Warmbloods: are they ALWAYS difficult?!

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Take the breed away. What are you left with? Possible pain and or a horse and rider combo that doesn't gel, possibly. That DOES NOT mean this girl isn't a good rider at all.

Look I'm speaking as someone that used to gallop and been on over probably 3000 horses. At first you decide you will be the rider that will ride everything. You will show the world how good you are. Then you become wiser and realise you as a rider have many strengths. You also start to realise you have weaknesses. So you get to a point where you become a very good rider by concentrating on those strengths. It takes a long time of realising this. Lots and lots of self doubt along the way.

Why am I rambling? Because for this one horse your friend is having trouble with there are probably 10 horses she could ride better than someone else so she shouldn't feel bad. If she has her heart set on this mare then she should send her to a pro for at least 2 months in the spring after a break. Then revisit the situation and continue working with the mare. If still not working then selling her on is probably a good idea knowing she did her best.

Good luck,
Terri

 

[Wagtail]

Should say: back, teeth, saddle etc have been checked so we're pretty sure she's not doing it because she's uncomfortable.

Don't rule out pain. My horse was checked by the vet, chiro and physio and all said his back was not in the remotest bit sore. It turned out he had kissing spines in ten places! His only symptom was a refusal to canter and then some explosive moments when riding.

 

[1Lucie]

My ex loan warmblood was pretty laid back, very talented but jeezz he was hardwork to get it from him (lazy). Although, he did have a nasty streek from time to time and would randomly bite me, very very hard.

 

[nikCscott]

My WB is only just starting to settle at 8 and he still has his moments (he was turned away- if she was mine i'd be inclined to turn her away for the winter at least, getting hurt in a summers day is not nice but risking getting hurt with cold feet and fingers, wet ground or slippy patch in the lane is no fun at all.

Good luck with it

 

[abitodd]

Mine is now eight and at last showing some maturity.
I backed him at 4 and he was fantastic. Then I did too much(only hacking!) and he started the vertical stuff.
It turned out he had an issue with his stifle and was generally weak and immature.
He is now just beginning to fill out,muscle up and work with me.

I think one of the problems is that WBs are athletic. So when they throw their toys out of the pram they do so with panache!

 

[Scoutie]

I have found this post very interesting as I also have a WB. I can't help the OP but my five year old is both physically and mentally immature, especially when compared with his mate (ISH x TB) who is one day old and been brought up identically. He has a tendancy to be lazy but does enjoy his work and is a lovely ride most of the time (unless worked will provide his own fun on hacks!). However he is not always good to handle from the ground although this is improving especially when he has been worked.

Because of his immaturity everything has been taken slowly, whilst he has not had long breaks his work his been raised and lowered at intervals, this seems to have worked well for him. As we are just starting to increase his work again he will be seeing the physio for a check to ensure that everything is ok, he is a bigger than expected I don't want to run into problems if these can be avoided.

I also have a ISh for hunting, before she goes on her summer break she gets a back check and if there are problems these are treated first, if required she is also checked again before coming back into work. This works well for her and I would recommend that if you decide to give the horse a break that they are checked again before they go out so that there is a chance that they will recover when resting.

 

[Cortez]

I used to run a warmblood stud (Trakehners, thought to be the "hottest" and most difficult of the warmbloods) and can honestly say the only horses I had a problem with were the part TB's. Nowadays there is quite a lot of TB blood in modern warmbloods, and they're not everyone's cup of tea, but remember warmbloods are the "professional's choice" and have been bred to be proper grown-up competition horses, not happy hackers or pets.

 

[scribble]

I have a TB x warmblood and she is 4.5 and chilled, very good in terms of more mature than her years, however she has her moments, but i think it is about being very concistent, calm and firm with them, she is also a mare, gets bored easily but very quickly susses things out and very intelligent. she will throw paddies stop in the arena and go up or jump off all fours or just object, she has been check over every 6 months teeth, back, vet, phsio, Mctimmoney and nothing wrong with her. get her right and she is great but i think they are slow to mature but are not pets as such, she is not a petting horse although will sometimes come for a cuddle if you go too far she just says go away i dont want all that fuss.

 

[YasandCrystal]

I think one of the problems is that WBs are athletic. So when they throw their toys out of the pram they do so with panache!

Ha ha I like those words abitodd - very well summed up methinks

Mine can get his foot over the de gogue and be so sensible and stand there like a lamb to be unentangled, yet at times he can challenge you for no good reason!

 

[FanyDuChamp]

My lad is a WB and he likes standing on his back legs and waving too. But seriously I think that they can be quirky and against common belief I have never met a dumb one. My lad has the best work ethic of any horse I have ever ridden/known but he does get bored if work becomes repetitive, you have to keep it interesting. Mine is also stressy and yes he can be difficult, it is often the price you pay for talent.They are very often suggested as an easier alternative to a TB, imho that is rubbish, they are very often very sensitive and stressy horses, especially the ones born and bred on the continent, never met one imported one that wasn't a stress head! Mine is also the most opinionated horse I have ever met, he will happily let you know his opinions. But he is cuddly and a total gentleman when he wants to be. I think they are an acquired taste, love 'em or hate 'em there is never a dull moment around them.

ETA- mine is very nearly 18, has been a pro-comp horse and is still a knobber! Sorry.
FDC

 

[Leg_end]

Nope, mine is the easiest horse I've ever dealt with! He's a BWB and is a dobbin to handle and a sweetheart to ride

 

[9tails]

Mine is 11 and still mentally immature! She is very quick to learn, works well off praise, but will repeat things ad infinitum even those that you didn't realise you'd taught her and actually wished she hadn't learnt. There are a lot of gaps in her schooling, so although she knows half pass, leg yield, rein back, even passage, she's wobbly in a straight line and finds it difficult to hold a contact. But it's coming, with time and patience, but not force or gadgets.

 

[FanyDuChamp]

I have a welsh C x British warmblood

How? Most WB are over 16hh, my lad is 17-3hh. Just how?
FDC

 

[rhino]

How? Most WB are over 16hh, my lad is 17-3hh. Just how?
FDC

One of the best ponies I ever rode was a Shetland x Hanoverian, 14hh

 

[FanyDuChamp]

Mine is 11 and still mentally immature! She is very quick to learn, works well off praise, but will repeat things ad infinitum even those that you didn't realise you'd taught her and actually wished she hadn't learnt. There are a lot of gaps in her schooling, so although she knows half pass, leg yield, rein back, even passage, she's wobbly in a straight line and finds it difficult to hold a contact. But it's coming, with time and patience, but not force or gadgets.

I know where you are coming from. We have to be extremely careful what we teach Captain, because he damned well learns it! All the WBs I have known have been very quick minded, I think they get the dumb blood thing because they can be stubborn and bloody-minded, well mine can!
FDC

 

[FanyDuChamp]

One of the best ponies I ever rode was a Shetland x Hanoverian, 14hh

Actually I have heard of these before, a friend used to have a Shetland x Ardennes, apparently look just like an Ardennes but Shetland size. Determined Shetland apparently!
FDC

 

[coen]

I do think a lot of warmbloods are tricky, mine certainly is. Turning her away can't hurt but I doubt it will solve the issue. Some horses are just very stubborn and opinionated and it takes a while to get to grips with them. My advice would be for her to get a understanding professionals help and stick with it. It always makes me feel better to get things into perspective and realise even people with seemingly easy horses fall off and have issues.

 

[ellie_e]

After buying my 1st 6yr old WB in Febuary who was a complete gent to handle, laid back, and would do anything for me, unless you try to ride him!! To ride he was/is nervous, spooky, and some what dangerous. He is now settled into a routine, much happier in himself, have altered his feed and come up with what seems to be a good working training programme and is a different horse. He is still nervous and can be spooky but no where near like before. I love this horse so much i ride him and he floats nothing will ever feel as good as a WB! If the horse isnt in pain i hope your friend sticks with her mare and good luck to them

 

[9tails]

I know where you are coming from. We have to be extremely careful what we teach Captain, because he damned well learns it! All the WBs I have known have been very quick minded, I think they get the dumb blood thing because they can be stubborn and bloody-minded, well mine can!
FDC

I always wondered about that dumbblood moniker, because mine is a Mensa candidate.

 

[Four Seasons]

Warmbloods usually have quite a bit of Thoroughbred percentage in them. The "will" to work and keep busy is in them. If you can't occupy them enough, they will show it. And it's also the horses talent and the riders talent. If you buy a very talented horse, but you just can't handle it... thats because the horse has "will" to work. If you bore the horse... you get these problems.

My WB's are perfectly fine. My stallion has 47% Thoroughbred in him, but I am really strict with him and accept no nonsense. My WB mare (46% Thoroughbred) can be a bit tense at times, but thats when I'm starting to bore her when riding. It's how to keep the horses busy enough, thats all it is.

 

[Marydoll]

My first horse was a han/tb x and she was fantastic.
My next was a the same but with more han than tb, he was a bloody bombscare as a baby but when you got his trust and he worked with you, he was fantastic.
I do agree they are late bloomers and can be difficult if they have a bolshy head on them, use force and youre on a hiding to nothing, my experience of them is ask and negotiate rather than demand and expect.
I ride a tb now and love her to bits, she can be a bit squirly at times but is a super ride, i do think i prefer tb's at the moment though

 

[Kittykins]

The "will" to work and keep busy is in them. If you can't occupy them enough, they will show it. It's how to keep the horses busy enough, thats all it is.

It's interesting you should say that as I said the exact same thing. When I first got my WB mare I'd been out of 'proper' riding for a few years (had just been hacking about every now and then) so took things quite slowly. She soon got bored and became stubborn and fidgety when ridden so I quickly realised that I had to really step up my game and keep challenging her - had a few lessons with a professional which really helped. She's also the brightest horse I've ever come across and, while incredibly sweet, is VERY opinionated!

As a result, I suggested that my friend do more, rather than less with her mare - she's been "going back to basics" in her words, lately. But we wondered whether, as she was young, the fact that WBs are slower to mature would mean that stepping up the amount of work would just blow her mind and make her worse. Hence wondering whether turning her away would have a more calming effect.

It's a shame; she doesn't want to sell her as you hear about so many horses that are labelled as 'problem horses' and just get sold on every six months as successive owners become exasperated. And she has come on a long way since she was bought. But on the other hand, she's starting to really dent my friend's confidence.

 

[billy2]

We have a rather lovely one in our riding school, bought at 5 years old and 17 hands, he's now rising 7 and we daren't measure him! He was (and is still) very immature mentally and physically, but temperament-wise? Well, he's adept at having at least 6 small children hanging on to his front legs and not damaging ANY of them; 10 year-olds can ride him; a 6-year-old can lead him. Enough said?

 

[blood_magik]

mine can be extremely stubborn but he tries so hard the majority of the time.
I say he's a dumb-blood but in reality he's too clever for his own good and it's so hard to stay one step in front of him
they certainly know how to challenge you
I definately want another kwpn when it's time for mister j to retire.

good luck to your friend

 

[bluewhippet]

Mine is, and always has been the easiest horse to handle and ride. I have let a 6/7 year old girl jump him over decent courses in the field and other novice riders do their first competition/clear round on him. He has also been used for BHS Level 1 and 2 training. He is as spookproof and bombproof as it is possible for a living animal to be

This is him after 7 weeks box rest

I have absolutely nothing useful to add to this thread - but that is such a beautiful photo of background and your lovely horse.

 

[rhino]

I have absolutely nothing useful to add to this thread - but that is such a beautiful photo of background and your lovely horse.

Thank you Am wanting it blown up and put on a canvas