Hate riding my horse!

[bluemood]

I've been riding for 16 years (since a kid) and have had my own all this time. My first two were easy sweethearts but since then I've had three projects and ridden countless others - I'll get on literally anything I can!

I've had my current horse three months now and he's the first one I've ever had who I just don't enjoy riding. It's an absolute chore.

He's a rising 9 Welsh Cob. I bought him from a woman who had had him for six months but was selling him as a project as he was too much for her. He tanked off with me across the field when I tried him (full gallop, no hope in hell of stopping him, eventually stopped as he physically couldn't go any further - owner said "oh yes, he does that...") but I bought him anyway as I wanted a project and figured with work he'd settle.

In the first two months I took everything right back to basics, establishing straightness in walk, getting him balanced on circles, yada yada yada, the usual stuff you do with youngsters and greenies.

I got him out to a few clinics where he was impeccably behaved.

The issue is at home and with how strong he is in the arena. He's been strong since day dot and no amount of schooling or exercises have helped. He's been ridden every day virtually for the past month and it was made no difference - I would have expected more progress by now.

He's either a curled up ball and will chuck in a buck here and there or he will literally just set his neck and go. There's no inbetween - if I asked for a working or medium trot he would just start to tank. His canter is virtually a gallop - often he goes so fast that he'll nearly fall over around the corners.

I've tried everything to get him balanced and slow - poles, give and take, bridging my reins, half seat, sitting right back, transitions, circling, trying to bring him back as soon as he speeds up. Nothing helps.

I've tried:

• Full cheek French link snaffle - sets his neck and goes
• French link Gag (on snaffle ring alone he sets his neck, on second ring alone he shoves his head up, goes hollow and runs through the bridle, and on both rings with two sets of reins he sets his neck and goes)
• Happy-mouth Pelham - runs off on the forehand

I've tried having no noseband at all, and also a grackle, doesn't make a difference.

He gets no feed apart from ad-lib hay, is out for 6 hours a day in a herd (TO restricted ATM) and is generally ridden for 40 mins to an hour every day.

On the ground he is calm. He's up to date with everything. Teeth were done recently. He's sound. Seems happy in himself.

I just don't know where to go from here with him as he doesn't seem to be progressing at all. I'm not a professional by any means but I can get a tune out of most horses so I'm not sure where I'm going wrong with him.

Any ideas before I send him to Findus?

Blue That's exactly how I like to work horses, but with him give an inch and he will take a mile, literally. I can't even give him a long rein at the end of a session as he just tries to canter off.

I've sat and waited him out numerous times when he's done that and he will literally go and go and go getting quicker and quicker until he does something stupid like gallop at the fence and then slam on the brakes or duck to avoid it at the last minute!

When you ride him he needs his hand holding for every single step. There have been times when I've trotted him for half hour straight virtually and he still will show no sign of settling.

If anyone would like a pretty lawn mower...

Laugh Sounds very similar. I'll have a look at his PP in a bit and report back.

I'd sell him. Now is the time to get a good honest advert out.

Another suggestion (again not cheap): try him on magnesium, the long term stuff, where you load the dose for a couple of weeks. I use Nupafeed. It totally transformed my horse, but mine was clearly anxious.
Another possibility: is he a rig? You never know, could have an undescended testicle. Would need testosterone levels checked. I had one of those once & behaviour similar to yours.
I still come down on the side of physical. Most horses do have a training response, but physical discomfort can over-ride this.

Magnesium is a good shout Moan, or even a calmer.

He could be a rig - I've had numerous people ask me if he's a stallion. I'll get the vet to investigate next time he's out.

Have bought him a Kramer Anatomical bridle to see if that helps at all - clutching at straws there but worth a shot.

Was going to try a snaffle + kineton as well to see what he thinks of that and will also get the dentist out again just for my own peace of mind.

If he would just settle down he'd be bloody lovely!

Have you had the saddle checked since he lost weight? If he's getting a lot more exercise, he'll have built up muscle in different areas too.

We had a similar horse, to find out if she was in pain, the vet gave her bute for a week and she really improved. Then we had to find out what was causing the pain, which took more time.

My mum does natural horsemanship techniques with her horse as hes a sensitive flower. But I've also seen her working with other peoples horses and getting them to do things they refuse to do for their owner.

Hope you find a solution.

Be careful with the Mg - excessive Mg will have the opposite effect and make him sillier.

Honestly I feel for a horse who can't even have a relaxed rein at the end of a session. Something has gone very wrong somewhere - either in his training or (more likely, imo) physically.

You say his saddle/back were checked before you got him, but in your shoes I'd get my own checks done by people I personally trusted. There are saddle fitters and then there are saddle fitters! Ditto back people.

I also think he sounds fed up to the back teeth of constant arena work - which may be something you can't do much about if you can't hack and don't have transport to take him out and about much.

Laugh This is his breeding!

I've booked the saddle fitter for next month as wanted a new saddle anyway. Next stop: double check his teeth.

Funnily enough he was great last night. Still super whizzy but actually came back to me when I asked for the most part.

Didn't attach first time!

Cheeky Welshie!

Sounds like a good idea to get some very experienced pro riders also come and have a go with him. And agree to stick to focusing on walk and trot and forget the mental canter/gallop until you've got that sorted.

Have you got any secure gallops you could take him to and just blast him around for an hour?

Hello, lots of good advice here. It’s rubbish when you don’t enjoy your horses, given all the money and hard work. A few things sprung to mind though.

1. is he ‘half fit’? I always fit mind are complete toads when they are half fit. For example in September when we are getting ready for the hunting season. Once they are at peak fitness they settle.

2. I agree he sounds bored with the school. I understand your point about hacking. But several miles of really steady trotting with lots of transitions back to wall would help blow away some cobwebs (unless you think he would just gallop down the road). Maybe with a steady friend?

c) someone recommended it up thread, but have you tried a Waterford snaffle? I had a very very strong pony and the only thing that held him was that. Nothing to lean into. Just be gentle with hands and remove the battle (it’s very difficult to do that when you feel like you will be tanked off with I agree).

Ulcers? I have know a horse with similar behaviour. Turned out to be ulcers. Hope you can work out what the problem is.