21 going on 3 out of shape

[jj090688]

Hey everyone!

My gelding is about to be 21 but going on 3. He’s in a large herd in the pasture 24/7 and is up there in the pecking order. This last year we have dealt with arthritis from a bad farrier (now corrected and non issue) repeated hip issues requiring regular massage and chiropractor work and gets his teeth checked twice a year. All year I’ve struggled with keeping him under saddle as he doesn’t agree with just doing walking trail rides or light arena work to rebuild his muscles (he’s taken up bucking and running off to keep kicking up his heels). But he gets plain cranky if he doesn’t get worked. I need to slowly rebuild his back muscles to let him do what he wants without hurting himself but he doesn’t want to listen to the training plan and keeps hurting himself. There are some small hills in the area I may have access to trot poles and have started regularly round penning him (he learned if he suddenly puts full power on the edge of the lunge line I faceplate and he gets to go do what he wants in the yard if no fence and main arena not fenced) 40 minutes of round pen and then trotting bareback today he didn’t break a sweat. Has anyone dealt with one of these stubborn old ranch horses?

[beau159]

[QUOTE=jj090688;8960799]
This last year we have dealt with arthritis from a bad farrier (now corrected and non issue)[/QUOTE]

Can you explain this further?

Arthritis is either physical changes in the cartilage in a joint or physical bony changes. I don’t understand how a farrier can cause arthritis issues, and then it can be “fixed”. Unless you meant something else?

[QUOTE=jj090688;8960799]
repeated hip issues requiring regular massage and chiropractor work and gets his teeth checked twice a year. [/QUOTE]

Can you give more details on his hip issues?

@jj090688;8960799

All year I’ve struggled with keeping him under saddle as he doesn’t agree with just doing walking trail rides or light arena work to rebuild his muscles (he’s taken up bucking and running off to keep kicking up his heels). But he gets plain cranky if he doesn’t get worked. I need to slowly rebuild his back muscles to let him do what he wants without hurting himself but he doesn’t want to listen to the training plan and keeps hurting himself.

Sometimes a horse can act up because they are in pain. And sometimes they can act up just because they are fresh. And it can be hard to tell the difference.

It sounds like he has had some lameness problems in the past. Because of that (and his age), I personally would start with a thorough lameness exam from head to tail, so that you can address any potential issues that may be causing him pain.

How does his saddle fit? And/or how confident are you with knowing if a saddle fits?

I can relate to the situation as my horse Red (who will be 11 next year) can act like the naughtiest 2-year-old. And maybe I shouldn’t use the word “naughty” as he is a good boy; he just has too much energy! Ironically, he has several lameness problems that I am always managing, yet he’s just a crazy little firecracker when he does not get ridden on a regular basis. Some of it is learning to “pick your battles”. He might not walk nicely home on a loose rein like I want him to, but if I can get him to at least stop jigging (for example), I’ll consider it a “win”.

So that would be my other piece of advice: Choose your “battles”. Don’t expect him to be perfect right off the bat, until you get some miles under his belt again. He may lose some of the “edge” once you get going again.