Spooky 6 yr Old

P

polly1976

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 February 2010
Messages
144
Visit site
Hi all,

Looking for some advice/reassurance about my boy.
I bought him as a 5 year old and am on the verge of owning him 1yr. But must say i have not had the opportunity to do as much with him as i would like due to illness (mine). So his schooling and getting to know me properly really only started fully in April this year.
Before i owned him i know he was broken as a 4yo hunting in Ireland and the dealer i bought him from had obviously done a bit of schooling. So i think it is fair to say he had not done a massive amount for a 5yo.
Anyway since got him home he has been schooled almost once every week by my instructor (when i was ill) and another girl has ridden him when she can.
Since i have got some of my strength back i have really tried to do as much as i can. Schooling has come on well. Flatwork good, loves jumping and XC is def our favourite.
Hacking he was great in company and to a point alone if somewhat green.
But in the last 6 weeks he has got very spooky. Be it in the school or out hacking. To the point where i do not hack alone at the moment. Partly due to me not being sure of my own physical strength but also it feels a bit much for him when so spooky and scared. Even with others it takes a good 30 mins of hacking for him to return to 'normal' (only few normal young spooks). He spooks at leaves fluttering, dark patches on tarmac, grass blowing anything daft really. Yet he will walk under dark bridges, through streams, pass big tractors, lorries etc and really not do much other than look and stand still.
In the school he will be fine one minute and then just jumps out of skin at nothing. The other girl at the yard who sometimes rides him for me has also noticed it too.
It may not sound much but it is shaking my confidence quite a bit.
We haven;t changed feed, grass, routine etc - just wondered if anyone had similar issues or can pass on some friendly advice/reassurance.

Thanks
 
Sounds like he's feeling well and happy tbh - I think he's playing games with you and taking the proverbial :)

Because he's a bit behind in his education - he's more like a rising 5 yr old - he's got what we call 5-year-old-itis - where he's testing his boundaries, seeing what reaction he gets from you.

I would be firm and fair with him - if he's being good with genuinely scary things like tractors, but having heart attacks at funny coloured tarmac .... I would work him harder & make him more settled (tired horses are not spooky lol!) - the more work he does with you, the more you'll get to know and trust him too.

I would just give him a reassuring kick and make him walk on. Try doing a bit of schooling when you're hacking - bit of leg yield for instance - keep him thinking about you and not about playing games with you
 
I know it's an old one but lunge him before you get on... sounds like he's just fll of beans to me and you just need to take the edge off before you ride. I would imagine he just needs some more work...

BnBx
 
I know you say you haven't changed anything but are you sure!

The reason I say this is because I have one the same age I have had for the same amount of time and she can be a little "Looky" at times (bendy neck syndrome at horse killing concrete blocks or similar) but nothing to worry about but the previous week she turned into a spooky silly girl!

I, like you wondered why the change and have put it down to doing a little less work as in maybe a shorter hack or slower work and have also shut them off one of the paddocks they were on 24/7 for the night-time and they go back on it in the day as I think the grass has had a little flush.

She has reverted back to my lovely horse that I know and love!

It only needs to be something simple maybe that has changed to make a large difference.
Good luck!
 
Thanks guys for the thoughts. I have a new routine I'm trying which is he gets some exercise every day, even if only for a short time. I do lunge before getting on as a rule always found that one useful :-) I think with me being not quite well yet in myself I am thinking about it too much and not seeing it for what it is - cheeky behaviour - he is never nasty with it so will keep persevering. Got our first dressage test at the weekend so will see how that goes - thanks again.
 
Don't forget some "changes" might not be intentional but caused by changes in nutrient levels in grass, etc. I am based in a very low mineral area and unless I supplement my horses with magnesium, copper and some other stuff I can't remember off hand, they all go a bit silly in spring and autumn flushes. With the warm and wet weather, they are doolally anyway at the moment so I don't additional spookiness! Just something to consider! You can get soil and hay analysed by several feed companies.

Oh, and yes also agree with stuff said above re 5 year olds! they can be trying sometimes ...
 
He sounds just like my horse!!! I just kick him on and tell him to get on with it ! I've got used to his silliness he's 9 now and still acts like a 4yr old ! He keeps me on my toes !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top