Update on post made last night

K

kayleigh_and_rocky

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 December 2005
Messages
5,542
Location
Hampshire
www.kayleigh-nicholls.piczo.com
Ok so tonight I turned up at owners yard and before getting on I approached owner and asked if we could have a chat. I said I was concerned by the behaviour of her horse and said that I was worried it was physical - when did she last have full MOT done. I was expecting "Oh never" but actually he had FULL MOT done in March of this year - she then had a dig around and found some receipts to show me (must have thought i was a headcase asking for proof
crazy.gif
) and she said she had full MOT done then because he was acting the same way he has been with me, with another rider, and said MOT showed nothing was wrong.
So...that put my mind at rest that there wasn't a physical problem, i didnt think there was but as you guys said, it has to be ruled out before we carry on.

So then we got to ride and she had put on a new contraption - it worked like a standing martingale, but instead of having one bit attached to the noseband, it had two attachments, one on each bit ring, and end of these attatchments was elastic.
We ALSO changed his routine today - we started him off by taking him for a 30minute hack around the block (which he loves) and then went straight into field and straight into trot work for 20minutes.

Well.....and I have no idea why...but he was a completely different horse. Hacking he was fine but usually is anyway but schooling - my god!! I gave him a few good slaps with the whip to begin with when he backed off my leg - didnt even buck and for the next 20minutes was trotting around beautifully with hardly any leg aids needed. Did some transitions and did them beautifully, minor nudge of the heel and he was into trot (even tried to canter and i had to hold him back - unheard of!!)

So...I have no idea why he was so good today but i'm encouraged ALTHOUGH I am very much aware he will probably be a sod next time I ride him. Apparently hes always been that way - one day he'll be impeccably behaved and the next he won't play - owner (who bred him herself and owns his mum) said his mum is exactly the same.

So overall I am greatly encouraged and at least now my mind is at ease that it isn't pain and really is him having a tantrum. This horse will forever have my brain ticking but at least now i know he has good behaviour in him - today was the best trot he has ever produced.

Thanks everyone for ALL your advice - i'm glad I discussed physical stuff with her and now my mind is at ease I feel in a much better position to crack on with him.
 
Maybe I am being too sceptical, but I think I'd like to know who she had check the horse. (Some people are after all better than others at their said jobs!). It is possible that he could have strained something or changed shape since March ----??

I agree it is reassuring to know things were looked at in March but it doesn't rule out the fact things could have gone wrong since then.

I hope that he continues to go well for you though, sounds like you are doing a good job.
smile.gif
 
Hi Kayleigh, well done for bringing it up with her, and am really glad he behaved better tonight - may be it is because you felt more confident and maybe because he had a change of routine.... he sounds tricky though ... inconsistent... so best of luck with him and well done for pinning down the owner.
grin.gif
 
You should have recognised that gadget as Chantal always used it on Gee gee and I used it on Gemini to get her to canter and on Flora to stop her rearing and on Hudson to help him balance. Its a Harbridge.
 
I recognised it but didnt know the name of it.
Thanks guys for giving me the courage to raise the issue with the owner.
He is very inconsistent but I think thats just his way, and from what i've been told his mother is the same (and now retired).
I definately think that today the change of routine was the major turning point - will see if he sticks to this new way of going!
 
Excellent news - it sounds as if possibly this woman may know what she's doing after all......

Do let us have any updates.
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top