Sudden change in behaviour

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AA&B

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Hello all, firstly I'm new here so I'll introduce myself:

I'm a 21 year old student studying BSc (hons) Applied Equine Studies, and share an 11 year old, 14.2hh Dales x Cob who is usually an absolute saint to be around.

The last 2-3 weeks, he has need a little sod! Never had a problems hacking out in the past, alone or in company, but recently he's been nappy, sharp, bargey, rude, started to rush in trot, insists on jogging not walking, and if I squeeze for a steady canter I get bronking and rushed canter on the forehand.

Over the summer worked on his schooling, notably in trot to work on rhythm and to correct our ovals to circles. I took him in the school last week after a break from schooling, and found him to be even stronger than before and that he leans terribly on the bit.


Can anyone recommend an bits to sort out the leaning and the strength, and then suggest a way to get Ben to be the perfect pony I fell in love with a year ago??
 
Hello and welcome.

If it was my horse I would be trying to work out what precipitated the change. Have you been through a winter with him before? Has his level of work, turnout or feeding changed significantly? Could the behaviour be pain-related?

It might just be that he's a proper wossname in winter, but I would suggest considering whether pain or a change in management has caused this in the first place.
 
My mare has become sharp over the last couple of weeks, she's so chilled out in the summer but as soon as the colder weather comes, she is a little cowbag. She reared up at a dead badger this morning!! She's not getting the same level of turnout as she would in the summer months, but she's been on the same turnout since sept and it's only in the last couple of weeks that she's been on one!! She was the same last winter.
 
I went through last winter with him, and he wasn't at all like this. :( He has lost quite a bit of weight which I suppose would contribute to feeling the cold a bit more! He has a new saddle, but I've checked it and there seems to be nothing that would interfere with him and cause this sort of reaction.
 
I'll chip with a couple of other suggestions.

Bitwise I am a major fan of Kimblewicks if the horse goes will in a straight bar, but it depends how hard he leans.

Do you lunge him? Can you take a look at how he moves with and without the saddle looking for stiffness, unevenness, how well he uses his back etc for potential issues?

The nearest I had to this experience was when I got a new loaner for a horse of mine who was not as confident and capable as she said and my horse turned into a nervous animal unwilling to hack out alone, much sharper and nervier. just a thought.
 
he's ridden in a straight bar, I shall look into a kimblewick

I have lunged him yes, he doesn't seem to "understand" it though, and see's it as "hooling round with a human in the middle" - that's just reminded me that I should look at teaching him that lunging isn't that exciting!

I am Ben's sharer, his owner doesn't have any issues with him, or hasn't until now. I consider myself to be a confident flat rider/hacker its only jumping that scares the poop out of me! I actually started singing on hacks, as I started to doubt my own feelings thinking that maybe I was un consciously nervous, and he was still a silly boy!



Maybe I should invest in some lessons again? I'm going to work out his nutritional requirements and compare them to what he's getting at the minute to check for and deficiencies or surplus
 
I wouldnt spend too much time changing tack and bits as this is such a sudden change, it will only mask the problem. Definitely see if you can get his teeth/back checked as well as saddle, by a proffessional saddler, as you mention you checked it yourself (what may seem OK in your eyes might not be in a saddlers)

Once pain is eliminated look at his daily routine now to how it was 2 months ago, what has changed? More haylage/hard feed/sugar? Less turn out or ridden work?

Finally I would agree that lessons would be a good idea as a set of proffesional eyes from the ground can really help see any problems and also boost your own confidence :)
 
If it turns out he needs a different bit, a Waterford Snaffle is a great help at stopping leanind on/ getting hold of bit, it@s made of a series of linked balls so there's nothing to lean on. It cured my mates 17h ShirexTB almost instantly.
 
Check he is not getting high sugar levels in his feed being half Dales you will find like many natives a sudden splurge of new grass or hay that is just too good can turn your previously gentle friend into a self-willed monster.
 
I rode yesterday morning, and he was a bit better, still very forward. I decided to not bother with schooling and go along to the next village and back. Only when I got home, I realised we did most of it in trot, and he was barely puffing. I think he may be a lot fitter than I've been giving him credit for - which might explain why he's so full of energy. He just wants to go!!!

Going to look into a loose ring waterford for now to solve the leaning
 
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