...not for words, of course. I don't think that has ever happened to me. But the words that keep coming to mind are not very nice. So this post may be littered with foul language. Sorry in advance. The weather is B.E.A utiful today! The ground is still partially frozen so we don't have terrible deep mud. All would be right in the world if my horse would not try to kill me when I rode. I am pissed at him for being such a dick. I am frustrated at the thought that there may be some lurking problem that I have yet to discover. There is his mouth, or his legs, or his feet, or his back or who knows what else could be the problem. All I know is that the amount of times he bucked today, threw his head up to avoid the bit to run off, offering to take off into a canter when not asked and bucking like a dick head when I ask for a canter, is enough for thoughts of the legalization of horse slaughter come to mind.
Like the title says I am at a loss. Do I continue to ride and hope and pray that one of these stunts doesn't get me hurt? Do I just give up on the idea of riding for the next month and a half and let winter pass? Do I tackle his shitface attitude and work it out of him...lol...it is not even possible to work Steady until he is tired and gives up. But anyone who thinks I am wrong I would LOVE for you to come ride him and prove me wrong. He is being a bastard and I am not happy with him. On one hand I like to tell myself mentally that this is not my horse and if I can just get through this I will have my rock star back come May. But May is so far off and I want to live to see it. One thing I do know is my horse is a "One Upper". You say work he will gladly work faster and longer than you care to find out. You piss him off he will piss you off. He thinks he knows every thing and will gladly tell you to buzz off if you don't go along with his program. You cannot out do this horse and it is beyond frustrating. But when the words, 'one upper' come to mind I can't help but think of the worlds best 'one upper' I have ever seen.
Love Penelope!
Not your average OTTB given another chance at a new life and a mostly average busy Mom who never gave up on her dream to ride again. An unlikely pair at an unlikely time, learning to event and loving life!
I so feel your pain. My previous horse, T-Bone, was a hot little Morgan. I once cantered him for TWO HOURS trying to wear him out. Never even came close. He could be a total pissant. I don't think Steady is as stubborn and defiant as T-Bone, but some days I would just get off, put him in his stall and try again in a few hours. It did no good to pick a fight (unless I KNEW I could win). The more angry I would get, the more angry he would get. Hampton has been ... um ... more energetic than usual lately, too. I think it's because they haven't been able to play out in the field due to the mud and awful footing.
ReplyDeleteSince he has been working a lot more correctly lately, what about a change in his back muscles affecting saddle fit? Checked it lately? Those are very classic "my saddle pinched me" reactions.
ReplyDeleteI second eventer79's thought on saddle discomfort. With the ground as hard/nasty as it is, his feet may also be bothering him. And of course it's possible that the swelling earlier in the week is bugging him too. Or he may just have a lot of extra energy if he can't move about much outside 'cause the ground sucks. Or all of the above?
ReplyDeleteAs for what to do with him when he's being a prick, can you longe? That way he can buck and you're not endangered. You can engage him by asking for lots of transitions. You might also try long-lining or even working in hand, like on a showmanship pattern (yeah, I don't do showmanship either, but it can help get them focused on you).
All that being said, it's no fun when your horse isn't in a cooperative mood!
I would agree with the others suggestion pain. You said he was putting his nose in the air? In my anatomy research I found that horses that have sacrum pain will put their head high up with their nose pointing up to relieve that pain. The horse that dumped me last year was doing that (after he dumped me) quite a bit and was discovered by the vet to have extreme issues with his sacrum area. He would buck at the canter as well. Of course, he could also just be being a jerk:) but you always want to rule pain out.
ReplyDeleteHi-I'm new to your blog but I have had similar problems with my horse's attitude. Once you rule out pain you may try working on 'submission' on the ground. My horse didn't have a forward button and was bucking, kicking out, cantering when I asked for more trot and trying to break my nose with her neck flinging. The answer was a combination of lunging in side reins to show her that she must go forward into contact (this helped the neck flinging), making her canter when she used that as an evasion for trotting forward and finally, not giving up when she bucked at my leg or the whip when going into canter. If she kicked out or bucked she got tapped with the whip. If she bucked again, she got tapped again harder. The message was that the only correct answer was to go forward, not to buck. I also had my trainer ride her for me so she could make sure to get her through it and win the battle. We also test her response before even getting on by touching her side where the leg goes with the whip and making sure her answer is to move and not to kick, pin her ears etc. I have also had to be much more dominant on the ground because for my horse it has translated into her being a pill under saddle if I don't correct her pushiness on the ground. Good luck with your horse!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely going to on a pain hunt.
ReplyDeleteMona so glad to have you! You are follower number 50!! You have very good, sound advice. My very first instinct when this stared happening is, I really need to be on the ground dealing with this on the lunge. I need a lesson in lunging in side reins, never done it. Footing here can be a big barrier since I have no sand or soft footing. So alot of times lunging is not safe. But I will for sure be working on these issues.
Hmmm, I would maybe guess back pain too ONLY b/c at our last Chiro appt for Laz, the DVM Chiro asked if Laz frequently bucked due to his back issues. When I told him "No but I ride bareback" he thought that was why; the saddle would cause a buck out of him. Maybe Steady is hurting?? So frustrating to not know..I would try eliminating things before 'riding it out' GOOD LUCK!
ReplyDeleteSorry it's so frustrating! It's so annoying having to deal with these weird behaviors. It does sound pain related. I just don't see Steady working that hard to be a pill. Of course you know him better than we do. :) I hope you figure it out soon!
ReplyDelete