Utter despair!

Shantara

Shantara

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Ned was coming on so well and all my hard work is ruined and I don't even know how!
It's not his back, I've had his back checked and bought him a new saddle, I'm getting the dentist out soon and it's not his hooves.
He's totally reverted back to how he was, regarding leaving the yard :( I tried everything to get him out. He tried it on with me a few weeks back, but after a day of messing around, he was fine. I just want to cry :'(
I don't know if he's had a bad experience with someone else and they're just not owning up. Totally deflated and upset!

I just needed to get it out really, my Mum is just as upset as me, as she helped a lot with him :(
 
Oh no :-( sorry to hear that. What is he doing when you try to leave? Maybe he is feeling insecure or lost confidence for some reason, it might just be a case of doing some other things for a while until he seems better? Are other people still riding him and have you tried in company? Hope you sort it out xx
 
I think this is normal. If an animal has displayed an adaptive (to them) behaviour in the past then they will sometimes revert back to it (you can google "spontaneous recovery" to find out more). I would persevere with the approach that is working for you and not interpret too much into one incident.
 
Unfourtantly that is the problem when riding an RS Horse. He will have other riders riding him and all will be different. Perhaps when you loan/own him he will be better. Also has anything in his routine changed? new Horse to that yard etc? Have you had a saddle fitter out to the yard to check your new saddle?
 
How are you riding him...? Is it legs and crop or are you nicey nicey?

He may well be taking the p!! Especially if he's a RS horse, having lots of riders who he can get the better of...
 
When ridden he spins and rears, in-hand he plants or thrashes his head around.

He's only really ridden by me, but he was taken out by 2 other people (at different times) purely because there was no other horses and they say nothing happened. He's really last choice for everyone apart from me, but apart from that, he's only been ridden by me.

I'm thinking of going back to bombproofing in the school etc, he was so good with that! He'll go out with the group, but since the schools went back, they're only going out at the weekends.

The saddle was properly fitted :)

There is a new horse, which he's taken to. But he didn't seem to want to be going back to her.

Could it be that he's the leader of the herd now? I've noticed a change in behaviour in the field. He's 'claimed' the mare and is certainly the boss now.
 
Buds_mum said:
How are you riding him...? Is it legs and crop or are you nicey nicey?

He may well be taking the p!! Especially if he's a RS horse, having lots of riders who he can get the better of...
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At first I tried nicely nicely, he spun once and I asked him nicely again, then he spun again and he got a boot in the ribs, he did it again and he got a proper whack on the backside and again and again...nothing :( he was just getting worse :(

ETA: I'm off to work now and won't be back untill 11, so thanks for the replies and for any that I might get until then!
 
Gosh there must be something in the water at the moment!


Had the exact same problem!!! My mare kept backing in to yard and not want to leave and rearing in protest! - Try a whip whop! amazing piece of "kit" (rope!) :D
 
My mare once decided to plant at the gate as she didn't want to leave the yard. Before I knew what was going on, my friend had picked up a lunge whip and cracked it right behind her - a proper sonic BOOM! The mare went straight out (rather keen to get away from the swishy, noisy thing) and never napped there again. It wouldn't have been my first choice of training method, but it really worked.

Maybe teach Mum to crack a whip?

Obviously don't try it if your yard is right by a busy road.


ETA.

When ridden he spins and rears, in-hand he plants or thrashes his head around.
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It's so frustrating. My mare has thrown everything she can think of bar actually lying down during our epic battles in the early days. She does have one saving grace though. I can dismount and safely lead her past her sticking points and then remount. She hardly naps now and I'm sure that is partly because she has never been taken back home as a result of her behaviour, we've always finished the ride.
 
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Faracat said:
My mare once decided to plant at the gate as she didn't want to leave the yard. Before I knew what was going on, my friend had picked up a lunge whip and cracked it right behind her - a proper sonic BOOM! The mare went straight out (rather keen to get away from the swishy, noisy thing) and never napped there again. It wouldn't have been my first choice of training method, but it really worked.

Maybe teach Mum to crack a whip?

Obviously don't try it if your yard is right by a busy road.

It's so frustrating. My mare has thrown everything she can think of bar actually lying down during our epic battles in the early days. She does have one saving grace though. I can dismount and safely lead her past her sticking points and then remount. She hardly naps now and I'm sure that is partly because she has never been taken back home as a result of her behaviour, we've always finished the ride.
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We tried a whip today :( usually that'd send him running, but he just backed up over it.
I used to be able to lead him past anything too :( If he was a pig to ride, I'd just lead, not even that works now! I've never taken Ned back either, we've always had lovely little walks, nothing's ever happened more than a little spook or two :S
 
Second for the wip ***, as you don't have to take your hands off the reins and they can't avoid it like a stick. Just tie a knot in an old rope and use it like a small child would use her rein ends in a gymkhana!
Can mum bash him up the bum with a prickly broom? If he has become herd leader he won't be wanting to leave them and his new love, that has probably triggered the 'try it on again' attitude. Persist and you will get there.
 
Aw why thank you sweet!
But honestly I have been in this boat before. My TB mare used to rear, bolt, spin etc. After 6 months of hard graft I finally got her past all that and she started relaxing, working in an outline and being good as gold.

Then about 4 months later out of nowhere, her old ways returned. Worse than ever. I put it down to a bad few weeks and then one day she went back to being good and has been since then.

I have no idea what got into her. Just stick through with it and persevere and please keep us updated!
:)
 
Nah said:
When ridden he spins and rears, in-hand he plants or thrashes his head around.

He's only really ridden by me, but he was taken out by 2 other people (at different times) purely because there was no other horses and they say nothing happened. He's really last choice for everyone apart from me, but apart from that, he's only been ridden by me.

I'm thinking of going back to bombproofing in the school etc, he was so good with that! He'll go out with the group, but since the schools went back, they're only going out at the weekends.

The saddle was properly fitted :)

There is a new horse, which he's taken to. But he didn't seem to want to be going back to her.

Could it be that he's the leader of the herd now? I've noticed a change in behaviour in the field. He's 'claimed' the mare and is certainly the boss now.
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It very well could be. If he is now the boss and has his own mare, he won't want to be leaving her. If thats it then he should hopefully settle in a short while.
 
Could be attachment to the mare. Has he been out with mares before? My gelding turned into a right a***hole when he went out with a mare when I moved to a new yard - he used to herd her around and keep the other geldings away. He had always been in single sex turnout before so I didn't know this was how he would behave. I had to have him separated from her in the end.
 
You know, I dont think he has :-o he used to when he was bottom of the pile, but not since then. Perhaps that is whats wrong :-o I kinda hope so, I dont want him to be in pain
 
Nah, this is a different but similar story. My horse has become very very school sour, has been like it for years, Hates the school, won't go off the leg, goes around spooking at the outside world.

Just for fun, I thought as I had nothing to loose I would do something radical, I thought I would try clicker training her while riding. What a difference, horse is totally focussed on me, now goes off the leg so quickly that you almost get a G force. I have managed to give her a good reason to work with me, its awesome.

I just wondered whether clicking might change your relationship for better with Ned and make it more fun. Once he has an understanding the clicker in the school take it into the big outside world. It is actually a quick process, my horse changed in the school dramatically within 2 sessions and when I took her out and just did the same (clicker) training on a small hack, the change was amazing (in a good way).

You might need some outside help, but there is some good information out there to get started and by all means PM me if you wanted any references I could give. Here, as a matter of interest, is one of my heros, Becky Chapman, giving an interview (the first video) which might help you decide if it would work for you!

http://www.hannahdawsonequine.co.uk/uncategorized/helen-chats-with-becky-chapman/
 
Think we all have moments like that!
Just come back from a hack round the big field with my "should know better at 14" mare and OH 5 year old , all going well until we "spotted" some joggers in the distance and someone shouting for a lost dog!Cue rearing and backing up nearly into a nearby ditch from OH's 5 year old and my mare decides to plant herself and refuse to go forward! We got round in the end and all in one piece!

Dont give up, keep persevering! :)
 
Work is dead, so they've let me have a sit down, haha :-P
thanks for the comments!
amymay, I get what you mean. He's not my horse and I wont have full control until I buy him, whcih hopefully should be soon! Im going to ask that only I do anything with him for the time being, so he's got a routine and only one rider.
canteron, ill pm you when I get home! I did email one person and ask for help, but she had a nasty accident which put her in hospital :-(
 
Has some-one being feeding him something he shouldn't have? I only ask as my mare has been a complete fruitloop the last two days. She was spooking into traffic yesterday, so took her off road today, cue napping and being a right nuisance. When I thought it through I realised that she had been having bits of carrot, rather than the usual herbal treats, for about three/four days. She seems very sensetive to certain foods, there is no way she can have alfalfa for instance and I don't give her carrots in her feed. I think I have created my own problem with her, just wondered if someone has done the same for you?
 
Nah- Everytime I read your posts Ned, sounds even more like my boy lol. He was going really well until last week when he started the rearing, spinning and backing up. No riders aid or crop would send him forward. Basically he did not want to go and nothing was going to persuade him to. Back, saddle teeth good aswell. Long story short, he now has 1 consistent rider and although this is not stopping the napping altogether, its a much happier horse and rider coming home.

I agree with amymay, it would be ideal if you could ride him and have him into your routine. If that is not possible in your situation/yard, it maybe worth speaking to his owner about getting you some help. Things were going so well and it will again. How often does Ned go off the yard?
x
 
All the horses on my yard have gone slightly crazy its the autumn flush of grass coming through. If the horse has been challenging all the others in the field and moving up the pecking order, it makes sense he could also be deciding to challenge you again. You say there's been more groups riding out, has he been out alone for a while or only in groups lately? Horses can go backward in their training if they don't use a new skill regularly. If they have an established "thing" they do, they tend to revert to it at times of stress, panic or when taking the mickey.
 
Queenbee said:
Bucket of water on the arse... Better ammunition than a whip :)
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Seconded.. jet spray on arse. Either use a bottle 'spray top' and aim it at his hocks (apparently hocks are more sensitive than actual bum,) and rather than ''tucking his bum in and away from said spray, but keeping legs still'' he will move his hocks, thus moving himself = did that make sense? Or if being a tad braver, use the jet setting on a hand held sprayer from the hose pipe. You have to be ultra quick to stop when you get movement forwards, as a reward.

Good luck.
 
Queenbee, that made me laugh! I might actually give it a go, he hates buckets of water :P

YorksG - I've asked around, to see if anyone's done anything with him but apparently nothing new has happened. I want to believe them but I do have a niggling in the back of my mind that there's something someone's not telling me. They're all lovely people who have the horses best interests at heart, but some of the kids do tend to group together and hide things they've done wrong.

Sherbie - Hopefully I'll be buying him soon, so I'll have a say in what happens :) or should I say, I'll have THE say in what happens. I really hope that when he has me and only me, that he'll be better!

Sugar_and_spice - I have been riding out in groups more than usual. However me and Mum were taking him for regular walks too. It seems to be a very sudden thing, which is what worries me. He was fine one day and a total git the next.
 
Nah said:
Queenbee, that made me laugh! I might actually give it a go, he hates buckets of water :P

YorksG - I've asked around, to see if anyone's done anything with him but apparently nothing new has happened. I want to believe them but I do have a niggling in the back of my mind that there's something someone's not telling me. They're all lovely people who have the horses best interests at heart, but some of the kids do tend to group together and hide things they've done wrong.

I'll put money on them giving him hundreds of polo mints :eek:, when we were at livery a group of children came screeching down the yard shouting, 'oooh this is my favourite', meaning my Old Appy mare, getting ready to stuff her with mints and incidently causing her to smack her poll on the stone lintel over her door :eek:, by waving their arms around in her face. I'm sure if I had not been around, I would never have known what caused the subsequent problems (a result of the bash on the head!)
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