Training for a new horse

[voiceoftruthandwisdo]

Hi, I'm new to HH! Sorry that this first post will be an essay... but I'm looking for other opinions in how I should manage my new horse.

He's a 9/10y.o. ISH gelding, standing at 16.1hh. The previous owner has told me that he used to showjump in a previous home, but in the last 5 years or so has been used mostly for hacking and sponsored rides. She sold him to me because he's big and a bit spooky, and she and her daughter kept falling off him. He's had so many different sharers over the last few years, so I'm giving him a bit of time to get used to the idea that he's a one person horse now.

At his age he shouldn't be a total project, but I get the feeling that he is, more than he should be. He doesn't easily take contact, overbends to the right and tends to counterbend when on the left rein. The saddler said he is asymmetrical on the left side (under-muscled). He loves to jump, but recently has been described as choppy and jumping "like a Harrier Jump Jet", according to one of my instructors.

I'm keen to get on with sorting him out, and more than willing to put the time into him. We had a bit of a ride tonight, where I was able to get him to ride himself into the contact and a bit of an outline, albeit inconsistently. Not expecting miracles or prolonged outline at the moment, since he's not used to it...

Anyway, what I'm wondering is, what sort of training program would you be using with him? How often would you be riding him? For how long? What would you be doing? I'd love to be having private lessons with him on a regular basis, but my work schedule prohibits being able to set a definite time for riding (plus I'm not made of money)!

Thanks in advance, and sorry once again for the essay!

 

[Shay]

Did you get him vetted? If not that might be a start. He has clearly not been worked correctly for some time - possibly because he is actually difficult to ride? You will want to rule out any underlying pain or development issues. If he is 9 now and has been in the same home 5 years that would mean he was show jumping at 4 which could very well mean he was over jumped or has suffered physical damage from being jumped relatively young. (I know not all 4 year olds are over jumped - but some are.)

You have obviously had the saddler in. If he has asymmetrical muscle development then he will need to be rechecked every few weeks as his shape will change with correct work.

Once you know what physical issues you are working with you can start to develop a training pattern which is tailored to him. But until then I would opt for taking him right back to basics - long reining, lots of transitions. Keeping the sessions short to enable him to re-balance muscle.

Also keep an eye on his feed. As he fittens up he might become a bit wild to ride!

 

[Sparemare]

Hacking and more hacking.

 

[paddi22]

id be another one hacking. it will give you a chance to work out your contact issues. if you have a good dressage trainer then they can work with you to give you exercises you can do hacking(if the horse is a safe hack and you have suitable hacking). i find it's easier to straighten crooked horses by doing lateral work and bending/flexing while out hacking.

 

[Orangehorse]

Ask you vet if it is OK (should be) and get a good physio to give him some treatment - they might well suggest some massage/exercises that you can do to help him.

Have regular lessons with an instructor who is keen to help you.

 

[voiceoftruthandwisdo]

Thank you for all your replies! He has been seen by the vet, and I think he's due to see the dentist - however, he has been regularly seen by the dentist since the previous owner got him, and they say he's always been that way.

From what I can tell from my experience of him, he isn't difficult to ride, but he is sensitive, and he can be quite spooky. When I've ridden him (before buying as well as since), he's very sensitive to leg and seat aids. He's totally not the right horse for the previous owners, who seem too nervous to do anything much... The saddler said that it's likely he's been hollowing away from the previous saddle (a Wintec) for so long that he's gotten too used to doing it.

I am planning on hacking him a fair bit, with maybe a short schooling session in a week, plus a weekly lesson. He's on a high-fibre diet - mostly chaff and hay, plus a bit of pasture mix. And the odd bit of carrot to bribe him!

 

[Sparemare]

Sounds like you've got a good plan for him. Good luck with him!