NELSON11
Well-Known Member
Some of you may remember my post about a month ago where my 3yo 17hh gelding reared going out to the paddock in the mornings. Well about a week after my post the yard owner took him out after swapping the eskadron safety headcollar with the chain for a leather one to lead him out in. Apparently he was wound up in the stable as the door was left open whilst she attempted to put the headcollar on. He then proceeded to rear walking to his paddock and the yo let him go. He then ran around outside his paddock where the yo then proceeded to catch him and he reared and struck her with his front foot. So she ended up in casualty with a bruised shoulder. I was mortified, but he knows she is terrified of big horses and so I obviously took over the turning out of him. Anyway the day after he reared with me and caught me with his hoof on the same shoulder and knocked me to the ground. I hung onto his leadrope and then picked myself up and gave him a good smack with my schooling whip down the shoulder. He just stood and stared at me then walked into his paddock calmly. There was no exuberance, just perfectly calm and went up almost in slow motion. I was very upset but proceeded that afternoon to do some in hand work in our little indoor school, he did 20 minutes lovely and was very respectful. Obviously when handling any young horse, I wear a hat and gloves unlike the staff on the livery yard. The long and the short of it is I have handled him twice a day since the upset with the yo and lead him out on a lungeline to give us plenty of space and not once has he shown any tendencies to rear with me. He walks along to his paddock and stands, so what I can't understand is how can he behave so well for me over the last few weeks but everytime he is handled by the livery yard staff there is always a drama. He has a healing tendon sheath injury so his long lining/lunging has had to cease as well as his loose jumping but doesn't appear bored. Just very tiring on me as feel like cannot have a break and I am no superhorsewoman but up there twice a day 7 days a week even though we get free turnout. The last thing I want is people getting hurt but something is upsetting him when I am not around. Anyway will keep you posted on the progress.