Update on backward spooky horse

ycbm

ycbm

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Thought I should give you all an update after the useful suggestions you all made.

I removed all alfalfa, the last remnants of sugar (miniscule!) and all wheatfeed from his diet. Related or not I don't know, but central sulcus sogginess I have been struggling with all summer suddenly dried up even though the weather got wetter and it's usually worse in winter.

I put draw reins on him, but I only use them as a martingale to stop him sticking his head in the air with cartoon eyes on stalks. I don't like martingales, i find they turn the neck upside down. The restriction appeared to calm him.

I am now able, for the first time in two years since he was broken, to take him into the arena, and if he isn't going to walk off nicely because he's gawking at something, I can put him straight into trot on a circle and make him concentrate. Until now, he would have frozen solid, and if pushed to move, either simply refused to move, or spun violently.

He's done the farm ride with his stable mate, and suddenly discovered the joy of forward movement. We cantered for three times as far as he ever has before. He even led some of the time, and he jumped several small fences brilliantly.

His hacking is more forward, and although I choose a forward jog over a backward walk, we are getting more and more forward thinking.

He is now in a place where I think hunting would do him a lot of good, but I don't hunt myself any more (because I don't subscribe any more and can't justify the cost of a one off day, and in any case a one off day is not what he needs). I don't want anyone else on him, he's my baby and I feel very protective of him!

He's made terrific progress in three months and I'm getting some very big compliments when he's seen out. So I think if we just persevere, I'm going to end up with a spectacular looking, and very capable, all rounder.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
Good news are you going in the school again ?
if not why don't you try walking in the school every day after the hack fussing him and given a treat then gradually start working him over time .
I got round my dangerous nervous in the school ID doing this he now has a normal relationship with the school it just took time .
 
I've just reread my post and realised I've given the impression that it's new to get him into the arena. It isn't, the new bit is to get him in there and be able to trot him around straight away, without an agonising quarter hour of getting him to move step by step if the grass is blowing about.

He schools regularly. He's worse on a hack than he is in the arena. But everything is improving, hacking, schooling and behaviour away from home (that used to be a wild ride!) so I'm happy :)
 
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Wow, is it really three months?

I'm just so pleased with this fragile minded, emotional, backward but oh-so-pretty creature. OK he's coming up seven in a few weeks and now doing what a good four year old does, but he got there!

I rode him yesterday for the first time in over a week. It was windy. He didn't spook once. He wanted to, but he didn't. He was well behaved, forward, and listening most of the time. We have walk , trot, canter on command. He's learning to slow and speed the trot, which he finds difficult, but lateral work is a doddle. The trot is rhythmic and full of suspension with a natural outline, but the canter is just the most awesome canter I've ever sat on. And I'm including three GP bred warmbloods in that! Well done mongrel, we don't even know who his mother was :)

Now we need stamina, which runs out at 20-30 minutes. And more of the same in training. Might even get him out to a dressage competition this year at this rate !

This has been such a rewarding, if slow, journey. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions in the last three years :)



PS if anyone has any information about the Irish Tanzanite stud, which I believe has stopped breeding, I'd be interested.
 
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Sukistokes2 said:
I'm really sorry ycbm but unless there are pictures you stories can not be collaborated ;)
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I was just wondering if a dared to post a bit of video. I'm very proud of the young man, and to be completely honest, of myself too. Twenty years ago I'd have tried to beat him into shape and quite possibly ruined him. Even ten years ago I'd have sold him off cheap out of frustration. Am I growing up at last?
 
If you can't hunt him for practical reasons, are there many fun rides local to you? I had a youngster to ride for someone a few years back, and fun rides with one or two other more experienced horses from the same yard were the making of him. He was a yob, because he was ungainly and lacked confidence. He learned to go forwards in a controlled, balanced way (he'd turned upside down in a ditch with his owner out hunting!) and was much happier in himself, which led to him being better in the school. The other option is UK-chasers type places or making more use of your farm ride when the ground improves
 
ycbm said:
I was just wondering if a dared to post a bit of video. I'm very proud of the young man, and to be completely honest, of myself too. Twenty years ago I'd have tried to beat him into shape and quite possibly ruined him. Even ten years ago I'd have sold him off cheap out of frustration. Am I growing up at last?
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l have a backward spooky pony, frustration has me wanting to sell at the moment!
 
i had a similar one in to reschool from a racer and i found the elastic bungee very good to ride it with them, especially if they like the restriction. Mine used to seem to get comfort when he tried to raise him head and it would encourage him back down. it also stopped a lot of the spinning and looking around, it helped him focus. some of them do feel safer with restrictions as you say.

great to hear he is going the right way and fair play to you for your patience!
 
Great news!

Just out of curiosity, do you think the removal of Alfalfa has made a difference? I ask because I transformed my horse once I cut Alflafa out of his diet and he went from unrideable over the winter months to being fairly normal.
 
ycbm said:
PS if anyone has any information about the Irish Tanzanite stud, which I believe has stopped breeding, I'd be interested.
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There's a Tanzanite Nefissa jumping in the UK at the moment - by Grange Bouncer according to allbreed, might give you a starting point?
Going by the CapallOir they stopped breeding in 2010: http://breeding.horsesportireland.ie/results.aspx Although given that every "Tanzanite" horse I've clicked on seems to have a different breeder I'm nost sure how much help that is :)
 
scats said:
Great news!

Just out of curiosity, do you think the removal of Alfalfa has made a difference? I ask because I transformed my horse once I cut Alflafa out of his diet and he went from unrideable over the winter months to being fairly normal.
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I don't think so, but I wouldn't completely rule it out. I'm not in any hurry to put him back on it.
 
Lanky Loll said:
There's a Tanzanite Nefissa jumping in the UK at the moment - by Grange Bouncer according to allbreed, might give you a starting point?
Going by the CapallOir they stopped breeding in 2010: http://breeding.horsesportireland.ie/results.aspx Although given that every "Tanzanite" horse I've clicked on seems to have a different breeder I'm nost sure how much help that is :)
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That's got to be the same, surely, it's not as if it's a common jewel. I also has a 'Grange' horse once, by Grange Heros.

He was born in 2010, so one of their last crop.

Thanks :)
 
ironhorse said:
If you can't hunt him for practical reasons, are there many fun rides local to you? I had a youngster to ride for someone a few years back, and fun rides with one or two other more experienced horses from the same yard were the making of him. He was a yob, because he was ungainly and lacked confidence. He learned to go forwards in a controlled, balanced way (he'd turned upside down in a ditch with his owner out hunting!) and was much happier in himself, which led to him being better in the school. The other option is UK-chasers type places or making more use of your farm ride when the ground improves
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We have a great farm ride and we'll be going again when the weather dries up. I'll look out for fun rides too.

Thanks.
 
paddi22 said:
i had a similar one in to reschool from a racer and i found the elastic bungee very good to ride it with them, especially if they like the restriction. Mine used to seem to get comfort when he tried to raise him head and it would encourage him back down. it also stopped a lot of the spinning and looking around, it helped him focus. some of them do feel safer with restrictions as you say.

great to hear he is going the right way and fair play to you for your patience!
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How interesting. I would say that the biggest change came when I started using draw reins as a martingale and he found the restricting of not being able to do a giraffe act settling. It was quite a surprise, because he really seemed to like the restriction.

I must stress I don't use them a draw reins, they only come into contact if he sticks his head in the air, just like a martingale, only they don't turn horses necks upside down like a martingale can so I prefer them.
 
My big boy was horrid when I bought him exactly a year ago. This winter he only has an lib Haylage and fruit and vegetables. His dangerous behaviour is much improved.
 
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