What does/could it mean?

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EquestrianFairy

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I have an idea: but because i may be biased i thought id put it to the majority..

I am not going to explain any history yet, as i want to see what people think first.

I ride a youngster, i am a very quiet rider, his owner is not.
Now, when i tack him up i leave him loose in his stable because i am trying to monitor the following and its something i have always done.

When he see's the saddle he starts to walk around in circles and poohs probably twice, when i have calmed him, i can put the saddle on him (undone) he will then walk around a few more times (quite briskly) (possibly he stands in the corner of the stable until i can calmly talk him to walking to me) until i calm him again and i can do up the girth lightly.
Then, out comes the bridle- he will walk around again and pooh once more, i calm him and put the bridle on.. he will then stand at the back of the stable right into the corner and pooh another time
with his eyes looking quite stressed.

I now leave him settle for 10/15mins and when i return he is standing by the door.

If this scenario is infront of you, what would be your reaction and what do you think possible explanations are?
 
I would say he is either excited or worried - about having his tack put on and/or being ridden. Has he had his tack properly fitted and his teeth and back checked? How does he behave when he's ridden? Is there a difference between how he behaves for you and for his owner? How long have you been riding him and have you noticed a difference in his behaviour during that time?
 
He is currently in a pelham (which i strongly disagree with and im trying to sneak him back into a snaffle)

Apparently his saddle is properly fitted, but i dont believe it so i bought him a thick polypad as they were using a peice of paper as a numnah! I beleve his back has been checked and i also believe his teeth are up to date.

When ridden he can seem stiff, however with the polypad on he seems much more relaxed with me (The owners refuse to use the polypad) I know his owner is very heavy handed with him, she wants him on two legs so she whips and kicks him all the time.

I do not! I dont find he needs a whip as he is forward going enough and i like them on four legs.

Since i started riding him, this tacking up issue with me is slowly getting better.. i give him lots of praise and treats when he relaxes for me and i never raise my voice as he seems to repspond to me very well with a calm voice.

I am aware his owner is not so forthcomming!
 
Yes, i knew it was.. it kills me but theres nothing i can do.

Ive tried to offer to buy him and they wont, i asked for a full loan but they wont.
 
No wonder the poor chap is worried! How awful
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He is obviously stressed at the thought of being beaten up and ragged round
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Is there no way you can talk to owner? (I know it's hard), or buy him off her
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It is a no win situation really if the owners will not listen...unfortunately us horsey people have very strong opinions on how things should be done and there is no telling us!!!!
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Unfortunately my main concern would be that if you are approaching things differently with the horse and using other tack that the owners do not agree with...you might find yourself told to stop riding it and that would be a shame for you and the horse. Will they not compromise at all?
 
I think the fact remains the owner is the owner. We all think we could do better, but if they don't want to sell ... well it doesn't sound like the happiest of relationships, to be honest.
Yes he may be very stressed. Or he may just be a fidget who poohs a lot. I once looked after a top international horse who poohed for England. Well the USA actually, but that's neither here nor there. Some people (and I am one of them) prefer to tie a horse and encourage him to stand still while he is being tacked up, and would not leave a fully tacked up horse in a stable for 15 minutes, for a variety of reasons including safety, of horse and tack, and not having that kind of time to spare. Without seeing him, I have no idea.
I do think though, that you are just building up a very resentful attitude to his owner, and I can't see how that helps anyone.
I shall now wait to be burned alive!
 
On reflection, I am wondering, in what capacity do you ride this horse? If you are the professional (yard owner, instructor, whatever) to whom they turn for advice, then my answer above is off the mark. However, if you are a sharer, or ride the horse because you want to, or are hired just to exercise the horse as the owner requires, then I'm afraid it stands.
 
My comment is that its very weird to leave them loose when tacking up.

In fact if that was my saddle you'd plonked on ungirthed and let them roam around, so it could potentially fall off and spook the horse, I'd be pretty pee'd off (then I have stupidly expensive wow saddle).

I would tie the horse up and still use the quiet method, as you are going to have an accident sooner or later.
 
My horse is a fidget and will wander around his stable when I tack him up. All his tack fits and he is never handled roughly as anyone who knows me wll confirm. Some horses are just natural fidgets.
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Hmm, tricky. No one likes to be told they're doing things the wrong way, and especially that they're not a good rider (not saying you're doing this but sounds like the owner has this reaction to constructive criticism and advice..) Have you tried to talk through his behaviour and how what they're doing is affecting it? If you've done your best to explain your reasoning for changing things and its effect on his behaviour and they STILL won't listen, then I don't see what else you can do...
what a shame, poor horse!
 
Sorry i dont mean i leave him for 10 mins alone.. literally. I am there, im just outside the stable putting my boots on etc.
(basically not in the stable with him)

Obv his reins are tied up, stirrups up so he cant get himself tangled.

I suppose in all honesty i have a little resentment towards the daughter in the way she treats him, shes a nice girl in herself and the mother is equally nice but people have a point and us horsey people like our own opinions- perhaps in this instance it may be a case of just dealing with it.

I am not his owner, and all i can do is continue to be calm and relaxed around him in the hope he understands i am one person and his owner is another and we do things differently?

I only ride him to be exercised, i decided to tell the owners that i use the polypad incase i get into trouble (told them today) and they were fine. I did use the excuse im more unbalanced so didnt want to do any damage and its good for extra comfort due to my lack of balance.

I mentioned the pelham/snaffle and they said they will look into it.

I think thats all i can do for now :-( until they ever sell him.
 
This is a hard one as I agree with what others have said in certain ways but also believe that the calmness of your ways are a good thing.

I think the only way you can look at it is, you are able to ride the horse, although the owner is hard handed I would just enjoy your time with the horse, understand you are giving him a break and that he obviously respects you for it. I do not think there is much more you can do unless they put him up for sale.

I would try not to upset the owner too much as they could just ask you stop riding him which would be a shame. Maybe suggest you would like to try him in a snaffle as you are used to riding horses with snaffles.

I have ridden many horses for people in the past and they have had millions of pieces of tack piled high on the horse...there is not much I can do apart from just respect the horse and be gentle and in doing so most of the time I have gained respect and trust back from the horse. I would just enjoy your time with the horse as much as you can and try to ignore the owner.
 
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