Earth82
New User
My part standardbred is currently retired due to issues I had training her. I did have a couple of trainers out but it just didn’t work out with them as my horse has specific needs. She’s a very spooky horse at times who takes her reassurance from other horses. I believe she is a 5 gaited horse due to her breed. One very experienced vet suggested she just has an unusual gait due to her breed but he did not believe there was an issue beyond this and advised she just needs her topline built up. I also posted her videos to a very experienced trainer overseas (so this is out of the question sending her to him) but I asked for his advice. He advised me that her behaviour will be deeply rooted in her natural flight instincts which could be more pronounced than in other horses. He suggested that it is possible to address these instincts but it does require a specialised approach which not all trainers are able to provide. He suggested that most trainers focus on traditional methods that might not be effective for her due to her heightened flight response. He also advised that these techniques can make it worse as she would feel misunderstood and threatened. To be honest all this is very true as the trainer I sent her away to for a few weeks just over a year ago basically used all devices on her and she came back worse than she went and very withdrawn (and certainly no better under saddle). Can anyone recommend a suitable trainer and ideally one with some experience with trotter breeds? I tried to explain to one trainer that due to her breed she struggles with tight circles but they still kept doing this and my horse was getting very upset and trying to break loose. When she has a large enough circle on the lunge she is actually very good and responsive to instructions and her ground manners are very good also. It’s under saddle she is very unpredictable and tries to throw the rider off and most often does. Due to it becoming too dangerous I have refused to let anyone attemp to ride her so she has been out of work for a good few months. A lot of tests have been done (kissing spine etc) and all came back clear. I just think she deserves a chance with the right trainer to see if she can ever can be a riding horse. I’d be grateful if anyone knows a suitable trainer ideally in the North West but under the right circumstances I’d send her further afield.
Trying to unlock the walk/trot straight into canter without the weird fast pace! We do a lot of hacking, as the school is small, but try to work on bits when we’re out and about in the woods. Luckily got a good long canter track. He does seem a bit weaker/underdeveloped compared to some at his age/stage. Working on that with vet physio etc.