fed up

[fruity]

A little moan about me and my boy, got to get it off my chest as feel really fed up

He's very tricky - we've had a blood sweat and tears winter after he arrived last September getting to know each other and where most would have given up (17.2hh bolt up right rears, broncing, napping, tricky to ride and bit, generally being a big baby about scary things) I've persevered because he's actually a really nice person, but I think just overly sensitive and doean't know how to manage his huge body when things upset him.

Things came good early part of the season and we started to click and the shows went well. I'm still learning what makes him tick and his 'boiling point' of when he's not too sharp or too tired for the ring. We were getting there.

But yesterday was a disaster out of the blue and I feel so down about it and its really upset me. He warmed up nicely, but was in a bit of a mood so hacked him about. Felt just right, went in the ring and on second lap of trot go round reared, stood vertical and waved at the grandstand for felt about ten minutes. I have no idea why. (fyi he wasn't told off, time and place - we went back to stable untacked, left him for an hour and then tacked up again and worked him hard - he went lovely)

Sat it quietely, pushed him forward into trot and then turned in and retired. But I'm gutted because I don't understand where it came from and I feel so let down. Six months in I nearly gave up on him - I'd had twins four months before I got him and I didn't think I should risk myself, but I don't like to give up. I also think he's so quirky in the wrong hands it could go very wrong.

Just gutted, felt we were getting somewhere and this was just a huge leap backwards. Tired and overwhelmed, probably. Fed up, yes. Need a kick up the a***, defintely!

Do your best (or worst depending how you look at it?) HG'ers!

[redsky nli]

Poor you, doesn't sound like fun Do you have lessons? If not can you get some? Could you get an instructor to come with you to a show? If he tends to do it in the ring, could you get out to a tiny local show and have a word with the judge that you are working through some issues.
I presume usual back, tack and teeth etc are a ok?
Could it be a feed issue? Would he benefit from a calmer?
We had similar issues with my daughters fell last year and she put the fear of god into her, in our case it was a management issue, she was living out but she thought this meant she was a wild pony and behaved as such, once she was stabled again she was much better but getting lessons was the major turning point.
Good luck and stay safe!

[fanfarefan]

have you tried Global herbs super calm , it absolutely brill at taking the hairy scarey things out of life , without compramising performance , and no i dont work for them its through experince

[sometime]

Sounds very upsetting and frustrating. Keep safe and if you can get some lessons with him. You could try a simple magnesium supplement like mag ox as it is the biggest component in most calmers. You could also have his forage analysed for minerals and see if he is missing any vital components I think this is done by soil sample for grass and hay sample for hay

[fruity]

yes, lesson twice a week - back/teeth/saddle all good.

He is incredibly senstitive and the slightest thing does upset him. He has magicalm - one night before, one early and one later in the day if class is late (he's a HWT Hunter - and very big!)

I wonder if he was just in a mood - I did miss his pm calmer, he lost a show twice and sometimes thats enough to unsettle him.

He really is the lovliest hing to handle, but to ride, when he's upset or moody, it can be horrid. I just thought we'd worked through it all and wonder where this rear came from?? Like I said, good start to season - he qualified RI Open and Amatuer first attempts, winning his amateur and going champion in strong field. But yesterday was just odd and soooo disappointing.

Its also really knocked me RI next week:-(