recuperating horse - is popping to go!!! help!!!

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darkhorse123

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I apoligise to anyone who has read and responded to my previous posts - im embarrassed myself have to ask for help again!
9 yr old cob had very bad chest infection a month or so ago - told to bring him back into work very slowly by vet ie inhand gentle walks, which i couldnt begin until today due to ice and snow.
Today - took him out for inhand 10 minute gentle walk as advised and omg - a nightmare!
So so spooky - he so did not want to walk - on his toes, snorting, worrying and pulling the whole time!

Im wanting nice and gentle - hes not having it - pulling, spooking, not listening to me and generally being a pillock!

So unsafe - he spooks into me and hes a big 15 hand cob! Id be so safer and in control riding but i cant !!!

Ive been told not to ride him yet - i cannot lunge him - he doesnt like lunging - he will not go into walk until hes had a few mad rounds - (hes supposed to be convalescing!)

Im so stuck as to what to do - he needs to start off on gentle exercise but hes really raring to go, hes determined to !
If he hadnt been ill I would lunge him or let him go to get this excess energy out of him but i cant!!!!
 
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Sorry no advice but I share your pain. My horse fractured her knee between Christmas and NY and has another 4 weeks box rest before she can be turned out. To avoid her tying up rehabilitation starts now and I’m meant to be walking her in hand or long reigning (no lunging allowed)…..she is so well and literally like a bottle of pop waiting to blow. The last two attempts have been interesting with plenty of cantering, squealing and caprioles. In desperation I’ve ordered oxyshot but lord knows whether that will touch her. I’ll be following your thread with keen interest.
 
I too know your pain. my lad has been on box rest since 1st Sept. At first he was a nightmare as he wanted to play, so would rear and bounce. So I gave him 20 acp a few times, and took him out again in his bridle, as he bounced around gave him a few hard tugs on the bridle (not nice as he is mega sensitive) BUT IT WORKED now I take him and he doesn't need the acp:D
 
I'm sorry you mean he isn't on box rest and he is still doing this?

If so then I hate to say it but it is a behavioural problem that will need working on, if a horse is turned out that long then there is no excuse, it is just rudeness and bolshy behaviour
Maybe you could get an instructor or more experience person to help you


So sorry if that is blunt.
 
soulfull said:
I'm sorry you mean he isn't on box rest and he is still doing this?

If so then I hate to say it but it is a behavioural problem that will need working on, if a horse is turned out that long then there is no excuse, it is just rudeness and bolshy behaviour
Maybe you could get an instructor or more experience person to help you


So sorry if that is blunt.
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Sorry but I agree with this! My horse was a bit of a pain to walk in hand when she was on box rest but as soon as she was being turned out (even if it was only for an hour or so) she was fine.

If he's being naughty get a stallion chain and if he wants to piss off then give him a tug. Or try a halter if you don't agree with stallion chains. And make he listen and respect you.

:)
 
soulfull said:
I'm sorry you mean he isn't on box rest and he is still doing this?

If so then I hate to say it but it is a behavioural problem that will need working on, if a horse is turned out that long then there is no excuse, it is just rudeness and bolshy behaviour
Maybe you could get an instructor or more experience person to help you


So sorry if that is blunt.
Click to expand...

please dont apoligise - i think you may be right so ty for beign honest - lol if i sound peeved its not at you -its just after 3 years youd think they would trust you - but now im putting human emotions on which is wrong - why do we love the bugars!!!!! x
 
Hat, gloves, bridle, schooling whip. Walk very close to his shoulder. Hold the reins under his chin in one hand, hold the schooling whip and the end of the reins in the other hand. Use the reins to steer him and control the pace. Hold the schooling whip in front of his chest or nose. If he starts to misbehave tap his chest with the whip. Use VERY firm voice aids, be ready to jab his shoulder with your elbow. Take him out after a reasonable amount of turnout, make sure he isn't hungry when you set off. Would he behave better with a companion? Would you feel more confident with someone else walking with you?
 
darkhorse123 said:
please dont apoligise - i think you may be right so ty for beign honest - lol if i sound peeved its not at you -its just after 3 years youd think they would trust you - but now im putting human emotions on which is wrong - why do we love the bugars!!!!! x
Click to expand...

You are really not alone! My horse used to try to kill me on daily basis! :D
 
Just noticed that he is turned out, we can swop my 3 months box rested post neurectomy op horse for your cob. Anyhow, I would stick a bridle on, hat, whip, gloves. Use the handle end of the whip to discourage leaning (a show cane is best for this), in a poking fashion. If he would long rein you could do that, I did with my last horse when he was on handwalking exercise. Also you can strap him down with a roller and side reins but I am not so keen on hand walking like this, its just something I have seen people do.
 
darkhorse123 said:
please dont apoligise - i think you may be right so ty for beign honest - lol if i sound peeved its not at you -its just after 3 years youd think they would trust you - but now im putting human emotions on which is wrong - why do we love the bugars!!!!! x
Click to expand...


I am so glad you didn't take offence and it is so so refreshing when someone sees that I am not out to get at them, just help. We have ALL done it!!

I think here in lies your problem, you obviously love him very much. maybe too much :p cobs are notoriously cheek, intelligent and often bolshy. you are most likely to nice too him most of the time

Think carefully about this question (honestly IS the key here)

imagine he is tied up outside his stable, you are stood 2 ft away from him talking to a friend across the barn. You then feel him moving over gently pushing into you. What do you do?

I suspect you move ??

If so you have just told him that he CAN move into your space any time he likes and that he is allowed to push you around.
I have had a few welsh cobs in my time and they have taught me SO SO much about body language etc cobs of any sort are very often the same.

Start small making him back up. come forward and sTOP before he gets in your space
At first it will be very hard to do as he will most likely throw his toys out the pram. BUT it will work :D
 
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