The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Bad day... Long

1K views 12 replies 9 participants last post by  vthorse 
#1 ·
So this is kind of a vent, kind of training, a little bit of everything.

I know when you and your poneh are having a bad day, you are supposed to go back to something they know and end of a good note, but seriously... Has anyone else ever found that almost impossible??

Monday was like that for me. Due to Oscar taking down a fence in the paddock where I board and poor weather, We haven't done much work since Thursday and he's been locked in a smaller area. On Monday, I went to go work him and I swear everything we did fell apart. True he isn't quite 3 yet, but I've been working with him 5-6 days a week since December and he full well knows what to expect and generally does VERY well.

Because he has been getting a tad sour on the saddling process, my plan was to get him saddled, lunge for 10 minutes lightly and then do some hand grazing with the saddle on for positive reinforcement. That part went ok until I opened the gate to go graze... He charged the gate, so I made him stop, and back up several times to try and regain his attention and cooperation. No such luck. Neighbor next door saw and offered me use of her round pen.

We went over there and he settled in nicely free lunging. Figuring that was a good time to stop, I gathered him up and went to leave. He didn't just charge the gate of the round pen but bucked through the opening. He went in and out, in and out of the gate until he walked calmly. Ok good, Now we can go back and un-tack. WRONG!!

On the way back to our paddock (less than 100 yds away) he was pulling and spazzing out, running over me, you name it. Then we walked back and forth, back and forth, until he was calm. I do have to admit that I did get a little frustrated and punched him in the neck when he neglected the elbow in the shoulder while walking on top of me. Goodness gracious.

What should have been a 30 minute positive visit turned into 2 1/2 hours. The funny part is that I am pretty sure he was seriously mad at me, not just being two. Once we got all untacked, I let him go in his paddock while I put everything away. I accidentally left me grooming tote on the other side of the paddock but by the time I went to go get it, he had picked it up and flung everything out of it!! I guess that was his way of saying "Take that!!"

Well, that's my vent. Yesterday went great though. The last time he got 3 days off due to weather he was very similar - thank god summer is on the way!!
 
See less See more
#2 ·
I'm sorry your day was crappy. I hate when I have those with my guy, feeling like whatever I do is a mistake. It gets ya down.

A suggestion though, and I mean no offense. You mentioned he is not yet three years old? And you're working him 5-6 days a week? It sounds like a lot for a youngster. I think he may be getting sour with the training, as it's become mundane and hum-drum.

Just some thoughts. I hope your next training session goes smoothly and is satisfying for the both of you. Good luck!
 
#5 ·
I hope you're feeling better now.

And I'm totally with arrowsaway here. He IS really just a baby still, and he might be experiencing some difficulties with the amount of work you are giving him. Also, try not to humanize him - he wasn't saying "take that", he was probably just playing, expressing his boredom or frustration by tossing your grooming tote.

I hope you both have lots of positive moments in the future!
 
#6 ·
He'll be 3 next month, not just turned 2 :)

I may have been misleading by the term "working". He is only ridden maybe 2-3 days a week for no longer than 30 minutes at a time. We do groundwork, lunging, in-hand trails, desensitizing, etc the other days. I guess I meant to imply that he isn't just hanging out in a pasture all week with no human interaction and minimal training.

Yesterday went great though!! It's only after he gets several days "off" (meaning none of the above) that he gets a little crazy!! :-p

Thank you for the cheering up!
 
#13 ·
He is still a baby, and that does seem like an excessive amount of 'work' to start out with.

Perhaps your saddle was bothering him that day? There could've been a burr or something under it. My old dependable QH went nuts one time and I found out it was from those tiny little green triangular things that pull off of weeds. Just that one little thing pulling his hair made him go nuts.
 
#9 ·
It sure is funny - my gelding sometimes does that, too. :D He also has the annoying habit to throw his saddle to the ground, if I have left it unattended within his reach just for a second.
 
#10 ·
Sounds like maybe he is feeling cooped up. My girl isn't in training, but she can be a real pill if the horses have to stay in the lot too long. If she gets the chance to go out in the pasture, stretch her legs, relax and just be a horse for a while, she's a lot easier to deal with.
 
#11 ·
I think you did good. It sux that it took 2 and a half hours but you worked through each issue as it arose and settled on a good note. I'm not sure what more you could have done. When you said he's getting sour on the saddling part, can I ask what he is doing? There may be some soreness issues going on...
 
#12 ·
I am pretty sure that he isn't sore, but I could be wrong. I just had him fitted a couple of weeks ago. He is still growing (so much so that keeping weight on him is getting difficult) but I was told that it fits as well as it can right now. The saddle fitter is having me use a small riser pad in the front until he fills out a little. Was told that the angle of the bars is perfect for him, and the gullet size will be correct. I've been trying to check his back and withers for soreness a couple of times a week and haven't noticed anything.

Now onto what he is doing. Generally he will stand quietly, tied or not tied for grooming, waving a plastic bag, rope thrown on, under around him but when I go to put his saddle pad or saddle on, he's antsy and tries to avoid it. At this point he has to be tied to be saddled otherwise he'd run away. Once tied, he does not bolt forward or pull back like I've seen some other horses do. He just walks around using the wall/tie as a pivot. I've gone back to throwing the pad on and off of him, re-desensitizing and that has helped a little bit. He is not cinchy at all and once the saddle is on him, he stands quietly.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top