Very difficult young wamblood! HELP

I've got a few questions for the OP, are you absolutely sure there is no pain anywhere. Does the saddle fit primarily. Warmbloods especially can change dramatically in a short time physically and as it seemed to come up very quickly I would be thinking physical rather than mental. My boy (hanoverian but with trakehner lines) is tricky to say the least but there is always a physical reason for his behaviour. Yes sometimes he naps but not so violently as you're describing your boy and even then it's down to having a short concentration span and being nosy. What you are describing screams physical to me, sorry. Please get his back and saddle checked by really good people before going any further and if you need to go further spend the money on finding someone experienced (very experienced) to help train him through his ridden childhood (you want the best primary school for him effectively). Hope this helps.
 
I agree, it sounds like this instructor is perhaps not the right one for him. Do you know anyone with a lot of experience in young warmbloods? They tend to be more athletic at that age than some other breeds, so you need someone calm and sticky who will ride through the problem. It sounds like he threatens to have a tantrum, and she stops asking whatever it was she was asking, and this reinforces the threatening behaviour. Can't blame her, I would do the same lol!! But you do need someone who address it properly. I'm certain it did start out as a confidence crisis, but it almost sounds like he has learnt what behaviour gets him out of work.

I don't really like the term separation anxiety, it makes it sound like he has some kind of a mental issue - they are horses, of course they don't want to be separated, it is one of the principle components of their nature to be herd bound!!! You just have to teach him that it's not a big deal, and he will survive! Do you have other horses at your place?

If it were me - and admittedly I don't have much experience in youngsters apart from a pony and a dobbin haha - I would turn him away for a few months, because that will certainly not do any harm, even if it doesn't help him. Warmbloods are slow to mature, this could be all it is. Then I would start again at the beginning, and stick to hacking out in company for a few months, apart from literally walks down the road.
 
Rocky01 said:
I've got a few questions for the OP, are you absolutely sure there is no pain anywhere. Does the saddle fit primarily. Warmbloods especially can change dramatically in a short time physically and as it seemed to come up very quickly I would be thinking physical rather than mental. My boy (hanoverian but with trakehner lines) is tricky to say the least but there is always a physical reason for his behaviour.
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I'd second this, I'm afraid. I have a very tricky young warmblood (also part trakehner, funnily enough), who has a propensity for diva-ish explosions. Saddle, back, etc, all checked reguarly (including a couple of looks over from a vet), no alarm bells. She got sticky and difficult again a few months ago, napping, generally being awkward - seemed like perfectly normal baby nonsense - then flipped out completely and decked her rider. Cue a full work-up. She has severe kissing spines :-( Now trying to work out what, if any, future she has. It may not be anything so serious with your beastie, but my first port of call would be a thorough look over from a vet.
 
wyrdsister said:
Cue a full work-up. She has severe kissing spines :-( Now trying to work out what, if any, future she has. It may not be anything so serious with your beastie, but my first port of call would be a thorough look over from a vet.
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Wyrdsister - sorry to hear about your girl, hope it turns out well for you both :) XX

Have been reading this thread with interest as I have just sent my 4yo WB to a pro for some consistent work as I haven't the time due to work. I knew it was right thing but did have moments of feeling I had failed (in that self pitying way we can all get :( ) but overall I am glad I did, and all your comments make me feel better that I have, so thank you

I love my youngster and getting it right now (at some expense) means I don't mess up and get either of us injured or forced to sell her because I can't cope
 
Renvers said:
Wyrdsister - sorry to hear about your girl, hope it turns out well for you both :) XX
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Thank you. She's going for surgery next week, so fingers crossed! A pro trainer was the next step if we ruled out physical problems, though. They have time, resources & experience where most of us are short at least one of the three! The fir has to be right though. Glad all's going well for yours :-)
 
Oh hun too much too soon!!!! needs growing up time he still a baby, did the same with mine and after 7 months off came back fab!!! he is so young to let him hack alone, mine is just 5 now and still not let her out hacking without company but she does lead all the hacks, please let us know how you get on xxxxx
NinaMarie1989 said:
Hi everyone, I bought my horse almost a year ago, and he is so lovely on the ground, cheeky, sometimes naughty. He's only just turned 4 in April.

I backed him in August as a 3 yo, had a few problems getting him to go forward and napping, but he soon got out of the habit and was going absolutely brilliantly... beach gallops, big main roads, big lorries and tractors and everything, couldn't fault him at all... he was better in company, but would go out by himself.

Then in march while riding on the beach on my own, as soon as I asked for a trot or a canter, he would spin and bolt in the direction of home, I then carried on making him walk until he was going forward willingly then turned for home.
The next day I thought, I'll try that again, bring a friend and some lunge lines, he was so naughty and was doing the same thing, so we lunged him and I hopped on to ride home and he was rushing, so I asked him to stand talked to him 'stop being silly we're going home now' pat pat good boy leg on 'walk on' and he proceeded to launch me in the air, and he ran home... leaving me winded, trying my best to run while breathing like a beast!

I put it down to it being spring and thought 'ill turn him away for a month or so' and hope he just calms down, until a week later my farrier came said 'that is the worst thing you could of done', so the next day I rode him, not far, just half a mile down the road and through a wood and he was good as gold! Tried again the day after and i could get him off the drive with out him bucking, I was on my own so, I obviously couldn't keep going at him on my own.

I've done loads of lunging with him, tried hacking him numerous times with no success, I have hacked him out once more but with my friends mare... but have only tried that once.

I have sent him away to a lady who is also stumped with what to do with him... While she was riding last night just in walk, there were horses in other field and he just kept napping, and bucking and nearly throwing her off.

I do hopefully have a plan for when he comes back... and I am going to try hacking him with others again, to hopefully get him to gain some confidence... as it could be separation anxiety?
We have limited facilities, I backed him and long reined him on a private lane, we don't have a school as of yet or near by.

But I was HOPING somebody has gone through the same thing and could offer me some advice?

Please bear in mind he has had all the checks, hes up to date with teeth etc, and isn't in any pain, he is just being an A* hole!
I know warmblood mature mentally later than others, but I can't just wait until he's 10/12 before I can do anything with him!!

So frustrating, as he was going to well, and he has tons of potential :@

Any help or advice would be great, Thank you.

Please no nasty comments!
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Just a thought but I find the worst thing you can do with a youngster or anything a bit nappy is to ride it out so far then let it turn for home. Do you have any circular rides you can go on rather than going out for so long and then having to turn around and head for home?
 
Get everything checked out. Teeth, saddle and back.

At 4 he will be losing caps and a sore mouth can make some horses crazy.

As he is young his physical shape will have changed considerably and so his saddle may not be fitting like it used to

He could possibly have slipped in his paddock during winter and hurt himself, or maybe pulled back and put his poll out.

What are you feeding. If hard feeding stop totally and let him live off grass for a while.

Feed a tablespoon Epsom Salts twice daily for a while the grass Magnesium levels may be causing him to behave unreasonably.
 
Very good post above!!!!!!!!!!!! Tnavas you sound very experienced!! i have just had a sports equine massage done on my horse has i thought she felt crook in the neck and i was right she was very tight!! she also said her poll was very very tight and thought the problem was there, what behaviour does it cause when the poll is out ?? i forgot to ask her before she left! xxxx
 
At that age what fits one month might not in 2-3 months, i know you say all have been checked but when and how often ? i also agree he will be losing caps and his mouth might be a bit sore at times.
He does sound like he's taken a lot on board in his head and a beach can be a big scary place for a young horse on their own or in company Some time off might help
 
my homebred was an absolute idiot on hacks. she used to plant and rear or hump and buck or reverse into ditches, it was a nightmare. however after seeking some advice on here I stopped the turning around on hacks and only did circular routes, making a firm point of forwards at all times. IMO if you have one predisposed to napping, allowing the thought of 'I'm going to turn for home soon' makes them go even more backwards.
my made is one of the most reliable hackers now and it's done her good in all spheres of riding, she's much more forwards and agreeable in sticky moments.

good luck!
 
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