Carlosmum
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry this may be long! Pony is 13, I have had him for 12 years. He has always been difficult to move forward, nappy and planting. Over the years we have had some improvement, but once again he is showing more stress when I am asking him to work. To start with, he is slow and nappy reluctant to go forward out of a piddlly trot. He will 'release' this state of mind by bucking/exploding whether on the lunge or in ridden work. Once this has happened he is much more forward, settles down and will trot out well. I am sure you will tell me it is pain related, but I don't believe that, he has had teeth, back and saddle checked recently, when at vets they could find no reason for his reluctance to move forwards. This has left me thinking it is all about him worrying, I work him on his own ( unless we are at a clinic etc), he has a field companion but no company when out hacking. Funnily enough, he is much more forward when we go to our instructor, we may get a few bucks but he will move on and canter with out fuss.
I think a lot of it must be coming from me because I am much more relaxed when we have our lessons than I am when we are on our own. So I guess what I am asking for is ideas how we can both feel more relaxed and willing to work when we are on our own. fortunately after many years of working in the field we now have access to an arena.
Reading this back it sounds rather muddled and disjointed, he's fun to ride once we release the tension but I would like to do that without the bucks and explosions which seem to go with it! A friend's mare who is from the same dam line also has the same issues. He is also positive for EMS, which probably has no bearing on the situation, but we have had a few laminitis problems over the years.
If you have got this far and made any sense of my ramblings. Thank you!
I think a lot of it must be coming from me because I am much more relaxed when we have our lessons than I am when we are on our own. So I guess what I am asking for is ideas how we can both feel more relaxed and willing to work when we are on our own. fortunately after many years of working in the field we now have access to an arena.
Reading this back it sounds rather muddled and disjointed, he's fun to ride once we release the tension but I would like to do that without the bucks and explosions which seem to go with it! A friend's mare who is from the same dam line also has the same issues. He is also positive for EMS, which probably has no bearing on the situation, but we have had a few laminitis problems over the years.
If you have got this far and made any sense of my ramblings. Thank you!
