coloredred
Well-Known Member
History first. Owned cob since he was 4. Over came napping issues when hacking alone and then started doing the odd hunter trial, fun ride and xc schooling trips. He was perfect every single time even relaxed while tied to the lorry by himself while his friends went off. Moved him to Essex when he was 7 and he was fine, took him out showjumping once and he was slightly more on edge than he was competing from home but nothing worrying. Moved to Kent 6 months later and he was like a different pony. Xc schooling he'd buck, not excited little ones but mind blown, I don't know what to do other than bronc/fly buck types. Competing he was the same. I put it down to being on hayledge which he'd never been on before so I switched him back to hay but he was exactly the same. He was even getting stressy out hacking but not very often. Moved him back home to Shropshire just over two years ago and took him out to a hunter trial a couple of months after, he was on edge but keeping him moving meant he managed to keep all four feet on the ground unless going over a jump. Been out a couple more times to hunter trials and he's gotten worse each time although no bucking yet. I have to keep him moving in circles or he walks backwards constantly and threatens to rear (which he did do more than once while in Kent). Oddly we went out to a dressage comp between the hunter trials and he was very well behaved.
As I only really want to do dressage with him I sort of ignored the behaviour as he could keep a lid on it at dressage comps. Lately though while hacking if something upsets him he gets very very tense, his head shoots up and it takes a long time for him to relax if he does at all. It's literally like he can't think of anything once he's been upset. The same thing can happen when schooling but not as severe, he will relax much quicker although tonight he couldn't concentrate most of the time, wasn't listening, was collecting himself on trot until he was barely moving forwards and when asked for canter he'd dive into it and stick his head in the air. I'd love to get him past this behavious but I need to know what's causing it first.
I've actually started to wonder if it's to do with his eye sight. Two people were stood at the edge of the school tonight, he was fine before they were there and while they were there but once they were gone it was like he was looking for them and suddenly found that bit very scary. He's only fed a handful of kwikbeet and a handful of Alfa-a oil with magnesium and brewers yeast. He gets a 6kg net of hay at night and is turned out between 9:30 and 4:30/5. I'd love some suggestions on what could cause my once sane, sensible, relaxed cob into a complete stress head. Tack, back and teeth all checked.
Toblerone on offer if you read all that!
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As I only really want to do dressage with him I sort of ignored the behaviour as he could keep a lid on it at dressage comps. Lately though while hacking if something upsets him he gets very very tense, his head shoots up and it takes a long time for him to relax if he does at all. It's literally like he can't think of anything once he's been upset. The same thing can happen when schooling but not as severe, he will relax much quicker although tonight he couldn't concentrate most of the time, wasn't listening, was collecting himself on trot until he was barely moving forwards and when asked for canter he'd dive into it and stick his head in the air. I'd love to get him past this behavious but I need to know what's causing it first.
I've actually started to wonder if it's to do with his eye sight. Two people were stood at the edge of the school tonight, he was fine before they were there and while they were there but once they were gone it was like he was looking for them and suddenly found that bit very scary. He's only fed a handful of kwikbeet and a handful of Alfa-a oil with magnesium and brewers yeast. He gets a 6kg net of hay at night and is turned out between 9:30 and 4:30/5. I'd love some suggestions on what could cause my once sane, sensible, relaxed cob into a complete stress head. Tack, back and teeth all checked.
Toblerone on offer if you read all that!
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