WWYD Big Young Horse

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

NC for this. I have a big Irish Draught - 17.2 when he came to me two years ago - he’s filled out massively.

I have sweated and cried over this wonderful horse - who’s talented, intelligent, genuine and seemed to have a good start with previous owner, who loved him and backed him very kindly.

He struggled SO much to settle with me. Couldn’t stand still, didn’t lie down, constant low level panic and busy brain, constant mouthing etc - ALL of which I have pretty much overcome now. He’s happy, feels right at home and bonded with me and we have come so far.

However, because of his size if he gets anxious, it’s a lot to handle. For example he hates having his feet done. Leans, fidgets (have been through multiple farriers and tried to keep him barefoot but made things worse). He also stopped loading in the trailer. I have been having weekly groundwork lessons and practice sessions so we’re improving but he still panics when he’s in (even before you shut anything). So we can’t go anywhere.

I have also hit a wall with some of our riding. I’ve been having weekly lessons and he’s gone a bit sour in the arena. He has learned that if he stops dead and drops his right shoulder the rider comes off. We always get back on and he’s never nasty about it but getting him forward is even harder when you’re wondering if he’ll slam on the brakes. He loves to jump but got me off twice in one session by stopping after the jump and my confidence was massively knocked.

He’s wonderful but it’s a bit exhausting constantly feeling I’m not enough. I couldn’t sell him but previous owner is still in touch and has hinted at having him back if I ever wanted. I have thought about it but when I do I instantly can’t breathe and start to cry. We have come so far and it’s been really hard work but I love him so much. There’s so much potential if I can just be enough and/or get the right help and experiences for him.

I’m pretty sure any responses will be “FfS get rid” - but does anyone have any words of wisdom or got through dark times feeling they aren’t enough but stuck with it?

The obvious one was that at 7 he was 17.3hh and coming in at 750kg on the weighbridge. We competed in middleweight hunter classes then. At 10 he was 18hh, weighed over 800kg and looked right in the Heavyweights. His top line was better developed and his bum was built up. At 7 he could not go in a straight line, he had to be guided all the time. He struggled with canter leads. By 10 he could piaffe and passage, do flying changes, canter pirouettes. He was much more balanced and very nimble on his feet for such a big horse. But it had taken a massive effort to get him to that point. I had him before I had children, and was able to out loads of work into him - he needed it!

Of all the horses I’ve ever had though, he was the one who would need riding every single day, or you had 18hh of fruitloop on your hands! His constant need for entertainment (if you didn’t entertain him he would find his own entertainment 😬) combined with his size meant I didn’t get many takers for riding him while I was at work!

Hahaha I love that. And can identify with this so much!

At 7 he is plenty old enough to crack on with some work BUT it needs to be the correct work. Him dumping people in the school especially in canter is a sign that he is struggling and not fit enough for the job. School work is hard going! I would quit the schooling completely for the next 3 months and get him out hacking properly.

Mooching around for an hour and half isn’t going to get him fit. He needs to be walking purposely on a contact with plenty of hill work. Very slow trotting up a long hill is great for building up muscle.

Big horses are definitely harder to get fit than smaller ones and it’s harder work to keep them fit! On the days you can’t hack I would take him in the school in hand and do some pole work, building up to raised poles as this will really help his core and hind end and will also help him learn where to put those legs 😁

I have a 16.3hh and am 5’3 but luckily I have a hot WB 😀

That makes total sense @Cheesyfootballs01 - we have plenty of hills it’s just time we’re short on sadly.

He had a schooling session with a pro today and she said he was just an unbalanced big baby. No physical issues, no malice, she loved his attitude and he was trying so hard. She said no canter and no circles for now. But she didn’t get the impression he was sour.

So I’m going to focus on hacking when I’m riding, poles and groundwork for us in the arena, and professional schooling as often as I can afford.

I was so proud watching him today, his nature, his attitude, despite the torrential rain. I think we’ll be ok ❤️

Completely different breeding to mine but sound so similar. Slow and steady is the key with an often misunderstood breed.

Another vote for hacking not schooling. I have a 17h plus (not measured her for a year) young ISH x WB. Bought her as a gangly 4yo and she’s now 6 and only just starting to go into the school once a week. We mainly hack round an hilly route at walk and she has become much stronger. Until recently she would have found school work much too hard and downed tools. Now she’s enjoying it as long as we keep it short and interesting.

notquiteruralbliss wish there were more owners like you. People sometimes just expect too much too soon and wonder why they have issues. There are some awful examples on you tube. One lady in particular with a young Andalusian. It's dreadful .

@notquiteruralbliss this is so reassuring thank you. That’s basically what we do but I felt like I should be having weekly lessons in the arena to start teaching him some basics and my instructor is usually brilliant at just asking for what the horse can do. But we seemed to just lose our way a bit.

I had a lesson on Monday and she just came out on foot with me and did some straightness as we went. Lots of hills so that’s useful ☺️

I love Irish Draughts and we have several including a stallion and home breds. They are big lumps and can be sensitive but that absolutely must respect people on the ground. If they don’t have manners they are dangerous

You don’t have to get nasty with them but they must know when they have done something wrong. A short sharp no is effective Make sure you have control over their feet. Make them go backwards and move away from you when told. A jab with a finger or small stick can help reinforce voice aids. I used to make mine stop and back up when leading in or out. They also learned to stand until told to walk on

We didn’t rush them under saddle and schooled on hacks rather than a small arena. Either we were just lucky or the system worked They were all suitable as family horses and could be handled and ridden by children as well as adults including our stallion who was allowed to attend Pony Club

@user1471505494 sounds like you had some lovely ones. We moments where I need to get him out of my space but I’ve always joked that he’s so good to lead he’s safer than my old grandad TB. I have to grab him from the top of a very slippery muddy steep field in the winter and he walks down like a lamb. Voice commands seem to be key with him. He knows quite a few cues and seems to understand them better than actions so I use them on the ground and under saddle (luckily I don’t fancy dressage).

I think most IDs want to please but the problem is making sure they understand the question

@user1471505494 absolutely yes to that 👆

I had a huge great lump of a ID/TB - 16.3 and a proper old-fashioned solid hunter type, no idea where he put the TB genes. He was an absolute fairy. So sensitive but not in a TB way. He also was like manoeuvring the QEII in the school. I kept going with him as I loved the great dope but in hindsight I should have acknowledged what a knew deep down all along.. we were not right for each other..I'm only 5'4 but he was bought to share with my 6' husband who got more out of him than I did but stopped riding, leaving me with a pretty unsuitable horse. There is no right or wrong answer, and it sounds like you are doing an amazing job, but it's OK to say this isn't right and both of you finding a better match if you think deep down that's the right thing.

My "Big Lad" was a CBxID and was quite like yours! Very sensitive, a bit looky, liked to plant his feet.

Even at 8/9, he was quite lanky and weak - he didn't look like a proper horse until about 11! (More like an overgrown yearling!)

Took it very slow with him, did a lot of walk poles, a lot of longer reining (so he could sort his own balance out without a rider up) and must have hacked thousands of miles! He very much needed a job and was much better out and doing something. We did a lot of arena hire too, group rides, anything to keep his mind occupied. We lived near to the beach too so could hack there, have a play (aka do some sneaky schooling!) then hack home.

I think you should stop schooling ij the school but don't stop going in there - it might fix the idea of dumping his rider firmly in his head. I'd take him in for a quiet walk around without asking anything of him before or after a hack. Form some new associations in that the school is a place when he can find peace and rest. Have a play too - put some poles out in a random grid and walk over them (and be done in hand too). Keeps him interested and will help him figure out where his feet are!

Loved the advice on this thread thank you. We’ve doubled up our hacking this week, including some straightness work doing our lesson in the lanes rather than the arena. I have loved it as I’m not a fan of the arena and he’s been a gem - including getting drenched. He also saw the physio to check if anything was a bit tight and she worked on a few spots so it’s been a good week.

He’s back in the arena with a pro rider tomorrow - nothing fast or technical and I’m going to only take him in there for in hand stuff or relaxation (@QuestionableMouse love the quiet walk suggestion).

If he's anything like my lad was, he'll think about stuff so if you avoid the school totally there's always a chance he'll really get worried when you want to go back in. Just keeping it low key and fun for both of you. 😊

Has he been tested for PSSM? Looking back and knowing the symptoms makes me wonder if my lad had it.

@QuestionableMouse he needs time to process stuff yes!

I wouldn’t want to avoid it completely, as you say, or he’ll wonder why or it makes it a big thing when he goes back in.

I haven’t had him tested for PSSM. Vets have been over him with a fine tooth comb for various things since I had him and TBH I think sometimes I’ve gone down a vet rabbit hole (with both horses) when actually it got me nowhere. I think back to basics will help us regroup 😀