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Post by ChloeGregory93 on May 22, 2014 20:16:55 GMT
Looking for some advice my horse is absolutely impossible and running out of patience, he's 4 years old started backing him but he will just stop and dig his feet in and refuse to move, a whip does not even work in the slightest or someone on the ground with a lunge whip. He is like this with everything leading, lunging, long reining. Sometimes he seems to improve but then all starts again for no reason. Someone suggested having a plastic bag on the end of a whip and this did work but he is starting to not be bothered by that now. It's so frustrating there is literally no reaction when you apply your leg, he has had his teeth checked, saddle fitted to him, back done, he is a very nervous horse so hacking and just riding in fields rather than the school is just as difficult and he will still just decide to stop and refuse to move, this doesn't even need to be at a gate he will just pick a corner or side where he doesn't want to move. Any advice would be so so greatly appreciated as feel completely stuck I have had countless youngsters taken on to compete at county level and never had a horse like this he is driving me to the verge of breakdown lol!!!!
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Post by robrocks on May 22, 2014 20:22:05 GMT
How is he when ridden with another horse? Perhaps he needs a lead to start him off and gradually have the other horse work around then away from him. Defo no plastic bag for any horse never mind a nervous horse.
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Post by ChloeGregory93 on May 22, 2014 20:31:18 GMT
He is worse around other horses I bought him and had him gelded he had no contact with other horses prior to getting him and gets even more worked up with another horse. He is quite happy stood on the yard with other horses but off the yard or in the school he is just completely stupid and he doesn't listen at all it's like he just can't concentrate. There's obviously no way you can force a horse to move but right now it's hard to keep motivated to carry on
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Post by robrocks on May 22, 2014 20:58:24 GMT
Sounds like he whips himself up into a frenzy. Is there a mega sensible horse who can be quietly worked while you stick him on the lunge(well out the way) to see if he will eventually relax. One of mine used to be a bit like this when he went out with others. He is on a balancer with a calmer and has had loads of desensitising done. Now at 8 he is chilling!your lad is only 4 so don't give up just keep trying. Do you have a sensitive but firm instructor? No matter how experienced you are, a good instructor is priceless.
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Post by sophoclees on May 22, 2014 21:15:57 GMT
I am sure you have probably tried everything, but maybe try long reining him with somebody on him. I also find that spurs sometimes help them to have a little more respect for your leg. It sounds like he may need the reassurance that someone is on the ground with him so if there is someone to walk next to him/ behind him for a bit until he realises that its not the end of the world every time he gets ridden. Sounds like a tough one to crack.
Good luck with him x
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Post by sjm on May 22, 2014 21:17:39 GMT
What is he like if you lead him in hand, if he is nervous it could be that he isn't used to you on his back and needs the confidence to go forward, and needs to trust you. My daughter did loads of just walking her youngest in hand round the field or down the road, to get his trust in her.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2014 21:29:59 GMT
Do you ride him in a paddock? If so change it up take him in an open field and sit there till he moves. Doesn't matter which way as long as it isn't backwards. Even if it takes an hour. That's what I did with my spanish horse she would not move for love nor money. I took her in the field and sat there rill she moved it took just over an hour. I then praised her and she carried on walking. Now she is fine she always needs reassurance. You've probably made him desensitised to all these whips noises etc. Do it the easy way you don't want to be trying to scare him into moving. Good luck Ps honestly try the standing in the field I may sound like a mad women but it worked a treat. You've nothing to lose apart from your marbles  |
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Post by ChloeGregory93 on May 23, 2014 6:44:27 GMT
Thanks for all the replies everyone, will give them a go!  |
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Post by barbiegirl on May 23, 2014 10:03:29 GMT
It sounds like he is lacking in confidence to me. You say he is like this with leading, lungeing and long reining too so I think he must lack confidence and when it starts to get hard for him mentally he just plants himself. You also say that he was not socialised properly with other horses in the past, so I would take him right back to basics and turn him out with some pony friends for a few weeks and let him learn how to be a horse again. The start leading him around following a friend so he gains confidence and understanding of what he needs to do. I don't think whips and bags are the answer here, I think it's lots of time and patience.
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Post by nici on May 23, 2014 13:41:37 GMT
How long is it since you bought him and had him gelded? It seems to me that he had a pretty miserable life in the past, not allowed to be a horse as a youngster, no companionship, no play, no being taught manners from socialising in a herd.
I agree with barbiegirl, back to basics, turn him away and let him learn to be a horse. He's not ready to be worked yet.
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Post by waspblue on May 24, 2014 0:04:28 GMT
Do you ride him in a paddock? If so change it up take him in an open field and sit there till he moves. Doesn't matter which way as long as it isn't backwards. Even if it takes an hour. That's what I did with my spanish horse she would not move for love nor money. I took her in the field and sat there rill she moved it took just over an hour. I then praised her and she carried on walking. Now she is fine she always needs reassurance. You've probably made him desensitised to all these whips noises etc. Do it the easy way you don't want to be trying to scare him into moving. Good luck Ps honestly try the standing in the field I may sound like a mad women but it worked a treat. You've nothing to lose apart from your marbles I too did this very same thing many years ago with a very nappy and stubborn thoroughbred, I just literally sat there in a safe enclosed field and basically bored him into moving forward. It took about 1 1/2 hours, but as soon as he realised that if he took a step forwards he got to move on and was highly praised, but anything else was a no no. He eventually became a very nice safe ride with no napping whatsoever and all by just treating him with abject boredom. Good luck, give it a go, you've got nothing to lose except perhaps a little dignity sitting on an immobile horse in a field. |
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