settling lazy yet tense horse

S

samp

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 June 2006
Messages
2,471
Visit site
Wondering if any of you can help me, my horse can be lazy to ride but also becomes tense very easily - head shoots up, can canter off rapidly, can rear. She seemed to have improved but we are starting to spook again and shoot off. She freaks out at ponies running around field, dogs, birds etc. Do I school through and hope to stay on or try another alternative i.e. magnetic headppiece, calmers etc.
 
Well, have you checked all the usual things? back, tack and teeth? If not these could well be symptoms of some discomfort somewhere.
smile.gif
 
She is a quirky horse as she was backed late, teeth, back, saddles all checked recently.

If there is no scary, sudden movements etc she can go superbly. Even in lesson other day she freaked when somebody walked in to the jumping paddock and took a while to settle
 
She is 10yo owned nearly 2 years, backed at 7.5 (badly), she is bred to showjump but due to poor start has confidence issues with fillers etc. I have taken my time with her and we start doing well, hit brickwall and then seem to take several large steps backwards.
 
Has she been out and about much? It might help to start to 'socialise' her a bit, if you think you can do it without ending up on the floor. Otherwise, try putting different things in the menage each time you ride and get people to help you by carrying odd objects past etc. Start off really small until she is happy then progress. Also, try to ignore her behaviour when she does spook. If it provokes a big reaction from you it may make her do it even more.
 
Do you hack out in company? I can recommend hacking out with a very confident calm horse who may have a calming influence on your horse. Also when my horse spooks, I laugh at him which seems to calm him down and I call him a "big pansy"!!!! I just feel that because I'm reacting calmly to what he's doing he relaxes. How is she when you walk her out in hand? Does she spook the same way? Also have you tried lunging before you ride - get rid of some of that engergy?
 
I ignore her spooks and have regular lessons both on flat and over SJ. She has been out to sponsored rides (brilliant), dressage (OK though tense and not forward), SJ - spooky at fillers but ok, XC - again just green. We regularly hack and and great with traffic, if unsure head goes up I have to relax, talk to her and ride her confidently forward.
 
sounds to me like you are doing everthing right! Keep at it, she'll get the idea in the end. Try giving her exercises to think about on the hack - I use leg-yielding, half-pass and shoulder-in to get my youngster listening. Sounds like her confidence is poor so try to get her to look to you for commands and support. My youngster ignores me then panics so I'm having to spend a lot of time getting her to realise I might actually know what to do and that she should listen to me!!
Chin up tho - sounds like you're doing a really good job!
 
I agree with OE - sounds like you are doing everything you can. I think the fact the your horse was started late will mean things will take a bit longer to start with, but I'm sure if you carry on as you are you will get there in the end!
smile.gif
Good luck
grin.gif
 
OK thanks guys, I will continue to do what I am, it is testing my stickibilty at the moment, but I am hoping it is a phase and she'll chill out again
 
Yep, I agree with everyone you're doing everything we would all have suggested. My boy was a carriage horse and as far as I'm aware hadn't done any ridden work until I took him on 2 years ago at 9 years old!!! It can be done. At least you're reassured now by everyone's replies that you're going forward and in the right direction which will boost your confidence and make you feel a whole lot better which inturn will improve your relationship with your horse. Do keep us posted on how things are going.
grin.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top