3Beasties
Well-Known Member
I've got an 8 year old gelding that I am having a few issues with. I won't bore you with all the details as I'd be here all night but will fill you in were I can.
He came to me 8 months ago but for various reasons I didn't start riding him till a week or so ago. He has 'history' so I have been taking it very slowly with him and have been going down the 'softly softly' route.
At the moment I am just trying to ride him in the field (no school and I'm not prepared to hack him), he is absolutely fine to mount, stands there beautifully whilst I clamber on, but is then very reluctant to go forward, to the point that we don't actually get anywhere
He becomes very busy in his mouth, will cross his jaw, chew the bit, snatch his head forward etc despite me not having any contact with his mouth (I'm pretty sure this is a stress rather then a pain in his mouth response).
When asked to go forward he'll sometimes give me a step or two, or he may just keep playing with his mouth, go backwards or turn on the spot. On the odd occasion he has managed 8 or 9 steps at once but then he might not walk a step forwards afterwards.
He's very food orientated so I have done lots of praising and rewarding any good behaviour and just sit quietly when he hasn't wanted to do what is asked. *Touch wood* so far he hasn't done anything bad apart from the not going forward but I know that if pushed too far he is likely to tell me to F'off!
Yesterday when I 'rode' him (I use that word lightly as really I just sit there and we discuss going forward) he was worse then he perhaps has been, lots of turning on the spot, snatching at the bit, refusing to go forward, swishing his tail and the occasional kick at his stomach (which was making lots of noise)......which leads me to the question, could it be ulcers?
Since he's been here he has shown the odd symptom such as kicking at his belly and getting difficult to handle when moved yards but nothing that's really made others think he could have ulcers.
He holds his weight fairly well but he isn't in 'work' so I'm not sure that's a fair indication (although looking back at piccys from the winter he was slightly ribby).
Current routine is in during the day with ad-lib hay and a small fibre based feed, and out over night on not great grass. I always try and ride him in the evening after he's got a stomach full of hay.
He's had his teeth done yesterday (sharp at the back which had caused mouth ulcers but EDT didn't think it was anything that would cause ridden problems).
Was seen by a Chiropractor a few months back who didn't find any major problems (but did say he's had a badly fitting saddle in the past!)
And he was seen by a Physio last week who found a few tight spots but again nothing that she thinks would stop him going forward.
He lunges well and will march happily down the lane in long reins (although still not great in his mouth) so I don't think it's a confidence issue as such but strangely enough a friend came when I was riding him the other day and he would follow her around with me on him as a 'passenger'.
So any ideas what the problem could be? Does he just need to learn that going forward isn't going to result in pain (or a fight from the rider)? Do you think it sounds like ulcers may be the problem?
He is such a lovely horse to deal with on the ground (usually!) which makes me think there's more to it then him just taking the P!ss but he really is making me scratch my head a bit about what it could be!
Any thoughts and ideas much appreciated!
All I have to offer is Pizza but it's rather yummy so you'll have to get in there quick
He came to me 8 months ago but for various reasons I didn't start riding him till a week or so ago. He has 'history' so I have been taking it very slowly with him and have been going down the 'softly softly' route.
At the moment I am just trying to ride him in the field (no school and I'm not prepared to hack him), he is absolutely fine to mount, stands there beautifully whilst I clamber on, but is then very reluctant to go forward, to the point that we don't actually get anywhere
He becomes very busy in his mouth, will cross his jaw, chew the bit, snatch his head forward etc despite me not having any contact with his mouth (I'm pretty sure this is a stress rather then a pain in his mouth response).
When asked to go forward he'll sometimes give me a step or two, or he may just keep playing with his mouth, go backwards or turn on the spot. On the odd occasion he has managed 8 or 9 steps at once but then he might not walk a step forwards afterwards.
He's very food orientated so I have done lots of praising and rewarding any good behaviour and just sit quietly when he hasn't wanted to do what is asked. *Touch wood* so far he hasn't done anything bad apart from the not going forward but I know that if pushed too far he is likely to tell me to F'off!
Yesterday when I 'rode' him (I use that word lightly as really I just sit there and we discuss going forward) he was worse then he perhaps has been, lots of turning on the spot, snatching at the bit, refusing to go forward, swishing his tail and the occasional kick at his stomach (which was making lots of noise)......which leads me to the question, could it be ulcers?
Since he's been here he has shown the odd symptom such as kicking at his belly and getting difficult to handle when moved yards but nothing that's really made others think he could have ulcers.
He holds his weight fairly well but he isn't in 'work' so I'm not sure that's a fair indication (although looking back at piccys from the winter he was slightly ribby).
Current routine is in during the day with ad-lib hay and a small fibre based feed, and out over night on not great grass. I always try and ride him in the evening after he's got a stomach full of hay.
He's had his teeth done yesterday (sharp at the back which had caused mouth ulcers but EDT didn't think it was anything that would cause ridden problems).
Was seen by a Chiropractor a few months back who didn't find any major problems (but did say he's had a badly fitting saddle in the past!)
And he was seen by a Physio last week who found a few tight spots but again nothing that she thinks would stop him going forward.
He lunges well and will march happily down the lane in long reins (although still not great in his mouth) so I don't think it's a confidence issue as such but strangely enough a friend came when I was riding him the other day and he would follow her around with me on him as a 'passenger'.
So any ideas what the problem could be? Does he just need to learn that going forward isn't going to result in pain (or a fight from the rider)? Do you think it sounds like ulcers may be the problem?
He is such a lovely horse to deal with on the ground (usually!) which makes me think there's more to it then him just taking the P!ss but he really is making me scratch my head a bit about what it could be!
Any thoughts and ideas much appreciated!
All I have to offer is Pizza but it's rather yummy so you'll have to get in there quick
