Hey yall-- its my first post/day on here. I don't know what this community is like, so hopefully you all are not the stuck up know-it-all kind of horse people that frequent the internet. :-|
PLEASE READ: Feel free to skip to the bottom of this post for the shortened version of my story. I am on a computer and can easily get carried away with typing out more than necessary.
ANYWAYS. Here's my issue:
I have owned a, now 11 y/o, 17.1hh Appendix gelding for about four years. He was a solid NBHA 2D barrel horse before I bought him. I did barrel racing with him for a little while, then I got tired of it. He was very gate sour and would go to the first barrel and then side-pass at a canter away from it and ruin the pattern. Since I wasn't enjoying it, and he wasn't either, I thought we might as well call it quits.
Fast forward a year, and we started jumpers. He is a FANTASTIC jumper (I'm really not meaning to brag). He's a natural and was clearing 3ft jumps in my first jumper lesson with him-- this is where know-it-all equestrians say "OMG. THATS SO CRUEL! WHY WOULD YOU ALLOW HIM TO JUMP THAT HIGH IN HIS FIRST LESSON!??! IGNORNANT FOOL!1!111"-- but it happened under the supervision and instruction of a trainer I trust. She wanted to see what potential he contained, and needless to say, he can go MUCH higher than 3ft. It is what it is, and I only mention this in my post to give you all an idea of what amount of skill my horse has. Please do not comment on the fact that a trainer had me jumping a green jumper over 3ft fences in my first lesson... it seems that that is the part of this story that everyone loves to rant about. I've heard it already, so just do me a favor and don't comment on that one instant. Thanks. :-|
Back to the issue: I did not take many lessons with the jumper trainer as lessons are a bit pricey, and I have my own barn to work with my horse at (I have been riding horses for over a decade, btw). He learned how to pace himself over jumps very well. But, he started charging fences. Actually, this even happened when I was taking lessons. He loves to run and over-jumping fences is another of his hobbies. I got him in a Slow Twist Pelham and he began listening to me and the over jumping wasn't so bad.
I haven't worked with him on jumping in a long while, as even riding him western around my pasture has turned into a fight. He is VERY high strung, and gets extremely anxious. It is just not enjoyable at all! I've been basically just walking and trotting him in the pasture for 3 years and he still acts like a nutcase.
I was riding him in the pasture the other day, and ended up having to resort to turning tight circles (which he loves to do- no sarcasm) and he would try to side-pass along his way while spinning in tight circles. He would walk, but it was extended and jerky (I do not allow him to break gait when I am riding, especially not when he's so irrationally hot).
I'd really hate to constantly dope him when I ride, but after three years of trying to cool him down, he has barely changed. I would love to get back to jumpers with him, maybe even do a bit of cross country, but believe me when I say that he is too hot for that. There is not much for me to do with him when he is so anxious and high strung. It's not safe for me, and not fair to him.
****Short version of my novel: My 11 y/o Appendix gelding is too hot/anxious/high-strung to do anything with anymore. I've spent 3 years doing low stress activities with him, but he is still a special piece of crazy. He's a darling on the ground-- a complete ham. But I need help figuring out how to calm down my horse so that riding him is enjoyable (and safe) again. I'd hate to start doping him, but I'm at my Wit's End with him.
And by the way, his name is Alexander. I'm not sure why I typed out that whole thing using 'he' the whole time. :lol:
PLEASE READ: Feel free to skip to the bottom of this post for the shortened version of my story. I am on a computer and can easily get carried away with typing out more than necessary.
ANYWAYS. Here's my issue:
I have owned a, now 11 y/o, 17.1hh Appendix gelding for about four years. He was a solid NBHA 2D barrel horse before I bought him. I did barrel racing with him for a little while, then I got tired of it. He was very gate sour and would go to the first barrel and then side-pass at a canter away from it and ruin the pattern. Since I wasn't enjoying it, and he wasn't either, I thought we might as well call it quits.
Fast forward a year, and we started jumpers. He is a FANTASTIC jumper (I'm really not meaning to brag). He's a natural and was clearing 3ft jumps in my first jumper lesson with him-- this is where know-it-all equestrians say "OMG. THATS SO CRUEL! WHY WOULD YOU ALLOW HIM TO JUMP THAT HIGH IN HIS FIRST LESSON!??! IGNORNANT FOOL!1!111"-- but it happened under the supervision and instruction of a trainer I trust. She wanted to see what potential he contained, and needless to say, he can go MUCH higher than 3ft. It is what it is, and I only mention this in my post to give you all an idea of what amount of skill my horse has. Please do not comment on the fact that a trainer had me jumping a green jumper over 3ft fences in my first lesson... it seems that that is the part of this story that everyone loves to rant about. I've heard it already, so just do me a favor and don't comment on that one instant. Thanks. :-|
Back to the issue: I did not take many lessons with the jumper trainer as lessons are a bit pricey, and I have my own barn to work with my horse at (I have been riding horses for over a decade, btw). He learned how to pace himself over jumps very well. But, he started charging fences. Actually, this even happened when I was taking lessons. He loves to run and over-jumping fences is another of his hobbies. I got him in a Slow Twist Pelham and he began listening to me and the over jumping wasn't so bad.
I haven't worked with him on jumping in a long while, as even riding him western around my pasture has turned into a fight. He is VERY high strung, and gets extremely anxious. It is just not enjoyable at all! I've been basically just walking and trotting him in the pasture for 3 years and he still acts like a nutcase.
I was riding him in the pasture the other day, and ended up having to resort to turning tight circles (which he loves to do- no sarcasm) and he would try to side-pass along his way while spinning in tight circles. He would walk, but it was extended and jerky (I do not allow him to break gait when I am riding, especially not when he's so irrationally hot).
I'd really hate to constantly dope him when I ride, but after three years of trying to cool him down, he has barely changed. I would love to get back to jumpers with him, maybe even do a bit of cross country, but believe me when I say that he is too hot for that. There is not much for me to do with him when he is so anxious and high strung. It's not safe for me, and not fair to him.
****Short version of my novel: My 11 y/o Appendix gelding is too hot/anxious/high-strung to do anything with anymore. I've spent 3 years doing low stress activities with him, but he is still a special piece of crazy. He's a darling on the ground-- a complete ham. But I need help figuring out how to calm down my horse so that riding him is enjoyable (and safe) again. I'd hate to start doping him, but I'm at my Wit's End with him.
And by the way, his name is Alexander. I'm not sure why I typed out that whole thing using 'he' the whole time. :lol: