So disheartened with youngster and progress. Really don't know what to do.

[peskyfeelings]

Hello everybody,

I could really use some points of view regarding my 6 year old (just gone 6) New Forest gelding. I am feeling so upset and worried right now, and don't really know where to turn...

Background: I bought him from a friend as a (nearly) 3 year old. She had him from 6 months, but sold him as she said he was going to be too much of a handful for her. Up until May last year she was caring for him at the other end of the country. Then I was able to move him closer to me and start doing a lot more with him. He was actually backed at 3, but his progress was very limited.

I've been working really hard with him for the past year. I wouldn't like to guess how much I've spent on lessons/having him lunged on the days I can't get to yard and so on. He was ridden at least 4 times a week over the winter, so has come into summer feeling pretty fit.

Progress has been sketchy to say the least. He can work well on a good day, but on a bad day he is an utter nightmare. He spooks, bucks, tanks off, you name it and he does it. In the last 2 months I have torn a leg muscle (still healing) after coming off in school, and 3 weeks ago I severely bruised my tail bone after he reared whilst trotting up the centre line.

Now he's had 3 weeks off as I was too crippled to ride, and he's come back to work even wilder than he was before. Last night he tanked off the entire length of a field with me, head down between his legs and bucking to the skies.

I really don't know what to do with him. :( I'm getting to the point where I'm scared to ride him as I feel it's a case of when, not if, he really hurts me. I am utterly miserable with the situation and honestly feel quite despairing. It takes me a three hour round trip (I'm in London, he's in Kent) to even get to see him. That makes it even more disheartening!

Everyone is telling me to persevere, but it's not their necks on the line! I'm on a micro budget too, so can't afford to send him away to re-break. As I mentioned; I've already spent a small inheritance on lessons and I still can't ride him safely half the time.

I love him desperately though, and I've always kept my horses all their lives. I feel like SUCH a failure for not being able to do anything with him. I'm nearly in tears typing this.

WWYD is you were me?

Good luck with him, let us know how you get on and I hope it's good news.

If you decide on more tests I would x-ray for kissing spines and scope for ulcers as a first attempt.

Thank you Booboostwo. I appreciate that. I will definitely keep you updated. Just saving like a mad person to get him sent away now. Beans on toast for tea for the next month at least! :0

I did mention kissing spines and ulcers to vet. She said we could definitely go down that route if required. However, observing his behaviour she felt it was more bolshy, NF naughtiness, combined with being a baby. I'm inclined to agree with her at this stage, but I will keep the other potential issues in mind as well.

Here's a picture of the cheeky face of evil as well. He was actually standing still at this point! :)

OP, I PM'd you, not sure if you've seen it?!
Interesting to note on earlier threads there's the typical 'I know more than you' attitude... I couldn't help but smile. It's like a cyber livery yard. We have a barefoot/intelligent horsemanship small brigade at our yard. Need I say more. Funny how none of them actually achieve much apart from spouting on about how wrong everyone else is!!
Anyway, as I said, trust your instincts. Good luck!

And I would agree, a Bute trial might be a good idea, just to possibly eliminate a pain issue.

When competing they have a simple leather bridle with cheek pieces removed, no bit and the reins attached to the noseband

BOLLOCKS you do.
Pray tell me, in which disciplines do you ride in a normal noseband with reins attached?

OP, I still think he's not the horse for you and you should just put him through the sales. But that's my professional and businesslike viewpoint; I know it's different if you're attached to him.

Sent you a pm back DraughtyWindow. :)

*Icey, maybe you should back off?
You haven't offered anything constructive that hadn't already been said several times in the first page, and you clearly have a bizarre agenda to push above actually wanting to help. *

Actually if you read my initial post you will see that I stated that putting stronger and stronger bits in a horses mouth was neither fair nor effective. Then everyone jumped on me about bitless!

BOLLOCKS you do.
Pray tell me, in which disciplines do you ride in a normal noseband with reins attached?
I do thanks. I don't compete a massive amount at the moment as I haven't got transport since my trailer was stolen at the end of last year and I am yet to replace it. But prior to that we were doing breed specific competitions as well as dressage and Trec.

If you're in the UK you won't be doing bitless dressage. You can't under BD rules and most unaffiliated comps stick to BD rules. The general arguement from overseeing bodies is that you can't work a horse on the bit without a bit. I think you can work them correctly but atm that's the situation.

A bit is only ever as harsh as the hand that are using it. A hackamore can be pretty severe in the wrong hands!

Different actions suit different horses. And without seeing the pony no one can really say what he might go better in.

But if I were you Icey I would be careful about how much you say or you might get offered the ride. The OP could charge for viewing and raise some funds to send him away.

I would pay good money to watch some one ride a pony like this in a noseband attached to the reins.

I will bring popcorn and wine gums too.

But if I were you Icey I would be careful about how much you say or you might get offered the ride. The OP could charge for viewing and raise some funds to send him away.
Why would I be worried I might get the ride? I believe in doing things properly and making sure everything is covered long before getting in the saddle. I don't understand what is wrong with that?

Oh stop goading. It's so bloody

Frouby I'll bring the fizzy pop

Icey You forgot to tell us which country you are in that allows you to compete in dressage with reins to the noseband.

Sorry but how is suggesting that the op improves her relationship with her horse a bad thing???

A friend of mine was given permission to do liberty dressage for an unaffiliated test but only HC. She thought it was in an indoor school but it turned out it was in a field. At which point she decided saddle and bitted bridle would be good.

we were doing breed specific competitions as well as dressage and Trec.

Not in the UK you weren't, not in reins attached to a noseband.

It's all well and good to champion different methods, but there's no need to bullshit.

How on earth would one attach reins to a noseband anyway?

I shall suggest it to the DC at the next rally

Not in the UK you weren't, not in reins attached to a noseband.
Yes in the UK at breed specific shows

How on earth would one attach reins to a noseband anyway?
By using two of the flash strap attachments to fit D rings and then attaching reins to them

Which breed? Certainly not any natives, Iberians, or anything which runs under society rules.

Which breed? Certainly not any natives, Iberians, or anything which runs under society rules.
Saying the breed would out me sorry

Judging by the username I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark at icelandics

I thought the same seems and you can indeed compete bitless at Icelandic breed shows

It's none of the breeds suggested

Bore off Icey