Should I get something more experienced? Thoughts?

Resisting the urge to shout "fight" from the sidelines

On the other hand competition riders has got boring recently

Just another thought - at the age of 6 is that really this horse's first outing? I would want to get mine out and about aged 4 so they get knackered more easily! Might explain why its more beside himself that horses this age that have seen the world
 
Firstly you need to take some pressure of your horse. It was both yours and his first competition and you've already decided he's stressy and nervy? There are very few horses who wouldn't be in that situation. I'd understand your moan if this was his 10th competition and he hadn't improved so you definitely need a bit of perspective here.

My suggestion would be to get him out and about as much as possible and soon these "pony parties" will seem less exciting to him. Don't worry about the results at all! He is young and inexperienced. You said so yourself that you did a very accurate test and that in itself is a great achievement with a young horse. Focus on the smaller things that went well and believe me they will multiply as you do more and more.

Edited to add that I completely agree with KrissmassKatt about your use of terminology. I understood from your post exactly what you meant when you say bolting but I think for the sake of your confidence and state of mind you really need to make that distinction in your mind. Bolting is downright dangerous and most true bolters end up having to be either retired or PTS because they literally will not stop galloping for miles, no matter the obstacles in their way. Tanking off however is what your horse does and I think that if you call it what it is it will help lessen your nerves. Making it sound worse than it is will not help matters.

Same for the hairy yak/numpty comment. If you look on this forum there are several extremely talented and successful hairy yaks so don't underestimate them. It's very insulting to all those who compete on cobs, successfully or unsuccessfully. And those numpties are real people who would probably be delighted just to ride an accurate test and who don't really care about what place they come - they ride for pleasure.

You say you're impatient and IMO that is disastrous with a green horse. If you want to go out winning things then yes, you should buy something more experienced. However it sounds like you have a great horse who with a bit of time will be as good as you want him to be. Whether you are willing to invest that time is another matter.
 
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@ Jen Cots - haha, LOL - my thoughts exactly!! regarding your comments
"Resisting the urge to shout "fight" from the sidelines

On the other hand competition riders has got boring recently"​

@ some people (including ihatework) - thanks for positive constructive comments.

@ some posters - chill out, be happy! I didn't expect to win, I would've liked to be somewhere in the middle, to be honest, I did not expect to get second last! It's just that we've worked so hard for weeks /months to prepare for this day.

As for the hairy yak / numpty comment - haha - I was having a laugh, and didn't mean it in a derogatory sense - I was more like asking whether I should get a hairy yak as it would be more sensible than mine. It wasn't aimed at any breed, some people have suggested that it was aimed at cobs - but I think cobs are lovely, and not always as easy as people might think. Some riders at the show arrived on let's say "non-stereotypical competition horses" (is that PC enough?) :) - and despite the horses not having much style, presence or movement and there was a very reduced rider /horse accuracy in the test with lots of mistakes - but they were so laid back that they scored better as they looked relaxed. It was a learning experience.

To give you a bit of background, I sold my previous horse in May after having him for three years. He was a stunner, but huge (17.2) and unpredictable, and I had some serious accidents on him, which meant that I was unable to walk for several months, let alone ride. He destroyed my confidence completely, and I was unable to get out to anything with him because he was so unpredictable. I worked hard riding other safe types for over a year (while still paying for full training livery for mine) - to build up my confidence with a view to start getting out on this boy. But I realised I would never trust him again, and decided it would be best to sell him and start fresh.

So, I've been waiting years for this. I bought my new horse (sold as a safe, relaxed ride) - with the view to finally get out to start competing. Once he arrived (I imported him), it became very clear that he was not safe or relaxed at all, and I've had to deal with his behavior - and yes, it is blind panic bolting. Anyone who's seen it will confirm this. He explodes, bolts like a racehorse and is unstoppable, it is sheer terror for whatever reason. He recently put me in hospital for a week after one of these incidents that also involved broncing, and I was unable to ride for a month due to some serious injuries. I've really had to deal with a lot of behavioral issues.

This accident delayed things even more, and I had to have a long think - should I keep him? Is he safe enough for me? Will he calm down? Will it be worth it to keep going (as I did with my other one, only to admit defeat years later, and many, many thousands of pounds later). Or, do I look back, and say "look how far I've come, he's improved a lot, I am a stronger rider for it, we will get there in the end"?

Anyway, after a long chat with Tempi, it's the latter. I'll keep going, keep trying. I will get him out regularly with less pressure and more time to warm up obviously! :) (the reduced warmup time was unavoidably due to my transport being late).

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, and for all the positive, encouraging comments :)
 
I think you need to have a proper think about whether you want to put the work into a green horse, and potentially get something great, or like you say, sell up and buy something more ready-made that you can go straight out and compete.

In terms of education for your horse I would start taking him out to competitions and venues (the busier the better) and letting him just get used the atmosphere. If he is chilled, then warm up as you would for a test. Just take things a bit slower without the pressure on yourself.

My last horse was VERY hot and was always very tense- constantly on the borderline of exploding. I had to get to a venue about 1 1/2 hours before a test so he could relax, look around and not be rushed.I used to spend ages walking around on a loose rein before even starting to warm up. Something else that helped was to establish a clear warm up routine- I had the same warm up routine and same pattern at home and at a competition.

Something to remember with a tense horse is that you wont diffuse them by trying to work them for ages and ages (i.e. by lunging for yonks before you go).

I'd be really happy with how you did and the fact that your first outing is done and you managed a decent test!
 
Hi Andiamo,

Just seen your post!

I REALLY understand what you are going through trust me. I imported my PRE Andalusian about 18 months ago from Spain (unbroken 5 year old) and he has been a nightmare! he used to PROPER blind panic bolt when he had a panic about something or didnt understand. Honestly, he was so bad I ended up sending him to Warwick McLean to continue his backing as nobody else would touch him! Warwick was amazing (check him out online!) and he would then do anything for Warwick. Warwick has now moved to Sweden as did a year in UK (as he is from Oz) but he does clinics in UK every month (I REALLY recommend him!). Anyway, he was so difficult that I was frightened to ride him.

To cut a VERY long story short, for the past 6 months he hasnt bolted at all and was in training doing really well. I had got my confidence back with him too and was doing well. It was all because he was so un-confident basically (as I got him from natural horsemanship people in Spain who rescued him off spanish people that had just dumped him in a field!), as now he has settled into UK life (having friends in field and yard) he has got over things. He is not a naughty horse at all and so wants to please, easy on the ground it was just being ridden (but it was all new to him). He really is so sweet. Just prob was not a good buy as I went from warmblood/ISH to andi because I had bad jumping accident so dont jump anymore. So no the most confident person! saying that, whoever rides him.....he is still less tense when mummy rides :) he does love his mummy, every notices that at the yard :) he also is very tense!

I have lots of videos and pics of him, if you would like to see him in action? you can see how tense he is!!!!! let me know.

I know what you are going through. Just give him time. They are sensitive horses and are quite 1-2-1 horses.....so you will get there. The most important thing to remember is that he wouldnt be doing it to be horrid, they are just not that sort of horse (if your one is PRE anyway!). Hope this helps a bit :)

P.S - My one just done his suspensory ligaments in hind legs. He got to have operation so Im very sad at the moment :( :( :(

Sam
 
I have read through all the various posts and you seem to have an excellent trainer who clearly knows you and your horse.

HOWEVER your lost post puts a completely different complexion on the whole thing. You speak of accidents with a previous horse, an accident with this horse and him being a 'bolter'. TBH life is far too short and their are plenty of dangers inherent in riding horse so to take unnecessary risks seems (to me) to be bordering on suicidal!

There is an article - on bolting- in this months edition of Horse which you may find makes interesting reading...
 
bolts like a racehorse
Click to expand...

Eh? I don't understand what you mean by this - racehorses don't bolt (at least not the vast majority.) Do you just mean he runs off quickly?

To be honest if he really is a bolter and you've previously had a dangerous horse that put you in hospital and destroyed your confidence, then I'd say get rid. If he just takes off a bit but its a trainable issue that you can cure, then its not really bolting and I'd say persevere if he makes you happy.

True bolting is extremely dangerous.
 
I have to say I wouldn't have the courage to keep going with a horse that unpredictable if it had put me in hospital. I guess it depends on your situation- I have my own business and just can't afford to take risks like that. To me, riding is about enjoying it so I would say it would depend whether you really look forward to riding him or not. If you do then keep going, as everyone has said he sounds a very talented horse that will surely continue to make progress with time. If however, you are starting to dread riding or or have serious trepidation about it then I would say there are plenty more talented but sane horses out there for very sensible money at the moment. But you would have to also take into account he may not be easy to sell as he really would need the right home.... Good luck whatever you decide long term
 
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