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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| This is truly hypothetical until I get some more information (probably going to be Monday unfortunately). When you have a horse that is hot/ nervous to ride (but puppy dog on the ground) what are the things you look at/ do to solve the problem? (In order)
IMO this is what I do:
1. Ulcers
2. Pain somewhere
3. Lots of trail/pasture rides
Once a horse passes all 3 I am at a loss. Anyone else have anything different?? |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | A good calming supplement can do wonders. Something just to take the edge off some. |
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Regular
Posts: 82
| If you get all the soreness/physical issues looked at and taken care of and they still are hot and crazy then get on and work them. Lope then down until they are ready to give up. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes, sometimes it takes hours. It all depends on the horse. Typically after this they realize it’s a lot easier to just calmly go do what they are supposed to rather than be a fire breathing dragon. Of course though there are some that are just naturally high strung and that’s just the way they are. |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| I'd switch riders. When you put a nervous/anticipatory/tense/unhappy rider on a horse wired the same way, it's not going to go well.
Personally, I start at the beginning, and pay really close attention to the horse. You say a puppy dog on the ground, so haltering and leading probably isn't a big deal, but what about tacking up? if the horse starts to get tense when a saddle goes on it's back, that's where you need to slow down and just walk around on the ground, saddled, until pony relaxes. Depending on how much of an explosive nut job the horse is, after they relax carrying a saddle, I'm either done for the day, untack, and put the horse up, or move on to standing at the side like I'm going to mount up. and just stand there until the horse relaxes. then retreat, walk around, make some circles, then go back to standing beside the horse.
Break it down into baby steps. Go at the horse's speed. Saddling, walking, mounting up, walking, whatever. Hot is fine, reactive is fine, ignoring my personal space is not fine. If the pony spooks , ignore it and go back to what you were doing after pony has his moment. You give them something to be scared of, you are just confirming spooking was the right answer. You stay quiet, calm, a source of strength and guidance, the horse will come around.
I really like lateral work and figure 8's, bending lines, trot poles, counterarcing. Get their feet moving, and they have to devote enough of their brain power to not kicking themselves, and not so much worry about boogiemen.
Edit: yep, better living through chemistry can be a beautiful, beautiful thing, especially when the horse has significant baggage. Be careful with ace. Seen a lot of horses blow through it when they aren't calm enough when it was administered.
Edited by hannahbug 2018-02-16 12:29 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 966
Location: Loco,Ok | He's not a mean horse. I ride more of these than others. Not a mean bone in.him on.the ground. But changes when you get on. Look at head gear. Most will be over bitted. Or occasionally not enough. If not enough then , the rider is pulling to much to long to try to keep control. Over bitted the horses head is trapped. The rider has done all the slow work as time goes by speed is added. Speed disrupts everything. The horse can and does start to run. Many times the rider is not ready for the speed. All of a sudden they are out of their comfort zone. They start to pull more a little. Horse pushes back runs harder. You pull they push. Can't push and pull at the same time. Add more headgear. Horse runs off basically. Most of the horses today are almost ultra light.When their head is put in a bind a trap that's when they get anxious nervous called hot. The rider braces up against them and they brace up against the rider. Get stiff. You have to take them out of the trap bind off of them. It's same as ratty calf horse in the corner.They want relief. You have to change before they will. Very few will not relax and focus after a while. I will give them a job away from the barrels for a while. Let them know it's not going to hurt. Let them out of the trap. Because a horse is an animal of flight. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| clampitt - 2018-02-16 3:31 PM
He's not a mean horse. I ride more of these than others. Not a mean bone in.him on.the ground. But changes when you get on. Look at head gear. Most will be over bitted. Or occasionally not enough. If not enough then , the rider is pulling to much to long to try to keep control. Over bitted the horses head is trapped. The rider has done all the slow work as time goes by speed is added. Speed disrupts everything. The horse can and does start to run. Many times the rider is not ready for the speed. All of a sudden they are out of their comfort zone. They start to pull more a little. Horse pushes back runs harder. You pull they push. Can't push and pull at the same time. Add more headgear. Horse runs off basically. Most of the horses today are almost ultra light.When their head is put in a bind a trap that's when they get anxious nervous called hot. The rider braces up against them and they brace up against the rider. Get stiff. You have to take them out of the trap bind off of them. It's same as ratty calf horse in the corner.They want relief. You have to change before they will. Very few will not relax and focus after a while. I will give them a job away from the barrels for a while. Let them know it's not going to hurt. Let them out of the trap. Because a horse is an animal of flight.
I’m kinda thinking bear trap on his head due to lack of confidence also. We shall see. Love the input though. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| Once I'm sure there isn't ulcers, soreness or tack issues, I take a hard look at understanding what the horses situation/ history is. What is causing the hotness? Is this a naturally quiet horse that was made hot by running too much/or bad training? Has it been kinda hot reacting since the day to hit the ground? Each has a different way of thinking and learning.
I always go back to basics and work on the fundamentals away from the barrels. I find a bit that one respects, but is not scared/bothered by. Lots of trail miles - often in rough country that makes one slow down and think out of self preservation. They do a lot of things besides barrels. I will work to understand what a horse needs from me. Am I the firm taskmaster to a hard headed rascal, or am I a security blanket to a scardy cat? Do I take emotion out of how I ride?
I'm working with a challenging rascal right now. He has always been a bit flighty. His first response to just about anything is to stiffen up. I started him on barrels, so I know he wasn't hammered on. I don't ask for speed until I get smooth. I've always been pretty good at chilling out the hot ones, but I just couldn't quite break through with this one. I did lots of ground work to help with trust issues, and to help me figure out how much pressure was needed to get responses. ( less than I originally thought). I went to someone that I really respect, and we did a lot of lunge line surcingle work. This really helped me understand how my body position affected him. I learned how to take energy out of my body and flow with him instead of against him. I learned where he preferred leg support and ques. Next was work in the arena with very loose reins - trying to only use seat and leg ques for direction and speed.
It's been a struggle, but I have a much better understanding of this horse, and how he thinks/reacts. He's much more relaxed and responsive. It's translating to much more smoothness on barrels. I honestly think that if I hadn't taken the time to analyze how my riding was playing a part in his hotness, I would never be able to tap into his potential.
One piece of equipment, I've found that really helps with him is earplugs. He chills a lot better when sounds aren't as loud or startling.
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Equine dentist.xray hooves and legs. take off grain. multi vitamins. go back to basics. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | Number one is to rule out and eliminate any physical or medical issues.
Number two has to be a jockey that is relaying total calmness and relaxation and exerting no mental pressure on the horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| So.... I rode the horse tonight for the first time. Not AT ALL what I was expecting. He's not hot OR nervous lol. He's watchy- like a colt. He didn't like the banners on the fences, or the buckin shoots, but he's not an idiot. Just looked around a lot. He walks, trots, and if you use hella encouragement he'll even lope LOL Definitely not the dragon I was expecting. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| RoaniePonie11 - 2018-02-16 9:10 PM
So.... I rode the horse tonight for the first time. Not AT ALL what I was expecting. He's not hot OR nervous lol. He's watchy- like a colt. He didn't like the banners on the fences, or the buckin shoots, but he's not an idiot. Just looked around a lot. He walks, trots, and if you use hella encouragement he'll even lope LOL Definitely not the dragon I was expecting.
My horse is the exact same. Super watchy, even on the ground. Someone he doesn't know runs up to him too fast and he'll run the other way. It's just how he is, been that way since I got him at 4 and now he's almost 7. I was however having a lot of issues under saddle being anxious just on trail rides and especially in the arena. My friend suggested supplementing magnesium and it's helped more than I could have imagined. Just something to think about! |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| WiscoRacer - 2018-02-17 1:28 AM
RoaniePonie11 - 2018-02-16 9:10 PM
So.... I rode the horse tonight for the first time. Not AT ALL what I was expecting. He's not hot OR nervous lol. He's watchy- like a colt. He didn't like the banners on the fences, or the buckin shoots, but he's not an idiot. Just looked around a lot. He walks, trots, and if you use hella encouragement he'll even lope LOL Definitely not the dragon I was expecting.
My horse is the exact same. Super watchy, even on the ground. Someone he doesn't know runs up to him too fast and he'll run the other way. It's just how he is, been that way since I got him at 4 and now he's almost 7. I was however having a lot of issues under saddle being anxious just on trail rides and especially in the arena. My friend suggested supplementing magnesium and it's helped more than I could have imagined. Just something to think about!
Thanks! I don’t really think he would be an ulcer horse simply because he’s been turned out on nothing but Hay for a year. I doubt soreness but we are having that and his teeth checked Monday. After that I think I’m just going to do some desensitizing on the ground at home and just start hauling him so he can see and hear all the madness. I think him going with others that are chill about it all will help also.
He really is a super cool dude. I was preparing for the worst lol. |
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 Member
Posts: 46
| THE calming cookies. I swear by them. Or their calming or focus powder. I recently switched saddles and it's helped some of my issues with my filly. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 838
Location: Georgia | ForeFront Equine makes an amazing calming supplement and paste! ForeCalm is wonderful! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
Location: Saskatchewan | Aside from pain....
My nervous mare just needs to be loped out for 20 minutes before she could even be considered useful. |
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