Why Do I Bother?!

Z

Zobaby

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21 October 2007
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You probably all know about my boy's napping on hacks now! Well, he was improving so much, going at the front on hacks in company and starting to wander round the yard quite happily on his own. But me and a friend (with her very quiet, old mare) went out on a hack today and had got half way down the road and he spooked at some people walking at the edge of the road and spun round and reared and tried to go home! With a horse in front of him? WHY?! Stupid horse! He did this once more and I decided I didn't feel safe and got off. We carried on for 50 yards or so, with me just leading and then decided to call it a day as I was so upset. So frustrated as he was improving so much. And if he's napping in company now, then what am i gonna do? He's bombproof with company usually.
I know this is just a setback and he'll keep improving, but I can't help thinking that all the work i'm doing is for nothing, as he's getting worse. So upset, been crying pretty much all day! I think I need a hug
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Don't give up, my sister's horse can still have wobbles like this although he doesn't rear but it could get like that if he wanted, he just is often hard to turn round once he's spun and 'hop's (usually sideways into hedges etc!). The main thing is to be firm And confident but remain calm and if necessary just make them stand (if you can) so they can 'think' about it before trying to ask them to go forward again.

It sounds like he's just lacking confidence and wants to run away to where he's safe so I feel if you ride with confidence, do not think he WILL do it but don't drop your guard just in case he does. Try pre-think what he may object to and ride strongly when approaching anything you think he may object to.

Persistance and repeating the same hacks etc is the key I feel, the horse needs to feel confident in where he is and in you to 'keep him safe', they know straight away if you start to show any nervousness.
 
It will be, it can be very frustrating but he looks like a nice horse, I am sure you will get there in the end.
 
Ah well that's that you see, no horse can be 'perfect' they've always got to have one quirk at least!
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**hugs** , keep on with him , you need to be firm or he will keep getting one over you , could someone who is really confident take him out for you for a while just so he gets the message that he has to go where you want , sounds like he lacks confidence and needs a strong rider to turn him back round and make him walk past the spooky things
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i agree with sueandtoto about letting someone else who is really confident take him out, or a riding instructer. he needs someone to be firm with him and show him whos boss, hes blatently taking the p!ss.
 
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