Specialist Trainer Needed

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CBJack

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Hi Everyone

I have a 5 year old section D gelding. I rescued him 2 years ago, sadly before I had him he had been driven as a yearling and beaten badly and because of that over the past 2 years I have found numerous acute injuries. However in spite of this he copes very well and enjoys life!

I have backed him and he is capable of a nice walk and trot. I was having difficulty having him accept any contact – he has been rearing and refusing to turn left. X rays have shown that he has been beaten so badly on his neck behind his poll that the ligament has suffered chronic damage and will never be able to be repaired. He is not in pain as long as there is no contact and therefore I will not be able to have a contact with him ever unless he chooses too.

The vet has said in order to ride him I will have to ride in a completely different manner. He has to be so sensitive to voice, leg and seat as I can no longer use my hands so I will have to have an entirely new form of riding and effectively re back him, starting with join up (which he is not good at). He did say that if this works I will have an amazing connection with him though. Trouble is, he is a bit of a character and can be a handful (due to his age/breeding and background). I ride him in a pelham and he is very strong and a power machine. He also has a temper and if he gets bored or thinks he knows better than I know about it. This is going to make everything very difficult!

I need advice on trainers – any suggestions on people or ways of riding that I could look into. I do not need someone who will ride (he won’t let anybody on him apart from me and turns dangerous if they try).

People have suggested parelli (although I am not sure he would respect this as life is a game to him), western riding and stunt riding (he is very clever and learns things unbelievably quick). I am based in Essex.

Thank you!
 
What do you mean, he can't take a contact - that he can't flex vertically?

The issue with being above the bit all the time is that he will develop the wrong musculature, and not able to support a rider in complete harmony.

If he is a typical Welsh D, with a high set neck, then he may also find it difficult to adopt a low neck frame which is sought after in western riding.
 
He is has minimum flexion vertically and also side to side. He has had several months of physio, which obviously I am continuing with. This has improved the flexion marginally but not much. For instance, with treats he cannot stretch his neck to his chest, or round to his hind. His head cannot move side to side either.

He does naturally have a high head carriage and is a typical sec D in every way :) the problem is a lack of control when I ride him like this - which is how he is most comfortable. I need to make him listen and have control with no contact on his neck at all. When he is warmer up he will stretch his head and neck down and out though.

I have the option of trying shock wave therapy but the damage is so great my vet does not believe this will have any impact at all.
 
This is not really about having no contact, the problem is not with his mouth but with him being unable to flex normally, it is more about him learning to relax, drop his head, lift his core without you fiddling and asking with your hands by using your seat and legs, I don't see why it has to start with him doing join up or even mean rebacking it is just going in a new direction with his training which happens to many horses for various reasons, parelli would probably confuse him so I would avoid that completely, western is about them being very submissive and he may find that beyond his welsh mentality for now.

I think I would be looking at possibly going bitless or a combination to start with and work towards using a neckstrap as my brakes if and when required, it can be fairly easy to train a horse to slow down and stop by dropping the reins and taking a pull on the neckstrap, many racehorses respond well to this, neck reining could be incorporated for turning, I have no idea on trainers but I think I would be looking for someone who is open minded and inclined towards classical training rather than someone who teaches a certain discipline as he may struggle physically to cope if they are too set in their ways.

He sounds very interesting and something that I would enjoy working with, I like puzzling out what works for individuals especially when their owners are doing such a good job and trying so hard, contact a few people and see how they react when you tell them what the problem is, their reaction should help you gauge their suitability to help you, you need someone genuinely interested who will look at the whole situation with the ability and desire to look outside the box.
 
To be frank and honest I wouldn't ride him at all. He's had such a painful and **** time and now is having a painful time ridden. I feel sorry for the poor boy - do the right thing and either retire or PTS :(
 
In the book ABC of Breaking and Schooling, the author recommends that small ponies are broken to ride using a noseband so that their mouths remain sensitive for small riders.

Why not try western riding - the quarter-horses have a low headcarriage (dead horse walk!)
but there are plenty of Saddlebreds, Arabs and Morgans doing western that have a naturally high headcarriage. It is about schooling to obey aids - bit aids, nose aids or voice aids. If you do learn Western riding, that doesn't mean that you have to go along with all the showing presentation, you can ride normally, just not in the conventional dressage way.
 
Hmm I am struggling on how to respond to this thread.


When you say head in the air do you mean right up giraffe style? Or just above the bit? Does your vet think he will ever be comfortable enough to be ridden? And if so, realistically do you need to ride him? Or do you have other options?


My first reaction to your post is that I wonder how well a horse with this sort of injury and temperament would ever cope in ridden work. Whilst the injury is one thing, often how well a horse comes back from injury is down to their willingness to work with you or retrain easily rather than the original injury in the first place. Sadly not all horses help themselves no matter how well intentioned he owner.

My second thought is that if we assume yours is compliant and happy, then to be honest I can't see why you would ride a horse that struggles to flex in a Pelham. If you need it for the brakes or for schooling then this is counter productive as it's very nature would cause the horse to flex at the poll in response to any pressure thereby causing more pain on an already injured area. In fact any bit will cause the horse to flex as will many of the bit less options.

So where does that leave you? You could try retraining him for an entirely different discipline, or being content with a happy hacker. But in my experience damage in the neck often gets worse over time not better and as harsh as it may sound I would also be thinking of your longer term options in case re-training had no success.

If you do decide to re train I would look for someone who trains classically or western style, or even an endurance trainer. But first and foremost I would find a trainer whom you respect and trust. Who can give you an honest appraisal before; during and after training. You have a long road to travel and you will need someone to act as an honest critic if it is to work.
 
Were you looking for recommendations? Not a personal one (I haven't used him) but have a look at Guy Robertson I think he has a fb page. He is based up here and regularly holds demonstrations and clinics. Good luck with your boy xx
 
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