What do do now?

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Parkranger

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Ok, sorry for droning on, but appreciate your opinions on this.

I'm now at breaking point with Oscar. He's a great horse, and his bonus points are:

got placed 2nd when I rode him last weeked (and was impeccably behaved),
boxes well,
is good to handle with farrier etc
is not spooky
has beautiful paces
jumps really well

Downsides:

has started to nap really badly now fit (no rearing, but lots of threatening) and is now napping in the school, in company on hacks and generally whenever he's away from his mate Ty. I then tense, hang on his mouth and just can't get my head around it. I wouldn't say I'm a novice rider but the thought of him rearing is too much - he's being a stubborn sod!

There is not the option to put him in another field unfortunately

Just wondered what you'd do?
 
I said the instructor, but don't get the instructor to hack him out, get the instructor to work with you.

No offence intended honestly, but my godsister was forever being sent horses and ponies to school which she found were pretty decent horses, and it was the rider-and-horse-combination that was going wrong. So get an instructor you like, who knows you and won't push you to work with the both of you and get BOTH your confidence back!!!

Good luck and keep us updated!

x
 
No offence taken! He is a lovely horse that's why I'm loathed to sell him as I think I'll regret it.

I have to sell one of them and although I love Ty, he'll make someone a good hacking horse but he's just not what I want bless him. Hoping my sharer is going to buy Ty though....
 
If its any consolation my horse was a terrible rearer and bucker and was really nappy.I hack out on my own now I have learnt to be strong and confident and give him clear instructions and he responds well .I had to take him out on his own the other day afte giving him time off yet again this was related to a nail puncture bless him he shook a few times and acted spooky but I kept my leg on and talked to him and he went really well.
Good luck with the sharer I can remember suggesting that option she sounded perfect for him.
 
Oscar isn't bucking or rearing (yet) but if I don't get help he'll start!

Yeah, want the best home for Ty - there's absolutely no rush to sell him....
 
I might be bollocked for this but I walloped Chloe when she napped for the first and last time. I was scared sh*tless just by her little 'bunny' hops, and I'm glad I reacted by smacking her, because she has never, ever done it again.

Have you tried 24/7 turnout? might chill him out a bit. And I'd get out and about to shows, as you said, he was well behaved at the last one you went to, so you might be able to enjoy him more out showing and having fun at ''parties''. X
 
I said get a good instructor, they will help you focus on what you should be doing when he is buggering around so that he realised that he cannot get away with it - but make sure it is you that is doing the riding, not the instructor or else he will behave for the instructor and you may still have the same probs!! - having said that, this will not always solve the problem. I used to have a beautiful horse that I just didn't fit with - My instructor and me tried everything and in the end my confidence dropped and dropped and I ended up selling him, as soon as I replaced him with a horse better suited to me, I was well away (thanks for that Spooks - you have been a star!!)
 
We had a rearer and its S...C...A...R...Y ! Would never go down that road again. At the moment you feel (understandbly) very attached to Ty. If you sent him away to instructor, they would re-school him so he was better to ride, you could grow apart from him a little and then you could sell him to someone who could offer him a good life.
Our mare was very difficult. We perservered for 3 long years!!! it was tough. we learnt loads... but I realise now some 9 months after she has gone that she really pushed us to the absolute max.. and it did actually have a lating effect on our confidence. Dont get me wrong, we are not easily put off, and have two very feisty ex-racers!... but she was different. We sold her, completely honest about what we'd been through. She was very,very beautiful and attracted loads of replies to her ad. But I carefully listened to all that rang up. It was maybe a bit harsh but to 99% I said 'no, sorry.. you don't sound right for her'... finally someone rang who sounded perfect. Actually they are vets. They loved her, warts and all. She was the most amazingly naturally talented mare I have ever seen... but just too quirky for us. She has gone to a fantastic new home. We are happy. She is happy. End of. I do hope you find the answer to your own problems.. out there somewhere is the perfect match for you. Maybe you havent found it yet. Sincere best wishes sent to you.
 
BG - It's Oscar the post is about, not Ty! Sorry confused things.

L - he is out 247 with NO hard feed!

Re. instructor - she tried to help me in the school the other day and I just crapped myself too much so she had to get on!

I guess I compare it that when Ty naps (very occasionally) he tries to go his way, boot, voice and he thinks better of it. Oscar is very sharp and it's as if he's daring you to get heavy handed - I can't explain it!

What's so odd is that he's always napped and I dealt with it but I'm really having issues over the last week or so and I don't understand why he's so atatched to Ty now - he was never this bad!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I might be bollocked for this but I walloped Chloe when she napped for the first and last time. I was scared sh*tless just by her little 'bunny' hops, and I'm glad I reacted by smacking her, because she has never, ever done it again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that it works on some horses but there is napping and napping - Oscar really means it and even my instructor was not 100% on him!

I do keep wondering - what if Ty goes to the vets and turns out that his hocks can be sorted, he can become what I want (ie jumping etc)

Why is it all so hard?
grin.gif
 
I think getting a good instructor who can help get your confidence back by seeing where you may be 'going wrong', helping you to overcome both yours and his issues at the same time. Good luck, whatever you decide.
 
You need to get him away from Ty. Is there no way you can wangle it so you can split them up?
If he is threatening to go up I wouldn't push it by smacking him,especialy if you are taking to much of a hold on his mouth as it is. In an ideal world you need someone who can work this out of him at home, because if it is seperation anxiety then he may not do it on a new yard where there is no Ty.
When are you getting Ty's blocks and x-rays done? I think you need answers to what is going on in his hocks before you can realy move on with Oscar.
Good luck, I hope you work things out with Oscar as apart from this he sounds just what you are wanting.
 
I think the first step is to get your instructor to start riding him and see how he responds to her. If he stops napping or the napping is much reduced, then you will know that the problem is partly down to the way you ride him. Seeing him going well for your instructor will then give you the confidence to tackle him yourself, knowing that the situation is resolvable if you ride him firmly and calmly.

If he doesn't start improving with the instructor, then you could consider sending him away for schooling, even if it is just to see whether he is better when kept away from Ty.
 
Thanks all - someone is riding him out for me today and I'm riding my friends trusty cob!! Will be interesting to see him from the ground (so to speak) and seewhat's really going on.

He has been napping with everyone lately, not just me so will be interesting to see if my instructor can 'cure' that at home.

My OH thinks that if Ty is going to be ok that I'll end up selling Oscar anyway - either way I can't do anything until we've sorted the napping!

No way we can separate I'm afraid and buying another horse would bankrupt me!
 
I had a horse on trial a few years ago. I had him for a couple of months. On paper he was perfect, 'schoolmaster' jumped well, nice enough to show (which I enjoy), no vices etc. The first time I hacked him, in company, he spooked at my dog and I came off, was unhurt and kind of pleased that I'd fallen off, not been hurt and got back on happily. 20 mins later,he did it again (at goodness knows what this time) but it was on a lane, he dropped his shoulder and spun, I hit the ground hard! From then I worked him inthe paddock and he was an angel. A friend who is much braver said she'd ride him in a bigger field, asked for canter and he bronced like a mustang, really scary then galloped to the gate where I was standing and knocked me off my feet! At this point I was pretty anxious about riding him but wanted to persist and give him the benefit of the doubt. I carried on schooling and had a few quiet hacks with no problem. In my gut I knew he was too much, potentially but still wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Eventually decided to get him vetted, all went well til the fast work bit, I galloped him, he bronced, I flew off. I got up to see my lovely vet, white in the face, saying "are you sure you want this horse??" It was what I needed and he was returned to his owner.

Looking back that sounds completely mad, I should have sent him back the first time but you do get attached and I didn't want to not give him a fair trial. However, he destroyed my confidence both in myself and in horses. To this day I am very wary of riding horses that buck though prior to him it wouldn't have bothered me at all.

I know this isn't the same situation as yours but I wish I had had the sense to listen to my gut instinct and send him back sooner.
 
Bit different with Oscar though - I own him and even if I did want to sell him then either myself or someone else needs to get him over this......!

I'm going to lunge him for 20 mins later and get on in the school - if he's an arse then he'll get lunged again until he decides that napping is not worth the effort....I really can't let a bloody horse beat me can I?
 
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