harrysmum
...
Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience or any ideas. Some background info first:
I bought my current horse ( Connie x) last year as a just backed 7 yo. He had been over from Ireland for about 6 weeks and I was told hed done nothing. He was very, very green both in the school and out hacking- he still does not like to go out on his own ( which is fine as no rush) and is very suspicious of changes in road surface/ water on roads but fine on grass. I've put this down to the fact that he's probably spent most of his life on grass and as part of a herd. He seems very immature in some ways but very sensible in others - hard to explain.He is fine to tack up- no issues at all, and to ride. He did used to overreact to aids before he understood that he didn't need to rush everywhere- oddly, he is quite laid back in some ways.
The thing I'm finding quite puzzling is his reluctance to be stroked- mainly anywhere other than his head. He will lay his ears back and pull faces when I stroke or groom his back, loin, hind leg area in particular. I've tried gentle/firm pressure, different brushes, using my hand, talking to him- sometimes he has even raised a hind leg in my direction but has never kicked.
Someone on the yard has suggested that it could be a magnesium deficiency which is causing him to be over sensitive but I am also wondering if it's a lack of trust and will improve over time with consistency and patient handling.
Thoughts please.
I bought my current horse ( Connie x) last year as a just backed 7 yo. He had been over from Ireland for about 6 weeks and I was told hed done nothing. He was very, very green both in the school and out hacking- he still does not like to go out on his own ( which is fine as no rush) and is very suspicious of changes in road surface/ water on roads but fine on grass. I've put this down to the fact that he's probably spent most of his life on grass and as part of a herd. He seems very immature in some ways but very sensible in others - hard to explain.He is fine to tack up- no issues at all, and to ride. He did used to overreact to aids before he understood that he didn't need to rush everywhere- oddly, he is quite laid back in some ways.
The thing I'm finding quite puzzling is his reluctance to be stroked- mainly anywhere other than his head. He will lay his ears back and pull faces when I stroke or groom his back, loin, hind leg area in particular. I've tried gentle/firm pressure, different brushes, using my hand, talking to him- sometimes he has even raised a hind leg in my direction but has never kicked.
Someone on the yard has suggested that it could be a magnesium deficiency which is causing him to be over sensitive but I am also wondering if it's a lack of trust and will improve over time with consistency and patient handling.
Thoughts please.