Schooling through a tantrum...

[madhector]

I am getting so fed up with how unpredictable J is. He felt awesome on Sunday and then gave him Monday off, hacked him Tuesday in his hackamore as usual then got back in the school yesterday and he was horrid. He was fine until I asked for something a bit more, or new then he threw a complete tantrum (going bolt upright in the air etc..) Worked through it and eventually got what I wanted ( a few steps of shoulder in, which he used to do quite nicely but seems to have forgotten

)

Got on him today and he was still very stroppy, whereas normally the day after a tantrum he is as nice as pie. He was fine with the basics and did some lovely trot work but just felt like he was bruising for a fight...

Did some shoulder in and he remembered how to do it today, but then did some canter work and he kept running through the bridle in the downwards transitions, and when I half halted him he when straight up in the air nearly falling over backwards over the fence

Spent a while working on the transitions and then did some nice trot work to finish.

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas about the tantrums, I worry if I am doing the right thing by putting him under pressure and giving him a reason to argue, I know he does it because he is confused as it is something new, but really seems a ridiculous reaction!

Hopefully he will come out sweetly tomorrow after two days of strops

Sorry such a long post, and a bit of a random one really, but just absolutly exhausted after riding him and could do with some words of encouragement!

 

[Bossanova]

Shall PM you

 

[madgirl]

Thats sounds exactly like mine he is very similar. any advice, I would love.

 

[Jul]

It's incredibly frustrating I know.
You have to take a deep breath and try to remember: he's just a horse, probably finding something confusing, or difficult. Or maybe just not in a co-operative mood, but either way he's still just a horse - they're not capable of thinking things through and doing stuff like this 'on purpose'.

I don't know about him but I find with mine, the more I get wound up the worse she is. You're not alone, that's for sure. I think the main thing to keep in mind is patience, patience and more patience.

Sorry that's probably not very helpful but rest assured you have my sympathy as i know how hard and frustrating it can be, but aren't they great on the good days?!!

 

[Jazzelle29]

Jul- you've hit the nail on the head there. Horses live totally in the moment and react to whatever is happening at the time, rather than making premeditated decisions.

My thinking is that this horse sounds like it is in some kind of discomfort too. Even if you have had the usual things checked, consider getting a fresh perspective and another person to give a second opinion.

Madhector- whay not also find some books or DVD's about horse psychology and behaviour as it sounds like that might give you some insight as to why your horse is doing what its doing, and you may be able to tailor your training regime accordingly.

Remember- "If you do what you've always done, you get what you've always got"!

 

[madhector]

This horse is not in any discomfort, we have been through all that, many times. He is an argumentitive thug, my trainer had him for a month when he broke my leg and aggreed he was one of the most argumentitive horses she had known.

He is doing what he is doing because he doesnt like change/learning new things. When ever you teach him something new he has a tantrum, then he gets it and is fantastic, but it would be very easy to give up at the tantrum phase, but then we wouldnt have got this far!

He is a super horse but he is a horse who will really take the upper hand if allowed.

 

[Jazzelle29]

With all due respect- you are "anthropamorphasizing".

Horses can be dominant in their relationships with other horses, or ourselves- but they really don't sit in their field plotting their next big argument with us!

They react "in the moment" and some react more strongly than others. Think of how some people are natural students- whilst others have learning difficulties or anger management issues- often down to the method in which the information is being presented to them.

In addition- "pressure teaches but the *release* is the reward".

When you ask the horse to do something, it is the cessation of the aid/pressure that actually helps the horse realise it has done the right thing.

Perhaps after getting a couple of strides of shoulder in etc you could stop- let the horse have a breather/polo and let it know that it did the right thing.

Often horses get narky when we keep asking them to do the same thing over and over again without a break. You wouldn't expect a child to be doing joined up writing within a day for example.

If what you are doing causes your horse to have a tantrum, consider finding a different way to present the information to him. There are some fantastic books and DVDs out there that might just give you some more ideas to try out.

Good luck!

 

[madhector]

I never once said I thought he sat there planning what to do next!!! but he does have a very dominant personality which if you let it will get the better of you. He is the same in the field with other horses.

I was only asking for 2 steps of shoulder in, once I got that (after tantrum) he had a huge pat and we did something different. Then today he did a perfect shoulder in for me, so it obviously worked! I honestly don't think many people would have got to where I have with him as has taken an unbelievable amount of patience, and will power!

I spend every day starting and schooling on young horses, and find my methods work very well, j is definatly the trickiest horse I have come accross but when he gets something he really gets it.

 

[amage]

i have a mare who does this...the bad news is she is now 12 and didn't grow out of it!! have learnt that the best way to work her through a tantrum is usually lighten off the rein send her forwards for a lap or two of the arena and then brng her back and ask again. i equate it as the horsy version of giving yourself a shake, going grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr then focusing again. if i push it and try to ride through too hard she just explodes and it becomes a real fight. this way she has to take my leg and move forwards but is not struggling to contain herself. i'm a great believer in allowing a silly five mins as i think the work you get after getting it out of the system is far far better than when i try push her through. and if i know she's a bit full of herself before going to a show she gets a wee lunge before we leave so still gets her silly 5 mins. it works best for this mare anyway...hope its of some help