Hello folks,
Just looking for a little advice / reassurance! I have a 7 yr old Arab who I am restarting. He was started in 2013 but hasn't done any 'proper' work since. He is a lovely, friendly, kind, intelligent chap, but also can be highly strung, sharp and he is a sensitive character.
At the moment he is developing a bit of a habit of exploding the minute (literally!) we get in the menege - galloping, plunging, bucking - the full on rodeo show - with me basically hanging on for dear life at the end of a 30ft line! Once he's done this for a few minutes, I feel like he's had an adrenaline dump, and then he's a different horse! Calm, listening, enjoys himself... He is very much what people like to call a "typical Arab" in temperament (I must admit I hate using that term as I've had perfectly chilled out Arabs before, but he kind of is!!) and finds things VERY exciting.
My concern about that a) this will develop into a learned behaviour and he will do this whenever we go into the menege and b) this could eventually translate into ridden work.
Do you think the more he does he'll just grow out of it and not have so much adrenaline? Any tips for keeping energy and adrenanline low at the beginning of a session?
I thought I might start taking upto the menege for his feed (for example), and then going back to his stable, just to break the association?
Thanks in advance for any advice or insights!!!
Rx
Hi Rebecca. Welcome to the forum. If more people would allow their horses to let off steam before jumping on board there would be far fewer accidents. This young man knows the session will be a challenge, bringing new & exciting things into his life. In your situation I would encourage this - but loose. Slip the long line through his halter outside the gate so you can free him on entry. Once he has expressed himself make a big deal of praising him & then calmly & quietly start your work. You will find his enthusiasm will fade away in time, this being a lot of energy to waste! In my view he is preparing himself to give you his full attention. You mention his stable. If he were outside all the time he could exercise freely but in a stable he can't do that. Then you bring him into a larger place where he can have fun. It's a logical reaction. Does he play up between the stable & the ménage? You don't mention that. If he were being 'naughty' he would play up in the stable & outside. I feel you have little to worry about, at this point anyway. Let us know how things go. Stay safe - no more hanging on for dear life. Cheers, Jo.
Hi Jo,
Thank you ever so much for your response, it is reassuring!! He is turned out every day but comes in mid afternoon. I'd say he is 'excuberant' leading him to the menege. He could easily get naughty, but we usually manage to keep it nicely under control, but he is often on the edge where he's so excited. I've done endless work leading with him but still sometimes it gets too much and he wants to jog or get too far ahead of me, forgetting his manners. The dually has worked wonders with this. Walking back after our sessions he is Mr chilled - like chalk and cheese!!
R x
Hi Rebeccafrier,
Adding to what Jo writes above I'd like to help you think like a horse...
He's young and actually in the best of years, his energy needs an outlet!
I know some Arabs that tend to behave like you describe, it's just that you can give him the chance to express himself, without starting a "fight" at the end of the line.
Do you longline him? This could be a nice transition between letting steam off and later riding him. Please watch the "Longlining"-lessons on this Uni, maybe first get some experience with a few horses that are less highstrung. Consider his energyburst as something quite normal, you don't need to correct it, you only need to make sure he's safe and you're safe as well! Now you can help him coming down with your own breathing and bodylanguage, keep your breath slow and deep, keep your shoulders parallel to his spine, this way he'll not feel confronted. And enjoy your time with him, let him have fun, you'll find yourself having fun too!
Keep us posted,
Miriam
There's something about a manege that is so exciting :-) My little one is out 24 hours a day but if I put him in a sand school he will thunder round, and roll and roll until he is thick with sand. So I let him in, turn him loose, stand outside, let him get on with it. When he settles, I go in, but his halter back on/saddle whatever and do what we need to do.
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All the advice is great and I wouldn't worry but there is one thing to consider; are you planning to compete with him/take him to other sand schools? If so, he can't be doing this in a competition arena hahah! I think the key is his general exuberance that you mention. As well as the above, I would review his food (if he's not doing that much work don't give him high energy food), increase his turnout time by as much as you can manage, and keep working on his leading. Good luck!