tobiano1984
Well-Known Member
Quite a few of you may have seen my previous posts about my mad ex-SJ pony. Here's a potted history for those who haven't! Rolo is 9, 14.1, breed unknown (TB or WB x native I think), and was bought for peanuts from an unpleasant SJ dealer before he was sent off to the auction. They had him in for sale, he was jumping novice tracks out and 1.30m tracks at home - and they ruined him (hideous man riding him, jumping 3 hours a day back to back for viewings - at one point he was up for £15k). When I got him I was told he was impossible to ride in the school.
I've had him for 11 months now, and he's a different horse. He's had everything done to him, teeth, vet, osteopath, saddle etc. From a pony that couldn't initially break out of a walk without freaking out we've come a long way! He spent the first few months chilling and hacking, and then since the Spring has been working in the school more. We've got a pretty decent walk and trot out of him, still a bit tense but improving. He's been out and done an Intro dressage test and got 63%. Recently we started attempting canter again, which whenever tried before has caused pandemonium and much plunging and leaping! I took a video of him schooling today, so you can see what happens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioOJGgXtDrc
2 weeks ago - osteopath treated him, didn't find any issues in back end/legs just tension in poll. walk and trot much improved after, offering lots more stretch and generally more relaxed (see end of video!).
When long reined, he canters fine on both reins, on his worse rein (right) he sometimes strikes off wrong at the back but then corrects.
Out hacking he will usually canter happily on his own or in company. Somedays he will have a paddy and refuse to canter with everyone and just leap up and down on the spot.
When ridden, canter was horrific still but then I lunged him with rider on quite a small circle and he seemed to settle into it.
Then he was ridden on a small circle gradually getting bigger, which seemed to help - got decent canter on both reins for a few circles.
Today he was good doing this on the left rein, but on the right was horrific, as you can see in the video! He always strikes off wrong at the back, but seems content to carry on like this - but then when he changes he goes a bit crazy.
the vet has checked him over and couldn't find anything to suggest a serious issue in his legs/back/pelvis. Osteopath also couldn't find anything in his back end. We've done flexion tests etc and always check his legs over after exercise to see if there's any heat/swelling. Always fine! Trimmer says his feet are extremely well balanced.
We've also recently started lateral work which he's picked up well. It's hard to explain but I'm still sure most of the issue is mental, with perhaps some help needed from Osteo etc with releasing tension. In only the last 2 weeks he's been cantering in the school, up until then it was out of the question. Now it seems that the left rein is coming right, the right rein isn't yet but hopefully will happen. Hoping lateral work will strengthen him up and make him more confident! He's a very funny little man, really sweet but just gets angry and frustrated lot. He's never thrown anyone off and even when he has his strops he keeps it all straight, he could very easily throw in a corkscrew or a twist and his rider would be straight off, but that doesn't seem to be his objective.
So - what are your thoughts? I've added a bit of him pre-canter from last week right at the end, so you can see he's not always a sweaty ball of aggro! I just want him to be able to canter happily so we can move on with his career - TBC, might only be a hacking pony but has fab paces when he feels like it so would love to do more dressage with him if we can rewire him
I've had him for 11 months now, and he's a different horse. He's had everything done to him, teeth, vet, osteopath, saddle etc. From a pony that couldn't initially break out of a walk without freaking out we've come a long way! He spent the first few months chilling and hacking, and then since the Spring has been working in the school more. We've got a pretty decent walk and trot out of him, still a bit tense but improving. He's been out and done an Intro dressage test and got 63%. Recently we started attempting canter again, which whenever tried before has caused pandemonium and much plunging and leaping! I took a video of him schooling today, so you can see what happens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioOJGgXtDrc
2 weeks ago - osteopath treated him, didn't find any issues in back end/legs just tension in poll. walk and trot much improved after, offering lots more stretch and generally more relaxed (see end of video!).
When long reined, he canters fine on both reins, on his worse rein (right) he sometimes strikes off wrong at the back but then corrects.
Out hacking he will usually canter happily on his own or in company. Somedays he will have a paddy and refuse to canter with everyone and just leap up and down on the spot.
When ridden, canter was horrific still but then I lunged him with rider on quite a small circle and he seemed to settle into it.
Then he was ridden on a small circle gradually getting bigger, which seemed to help - got decent canter on both reins for a few circles.
Today he was good doing this on the left rein, but on the right was horrific, as you can see in the video! He always strikes off wrong at the back, but seems content to carry on like this - but then when he changes he goes a bit crazy.
the vet has checked him over and couldn't find anything to suggest a serious issue in his legs/back/pelvis. Osteopath also couldn't find anything in his back end. We've done flexion tests etc and always check his legs over after exercise to see if there's any heat/swelling. Always fine! Trimmer says his feet are extremely well balanced.
We've also recently started lateral work which he's picked up well. It's hard to explain but I'm still sure most of the issue is mental, with perhaps some help needed from Osteo etc with releasing tension. In only the last 2 weeks he's been cantering in the school, up until then it was out of the question. Now it seems that the left rein is coming right, the right rein isn't yet but hopefully will happen. Hoping lateral work will strengthen him up and make him more confident! He's a very funny little man, really sweet but just gets angry and frustrated lot. He's never thrown anyone off and even when he has his strops he keeps it all straight, he could very easily throw in a corkscrew or a twist and his rider would be straight off, but that doesn't seem to be his objective.
So - what are your thoughts? I've added a bit of him pre-canter from last week right at the end, so you can see he's not always a sweaty ball of aggro! I just want him to be able to canter happily so we can move on with his career - TBC, might only be a hacking pony but has fab paces when he feels like it so would love to do more dressage with him if we can rewire him
May well be way off but I would urge you to consider discussing with your vet x