Dear All
My 6yo Anglo Arab gelding has had a year off due to a a tendon injury and my pregnancy. He was lunged by a friend of mine and was ridden out by my groom a few times a week so was not completely stagnating. I backed him as a 2 year old and we had been playing polo crosse, hacking out and doing small shows and cross country and things were good. Since getting back on him I found I felt very insecure on him. He was very alert and spooky when he used to be very sensible. We always ride with dogs and on my first out-ride after maternity leave some dogs came barking up behind us. He took off and bucked me off and then ran 1km away and started grazing. I was riding alone which we used to do a lot but was probably not a good idea after my long break. I got really hurt and it knocked my confidence. I have done join up with him from the start as a 2yo but it seems to have lost it's potency although he does go through the motions. Recently I bathed him with his stable mate preparing for a show. We took them out for a walk to dry them off in the sun. suddenly he started trotting up behind me and then struck out with his hoof as if going to rear. He took me by surprise and I was unsure if he had water in his ears or something. He repeated this a few times and it appeared he was going to nip my arm too as i was leading him. Then the last time he reared right up and struck out breaking the leadrope with his foreleg. i was so stunned as he had never done this before. he then pranced off and tried to start grazing. i tried to exercise join up technique as in squaring up n keeping him moving although it was a large area. He was prancing around with his tail up and eventually dashed for home. I put him in the round pen when we got back and did a join up but was later in tears.We used to have such a good relationship now it seems we are against each other all the time. Any ideas on what I can do to build us up again as I think he is as distrustful and anxious as I am, when he used to be a confident hack. He is an extrovert and has always been quite assertive but this goes to an extreme. Please help, I am devastated to be fighting with my best friend.
Helene
I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately you now have a dangerous horse as well as an unreliable horse. You have to ask yourself why is he like this now and who has been handling him. Someone has mistreated your horse and he now longer trust not only you but I would guess everyone else.
Since you don''t know what happened, I would suggest you do not let anyone else but you handle him. You will need to start your horse all over again, beginning with Join up in the round pen I would not attempt to ride him until he knows that you are in charge. Lots of schooling such as backing flexing his rear as well as his head and neck. I hope you have a dually to help you. Continue to do your Join up and when he starts to respect you take him out for a walk, schooling him when he misbehaves. Never let your horse get behind you. His head should be at your shoulder and walking in a relaxed manner. Once you have your ground work going you should put your saddle on him but just long line him, One other thing that I would suggest is to put a bridle on him but without reins and have him bitted up for a few hour. He should start playing with the bit but not trying to get rid of it. You can tie him up with the bridle on and leave him for a few hours in a safe and quite area. This teaches patience without punishment.
When you feel comfortable to ride him I would start in the round pen making him back stand still turn around walk and slow trot. Before you leave the round pen flex his head to touch your foot or stirrup both sides. Hold him in that position for a 5 count. Do this a few times everyday. This improves his flexibility as well as his manners. After you have warmed him up in the round pen put him in the arena if you have one and just walk him. Walk him for 45 minutes then tie him up for a few minutes before you unsaddle him. I would just walk him for a few week then start going through his gaits in the arena for a short time (20 minutes) then take him out and lake him for a walk. When walking your horse do not relax but maintain your seat and hands as if you were in the trot. Push him is he slows down too much. You want him to pay attention to you. Stopping and backing during the walk helps a lot.
Basically this is what we do with sour horse or beginning horses. The more ground work and walks to have with your horse the better he will be as you advance. We usually see good progress in about a month of training. One you and your horse start to communicate the same way the faster your progress will be.
Good luck and I hope I didn't give you too much information. Stay calm and remain confident and happy. Your horse will follow your example.
Cheers
Hi Dennis, Many thanks for your advice. This has given me much food for thought. I wrote a reply days ago but it seems not to have posted. Our internet connection has been dodgy here though. I would hate to think my friend or my groom have mistreated my horse, as they are both horse lovers. However something has definitely changed him for the worse. he has always been an extrovert and assertive character but this is extreme. i have decided to consult my instructor who has much experience with young horses and training in order to have her observe us while we work at the ground work to assist us in getting back on track. Perhaps my lack of confidence is translating through my body language more than I would like to think.
Many thanks
Hi Helene,
your story touched me because I had a similar experience a short while ago. I know my horse only for a few months and within that time, we made huge achievements regarding her dominance issues. She's a big mare with a very energy-rich character, and she was used to being the boss over everyone. She bit me in the beginning and once kicked me so that I couldn't walk for some days. From a great professional trainer, I learned to become her leader and thereby ban her aggression. The mare and I were becoming good friends and made good progress during training. Then I had to go abroad for work during one month. After I came back, things had changed! No one had mistreated her in the meantime but I suspect she felt that I had let her down by not showing up any more (maybe I am one in a long row of previous owners that disappeared at some point, I don't know her history). Also, during my absence, she was the boss again, I imagine she liked it! I felt she was saying me, if you want to be my leader again, you first have to convince me! The first time I visited after my absence, I was almost crying because all efforts of the past months seemed to have been useless: she got me by surprise and managed to bite me (hard); I thought we had solved that issue! In my case the solution was as follows. I THOUGHT I was doing the same things (using the same body language etc) as before my absence, but the message did not come through. After a refresh lesson with our trainer, I noticed that my body language was not strong enough any more. Even if the actions were the same, I did not have a good enough picture in my mind of what I wanted to achieve and thereby did not send enough energy in her direction, I did not make myself clear enough. That was point one. Point two was, I think, that I had to show up regularly again to rebuild trust. I had to accept that we were thrown back in our learning curve for weeks, even months. But since then, because I'm not trying to rush things anymore, we have progressed faster than before and now, several weeks later, are booking new training successes. Today, I can make her go backwards with my little finger again, even just by voice, and almost never get so much as an ugly look from her (of course I am still always alert in her vicinity).
I wish you very much that, after your long break with your horse, you will also soon be able to rebuild your friendship. Help from your instructor seems for sure a good idea...
Warm regards, Chris
Helene
I would like to clarify my use of the term mistreat. A horse does not go from being a well behaved horse then become aggressive and ill-mannered without a reason. I am not suggesting that horse horse was physically mistreated but something went on either between your trainer or the person who was lunging the horse. I also am not suggesting the either one mistreated your horse on purpose, but what i am suggesting is that during your absence the horse experience an event that set her back. If I had to make a guess I would say that the lunging exercise my have been the problem since most horses do not really like to be lunged and then put-up for the day. If we lunge a horse we always either do a lot of just walking with the horse or go for a ride. Imagine having to run in circles at the end of a rope and that was your outing for the day.
I hope you are able to once again be the dominate one in your relationship with your horse. It is worth so much to have a horse you can trust and the same goes for the horse to have someone they can trust.
Cheers
Hi Dennis, Yes you are right "mistreat" can cover a broad spectrum. I have been taking him out on the lead with a dually halter leading from another horse on some fitness rides. He has been leading very well off the dually and enjoying it I think. The next step i will lead him on foot and be ready to reprimand him with the dually if he so much as makes an attempt to nip me or come into my space. It is funny, in the stable he is as sweet as can be, never makes faces or is threatening. Thank you for your kind advice and although i struggle to get time on the computer, i will be sure to let you know how it goes. One question for you though if i may. Monty suggest not doing join up more than a few time unless wanting to re-establish a relationship after a period of time for example. Do you think it would be a problem to repeat this several times under the circumstances? Many thanks,
Regards and happy training.: )
Thank you Chris, I really appreciate your comments. It has given me courage as I felt the same as you. I was devastated as we had been previously getting on so well.
All the best to you and your mare.:)
Thank you Chris, I really appreciate your comments. It has given me courage as I felt the same as you. I was devastated as we had been previously getting on so well.
All the best to you and your mare.:)
Helene
It seems that you have a good relationship with your horse and you are teaching him to respect your space and behave. If he were not listening to you I would suggest you do a Join Up but since he is I would keep doing what you are doing.
Glad you are making progress. Patience will be your best tool in communicating with your horse.
Cheers