Riding has became a chore

[Kellys Heroes]

Ohhh Kokopelli.... This doesn't sound like you.
When I've had a bad day with a difficult ride, I look back at old photos and videos and see how far I've come and the horses have come...it makes me feel better in an instant. Once the exams are over with, you'll feel so much better (I can vouch for this!!)
Look back through your old posts at how far you've come.
Take a break, take a step back and remember what horses are for - if he enjoys schooling, let him do that for a week. If he enjoys loose schooling, let him do that for a week. You get the picture; take a step back and enjoy each other, even if you don't ride for a week - turn him out, lunge him, groom him, give each other a break you will get there.
K x

ETA; our girls are often much calmer and better behaved when they've had a day off, hoolying round in the field

 

[tallyho!]

i wouldn't up the calmer - too much of it can be detrimental.

If you think it's feed related just strip everything down and start a process of elimination. Start with just grass and no feed. Then add chaff. Then add speedibeet. Then if nothing, add normal feed. A couple of weeks at a time and in very small doses i.e. fistfuls a week at a time.

Orrrr.... take him off grass? Grass is very high in sugar at the mo because of the drought - it was reported on BBC R4 today infact!!

 

[Echo Bravo]

Agree with Dolly Mixture, if you aren't enjoying riding him and maybe he isn't enjoying you. KOKO has gone, and no other horse will be able to come up to his plate. But maybe you should step back and give yourself time to adjust, which I don't think you have as the bay pony's photos was your sig and now you have gone back to Kokos pics. And your previous posts sounded positive with the bay pony.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Hi Koko

I've not read all the replies, but I've found with both my TBs that they are better being out 24/7. My mare still has feed as we are trying to get some weight on her, but the gelding only gets a feed when he has been ridden - they are both totally chilled out. If you can, how about turning him out for a couple of weeks - take the pressure off - you have nothing to prove to anyone. Go and do something else which doesn't involve horses and let him be a horse - rolling in the mud and just being in the field. It can work wonders.

 

[Kokopelli]

Nope we didn't know what he was like when we bought him as we got him from the field although we knew he pony raced so we were expecting some quirks. TBH when we did buy him I was so desperate after my previous horse died I would have bought anything with 3 legs. I don't regret buying him thought, he has taught me a lot.

He is turned out 12 hours a day in a very large field where he can have a good gallop. Unfortuantly where we are its is not possible to be turned out 24/7 but when we did it at the old yard I think he was worked up because he loves his stable. He is ridden in a snaffle for quiet activities and a myler pelham for anything exciting. The other day I took him to a rally in a large field and he was as good as gold in fact I think he went the best yet but the day before he had been ridden hard so I think he was tired.

We have been competing for a while because of the quirkyness but we've still been going out for lessons and rallies. I don't really want to send him for schooling because I haven't got the money and I feel we will both benefit from me doing the work.

He is fed Blue Chip, Apple Chaff and ulcer supplement this has been seen by a nutritionist and vet who both think it's a good diet for him. Nothing has changed recently either.

I think I may compare him to Koko occasionaly and I really need to stop that and I do feel guilty when I enjoy him like I'm betraying Koko which is really stupid but could be why I don't enjoy it as much or why I feel I shouldn't enjoy him. I don't know why I've been missing Koko a lot recently, could be because of the idiot who has turned his horse out in the field and it's just set off some heart strings.

Will give him a couple of weeks off of ridden work but will keep do free school/ lunging/ long reining to keep him ticking.

 

[Charliechalk]

I had this problem with my horse a few months ago, to the point where i was really losing my confidence and was not enjoying him. Couldn't even think about selling him because he was so naughty and would buck etc, thats if you could actually get on him. I had my vet out 2/3 times, a chiro, a physio, bowen treatment and my saddle checked by 3 different saddlers, everyone of them said they were stumped and that it was a behaviour problem. In the end through sheer desperation i asked a vet from another practice to have a look at him and low and behold after 8 months of being told there was nothing wrong with him the new vet saw him lunged and immediately picked up the horse was in pain, he was referred for a bone scan and it turns out he has arthritis in his spine. I not saying this is whats wrong with Andy, just that it may be worth getting a second opinion if his behaviour is not improving. I now feel completely differently about my horse as when they misbehave for seemingly no reason it can get you down and you feel crap, i know i felt really incompetent and yes going to see him was a chore. Just a thought and maybe worth a second opinion.
Also i cut out all mollassed feed from his diet, and this really helped, have noticed even a few carrots make him go loopy!

 

[**Vanner**]

You might not feel stressed about exams but they must be affecting you one way or another - perhaps he senses it even if you don't. Perhaps a month off would do you both the world of good.

PS: have you thought about a different feed - i've known many go crazy on blue chip.

 

[amage]

Oh big hugs it's perfectly natural to feel like that at times. Have you tried him without the Blue Chip? I know he's on it to help his weight but to be perfectly honest any horse I have ever tried it on has been a complete raving lunatic on it and trying to ride and surviving is a feat akin to surviving a parachute jump with no parachute!! We have had great success with Blue Grass's Stamm 30 this season as a feed balancer to help those that need the extra weight assistance. It is perfectly natural to miss Koko & compare Andy to Koko especially on a bad day. There are days when I wonder what I'm doing with Dol when she acts like a complete eejit....and I've had her 6 years, know her inside out & back to front and trust her implicitly. Chin up...it'll get easier

 

[NeverSayNever]

Agree with Dolly Mixture, if you aren't enjoying riding him and maybe he isn't enjoying you. KOKO has gone, and no other horse will be able to come up to his plate. But maybe you should step back and give yourself time to adjust, which I don't think you have as the bay pony's photos was your sig and now you have gone back to Kokos pics. And your previous posts sounded positive with the bay pony.

Nope we didn't know what he was like when we bought him as we got him from the field although we knew he pony raced so we were expecting some quirks. TBH when we did buy him I was so desperate after my previous horse died I would have bought anything with 3 legs. I don't regret buying him thought, he has taught me a lot.

this speaks volumes i think, you poor thing ((hugs)) to you. I think its very easy in grief to throw yourself into something else,a project, to dull the pain. Now the rush of dealing with Andy's quirks is wearing off i suspect the reality is setting in. Youve done so well with him but if he is making you feel like this there is no shame in selling him on and finding your perfect partner to make to happy.

 

[rowy]

To be honest I find it a lot more with the quirky ones. My Dancer is a pain most of the time. She rushes, anticipates cantering, goes choppy and llama like and she hates jumps and white boards for a while. I have had her over 6 years and there has been many a time when I get fed up of riding her.
The thing which keeps me going is having aims and looking back at what we have achieved. Cos I do dressage, I always have aims to get Dancer more consistent contact, going more relaxed with a lower head carriage and after each riding session I look at how she was good in that session instead of concentrating on the bad, then I think for next time how to improve and best strategies.

 

[Kokopelli]

I really don't want to sell him, I'm sat here crying just thinking about it. I adore Andy but when I have a weeks like the last couple I just don't know what to do. He's really special to me and although I've had lots of downs I do really love him.

He's been on Blue Chip from day 1 so not sure if that is setting him off and although he is looking fab now I do worry about taking him off of it. Maybe I'll try reducing it and see what happens.

 

[Holly Hocks]

I couldn't get my mare to put any weight on and she was a bit mad too. I started feeding her readymash extra about a month ago and she has been at the vet today and on the weighbridge - she has put on 55kg and is calmer than she has been for ages - still fizzy, but not mad - I think a change of food might also be in order. Good luck!

 

[rowy]

Also, I have tried many a feed in attempt to calm Dancer down, including calming supplements and "quiet" feed. In the end we found she had allergies anyway and the only feed we could put her on is winergy equilibrium low energy and there is such a difference!
She used to do bucks, pull and refuse to go on the contact the whole winter and now she is like how she is in the summer (she isnt fed anything in the summer as out 24/7) calm and quiet- well as calm as a fizzy tb can be anyway. Plus she keeps her weight on so much better. Now I feed all of mine it, I am very impressed!

 

[Flame_]

The best thing for jogging horses is Loooooooong rides. Trot, and don't stop trotting until he's very happy to be granted "permission to walk". Have you got on top of his lacking condition now? If so maybe you should give a bit of endurance a go, put that energy to good use!

 

[Kokopelli]

I would say we're on top of the condition front, this was taken a few days ago:

As for endurance it sounds like something I think we'd both enjoy but how do you even go about starting it?

I think we'll have another look at food. The only thing that has changed is the ulcer supplement but surely that wouldn't fizz him up?

 

[SusieT]

I don't understand-you are not feeling able to deal with this, so send him to someone who does. It is not an admission of defeat but rather sensible, so yuo can improve him and get someone who has then got him going better show you the tools for getting him to go better. It is actually not that expensive (depending on who you go to) and all you need to do to afford is curtail your lessons/competing whilst you concentrate on getting him going better. I have to say, I am not at all convinced from your vids that you are capable of reschooling out of this without good instruction, you are only 18 so this is absoloutely not something that is unexpected, but don't underestimate the life changing advantage of some reschooling by a sympathetic professional.

 

[SusieT]

to add-the fact he went form showjumping/eventing (sucessfully if I recall?) to pony racing speaks volumes to me about the fact he may always have been like this/been raked around by teenagers so hence the fizziness.

 

[TrakehnerFilly]

Sorry you are feeling so bad at the minute, maybe the both of you are stuck in a rut at the moment and both could do with the break. From the threads I have read of yours it seems you have packed an awful lot into a few months together so now maybe finding yourself a bit deflated with each other. Didn't you bring him back into work too when you got him so maybe he needs a bit of time now to slow down for a bit and process things.

I don't think you need to sell him, don't give up hope just yet you seem such a great team and quite the partnership when things are going good from the photos and videos you have posted and even when you have had mishaps you have never sounded this upset. Take a step back and just work on the ground together. Take him on your hacks inhand and just have some bonding time. If you really want to work him then longrein him, it will do him good to work like this and you can get your motivation back as you will miss riding him. The motivation will come.

He looks good at the minute from that pic, but you would probably be worried about maintaining his weight if taking him off the Blue Chip. On the Blue Chip issues, have you thought about Allen and Page Calm and Condition as an alternative? I am sure there are plenty of better alternatives as don't like the Blue Chip for mine so it could be worth a call to a feed company to discuss.

Hope you feel better about riding soon but it's not the end of the world if you don't hack, you can always go inhand so don't feel too bad, but I am sure you will get over this feeling soon.

 

[Stacey6897]

I feel for you, I've felt like this a few times over the years, driving to the yard and there's a little voice in my head saying "I don't wanna ride this effin horse, can't do it, don't wanna", my current horse Mike can be a bit sharp and spooky, especially when he's fit, and he's so big it's just not funny

It will pass, take a break, just spend time with him without riding, cuddle, brush, plait, teach him a trick, walk him in hand, play with him, soon enough you'll want to ride him again, I promise

 

[Flame_]

He's looking loads better.

As for endurance it sounds like something I think we'd both enjoy but how do you even go about starting it?

Have a look on the egb website on the groups map or list for your area's group's website. Find out when the next pleasure ride is in your area and, if you fancy it, enter it. If you have any questions, give the organizers a ring and they'll be happy to help you.

Sorry, link - http://www.endurancegb.co.uk/

 

[Stacey6897]

To start endurance riding I think you just enter a ride and try it, I tried it a long time ago so it may have changed a bit, but basically, if you reckon you can do 20 miles in 3 hours you can join the endurance club (used to be EHPS but now I think is EnduranceGB) they have 16km and 32km set speed rides, which are qualifiers for the longer rides

I found it was ace for my old very fizzy joggy little arab x connemara, she was absolutely brilliant at it and it calmed her right down

 

[hippo-horse]

I used to have a pony who frequently drove me to tears with her frustrating behavour,she did everything you mentioned,and was also angelic at shows and rallies.Used to infuriate me to the point where I didnt want to ride,especially if I had something coming up that I would need both my arms to work for.(The bucks were very impressive)The turning point with her came when I realised she was super fit,and needed to train and have chance to have a blast around every couple of weeks to get the tickle out of her feet. If I didnt vary her work,she got bored and started to play up.She was a smart little madam,and not afraid to express herself,good or badShe was a great pony,and your post brought back a lot of memories for me.All good.Even the multiple ejections and bouncy bouncy hacks.I hope you find a solution for your boy and can enjoy him again.

 

[Kokopelli]

I do have good instruction SusieT. My instructors are fabulous and after a lesson with either I feel loads better and I do feel that I can re-school Andy. I know I'm not a great rider but I think both of us would benefit from me doing the work alongside the help from my brilliant instructors.

He has been raked about by teenagers a lot yes, but I don't rake him about.

Thank you hooligan I really don't want to send him off for schooling and was beginning to doubt my ability to school him myself.

I will look into different foods, I don't rate calm and condition at all. Didn't do a thing for him but there are plenty alternatives out there.

Will look into that thanks but will give him some time off first from ridden work and see where we go from there.

 

[Holly Hocks]

utter *******s! the whole 'send it to someone else to sort out' is the biggest cop out going, their is no 'life changing advantage' to someone else schooling your horse, the old saying 'those that can, do. those that can't, teach' springs to mind reading what susieT has said, clearly she is one of the 'all the gear, no idea crew'
Seeing your vids KoKo i do think you are capable, you just have to experiment till you find the best way of doing things, one day it will all just 'click' and fall into place, trust me I have been where you are now.

Totally agree with this - I think you are more than capable Koko.

 

[brighthair]

Give it a bit of time,have a week off from riding. I went through the "can't ride/won't ride/not riding" phase a bit ago, but now I am really back into it and enjoying it

 

[Kokopelli]

Sorry cross posted. We lunge once a week in pessoa and when I school I try to get him as long and low as possible to really work his back muscle. He had awful muscle wastage when we got him from a poorly fitting saddle and its has come back really well but obvs still have a while to go.

Wouldn't want to give endurance a go until he is more muscled though but had a quick nose at the website and it looks great fun.

 

[Nickijem]

Oh K - I really do feel for you. I have been in a very similar situation myself. Personally I don't think you should sell him but I do think you should give yourself a little break from riding and do as others have suggested. Groom him, lunge him, lead him, spend time with him - or anything you can do that you are confident doing.
I am sure you will, in a week or two, have some renewed determination to tackle his problems along with some help from your instructor, friends, family or whoever.
Good luck - you are a confident, capable rider and I'm sure you'll come through this lack of motivation in time, (just as I did) although I still do have odd phases at times!

 

[SusieT]

Cop out? How exactly? It works. Saying 'lets learn together' tends not to.. This little horse is a slightly odd fellow, talented certainly but really needs an experienced head to bring him into normality, which he has obviously been at at some point. Thre is no defeat by getitng help and no pint in being a martyr/being soft about it and talking about 'bonds' and such rubbish. Horses don't bond from you riding them. They couldn't care less if the person who feeds them carrots is the one who rides them, so long as they are getting clear signals. I'm not saying that you aren't giving them clear signals but he probably needs pushed into accepting some of the aids that he doesn't currently accept and it is quite a delicate task with a horse like him.
It is no different to lessons for the rider. In the horsey world it is looked on as the evil of alle visl to send for schooling, for no reason..
If you're fed up of riding however, there is absoloutely no harm in just chucking him out for a few weeks, there is no reason you have to rid ehim, unless you have a big competitino requiring fitness, in which case you have to decide if you are going to persist for the sake of the competition (and some would say all atheletes train more than perhaps they would like) or giv eup on that idea (no idea if you have anything coming up)

 

[Kokopelli]

It's all good and well for someone else to get on him and he behaves for them but I will never ride the same as them, very few people ride the same. The moment I get back on him it will be the same thing so surely the best route is for me to learn how to ride him rather than watch someone else which in all honesty will make my low self esteem even lower.

I havn't got any competitions lined up until July so I have no problem turning him away for a little while.

I think really I just need a kick up the arse and told to get on with it.

 

[Blaise]

Ooh i really feel for you at this moment in time. I'm in a similar situation with my 5 year old who seems to have just hit the horrible teenage stage. I've just lost all interest in riding her at the moment as every attempt ends up in some kind of battle. I've booked some lessons at my old riding school just to hopefully give me some enthusiasm back by riding a horse that does as it's bloody well told without standing on it's back legs. Said pony is fine physically too- vet/physio/chiro/saddler/dentist all been out just in case and all is fine, she's just an opinionated little cow at the moment. I have nothing constructive to add other than to say you're not on your own! Is there any way you could maybe ride another horse a few times to see if you can get some enthusiasm back? I know it's almost like skirting around the problem but if you can have a few rides on a horse who will do as it's told maybe some of that enthusiasm will rub off riding Andy?