack if performance'
Yard moves are enough to bring them on in some horses.
Could possibly be worth scoping to rule it out, and if clear agree fund a good instructor who will also post ride weekly even biweekly to start and can then help your daughter with him

 

[#jackofallmasterofnone]

Young horse / new place / new rider. I think it might be more beneficial to try and find an sj coach who can work with both the horse and your daughter. You have said they have made great strides on the flat finding balance etc. In my case I have found young horses can go through little phases where they start to use themselves well and find their feet / balance / power and have a little flex. The fact he can be chill one day and then a little wired the next does sound like the kind of inconsistency young horses can display. Either way your daughter needs to learn to ride him so a coach on the ground would be the more effective way to do this I think.

 

[Boodles79]

Maybe take it back to basics and do loads of pole exercises, raised poles, bounces so he has to use his brain more and think about his footwork. Agree with everyone re instructors too, my four year old nearly went back after day three but so glad we kept going and couldn't have done it without our instructor. Maybe lunge first too to get any zoomies out before your daughter gets on, we had on cob we had to turn later to shorten the approach or he'd just latch on and tank at the jump if too long a run up. Good luck and hope you find something that works for you x

I’d have him ridden for longer than a week in order to establish a better way of going. If he came from a dealer then perhaps the previous owner found him quirky also. If he’s good most of the time and sound then sounds like he’s worth working with. Good luck.

So send him away for longer. What do most people do a month? It’s all a bit new to me, we’ve only ever had

Dare I mention ulcers?

someone else mentioned that but he has absolutely no other symptoms

I am no expert, but sometimes these horses are produced quickly for sale, so rather than slowly produce a confident jumping horse, they just make them jump …. It sound to me as if the horse has been rushed and is a bit confused.

I would be cautious about sending him away again there will be pressure for ‘quick results’ so ideally find someone who will go back to basics and teach the horse to think not blindly jump.

By yes, definitely possible and if you find the right instructor it will be a great step for your daughter becoming a true horse person.

Yes I suspect he’s been taught to go fast get over the jump.

 

[Boodles79]

Thank you everyone I am reassured. Currently investigating SJ coaches that ride! Seem to be an awful lot who don’t in our area.

 

[NR88]

Your horse doesn't sound dissimilar to @Ambers Echo mare who also came from Ireland.

They have improved immensely by returning to basics and building a solid foundation with Joe Midgley. @Ambers Echo has posted a thread documenting their lessons and subsequent competition improvement.

Joe covers the whole of the UK so would be worth investigating.

I would not be in a rush to find a show jumping trainer. As the horse is progressing with the dressage trainer doing flatwork I would want on the ground training and control sorted prior to jumping and some consistency of training.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

He s 6 and with all the changes in his life is probably pushing all the boundaries. A good riding trainer to work alongside teaching horse and then your daughter on the horse might be the way over this blip.