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Post by kirsten on Apr 21, 2014 20:36:04 GMT 1
At wits' end .... Latest instructor the worst yet .....what to do? 16.2 TB x WC 19 yo, owned 8 years, been riding 38 years, have spent literally thousands on instruction, clinics, etc....has had massage, chiro, osteo, many different dentists and vets, saddle checked (Balance), bombproof to hack and as long as you have no contact and only walk he is fantastic. However the second he is asked to do anything else, like leg yield, take contact, use his back end, he hollows and opens his mouth and speeds up. the only way to stop is to slide one rein up his neck. If you try to ride through it he takes off at a fast unbalanced trot ( he has very choppy paces) and then puts in a stop and spins. I have yet to see someone stay on him at this point. I am a Craniosacral Therapist, use TTEAM, and do lots of groundwork. I have tried to rehome him several times but only novices were interested. I am very aware that for the money I spend on him I could be keeping a nice kind horse to enjoy. What would you do? thanks
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Post by happysnail on Apr 21, 2014 20:38:33 GMT 1
Have you considered bitless to try and break the cycle incase it's remembered? Does he do it from the ground as well as ridden.
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Post by kirsten on Apr 21, 2014 20:43:57 GMT 1
Thank you ..... yes he does it on the ground.....he cannot take any poll pressure whatsoever, he becomes extremely agitated. I went through a stage of riding in a headcollar , as I said he is fine as long as you walk on a long rein, but as soon as you ask for more the same pattern happens.
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Post by kirsten on Apr 21, 2014 20:46:19 GMT 1
MTA, rescue centres unable to help as he is not being neglected/ abandoned, apparently
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Post by clipclop on Apr 21, 2014 20:47:44 GMT 1
What was his history before you had him? I was only just talking to someone this morning who had a horse similar who'd had a fractured pelvis in the past. It was only as she pushed for a bone scan that it was discovered as all other tests had shown nothing wrong.
Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by kirsten on Apr 21, 2014 20:54:54 GMT 1
Did her horse do this too? His history is that the woman who bred him broke her back coming off him and cannot ride. So she sold him to a friend who is a " kick to go, pull to stop" rider with extremely heavy hands and who used lots of gadgets and strapped his mouth shut. After she broke her ankle very badly with him she completely lost her nerve and I ended up with him. He had terrible breath and green gunk coming out of his mouth and I thought that when his mouth felt better he would calm down and be reeducated ( or educated!)
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Post by happysnail on Apr 21, 2014 21:07:54 GMT 1
Would he respond differently to western style riding? Lots of the cues are trained off the weight and movement of a rein rather than a direct contact. It may give him a chance to succeed and do well to change the mindset. It must be so frustrating to have spent do much on clinics, healthcare professionals and feel stuck.
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Post by kirsten on Apr 21, 2014 21:12:27 GMT 1
You know, it has occurred to me recently that he may cope better with western. I am not sure whether I have it in me to try and I am not sure there is an instructor near us who is experienced enough. sorry to sound negative; It has been a long long struggle and I am so tired!
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Post by clipclop on Apr 21, 2014 21:35:00 GMT 1
What she said was that he was a lovely horse on the ground. She bought him as unbroken and he was willing until he was asked to put any weight on his hind end. He was fine to hack but would flip in the school if asked to work correctly.
She just didn't believe he was being naughty but had to push as the usual diagnostics didn't find anything.
There are no guarantees and each horse is different but it's so difficult when they can't tell you what's wrong. You only have to look at Michellep with Talin on here - she kept searching and finally found a sore spot under his girth. I'm not a believer in horses being 'naughty'.
Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by kirsten on Apr 21, 2014 21:56:23 GMT 1
All behaviour has a function. I have never thought he was just "naughty" although he is dominant by nature. I have spent years trying to find out what is wrong. I do think that if I had more time however we would be much more improved by now ( who wouldn't). I do think that him stopping as soon as I slide one rein up his neck is because he understands I want him to stop or slow down, whereas my usual instructions are blurry to him due to my poor riding and his fast, jiggy pace. I would love to see a really good rider on him, and this would really help us. Thanks for replying.
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Post by happysnail on Apr 21, 2014 22:26:30 GMT 1
I don't think there are any RAs in Scotland but there is a Monty Roberts instructor quite near you. Lucy Simpson at Ladykirk. She might be able to offer some support insight. Would he be happier as a companion as an alternative to being a ridden horse?
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Post by kirsten on Apr 21, 2014 22:49:13 GMT 1
thank you. I did have him as a companion but he really loves attention and despite what I have said he loves to hack out! often when I have turned him for home he has been reluctant ... Such a conundrum..... He is a lovely sweet boy. I will look up Lucy Simpson thanks.
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Post by holi on Apr 22, 2014 7:12:33 GMT 1
Similar story although not as extreme with my mare. Found recently by a craniosacral/Amsterdam therapist that she had pulled abductors and very tight psoas. Seems she must have done the splits. We tried western too but as she wasn't working properly it made things worse and even more on forehand. Good luck - heart goes out to you as have been there too x
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Post by holi on Apr 22, 2014 7:13:18 GMT 1
Amsterdam? Stupid phone - masterson!
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wills
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 4,657
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Post by wills on Apr 22, 2014 8:41:21 GMT 1
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