I have owned my horse for 2 years. He was a wreck when I bought him- afraid of everything and strung out from playing polo under a great rider (I say that because he could ride anything in polo) but he wasn’t a horse friendly guy- used horses like tools, etc. I rode the horse in the arena for a while before buying and he had a full vet check, and he seemed fine. I did a ton of work with him- he is so much calmer now after sacking him out with various objects and has grown very confidant and follows me around like a puppy dog wo halter after riding/working him. I set up little obstacle courses for him in the arena and challenge him a little bit more every week. He really listens in the arena- but I’ve found a ton of holes in his training. I had a professional trainer fix the most annoying one- he would never pick up his left lead due to the polo, and when you threw him into it he would switch back almost immediately. I am still working on reining back, and turn on the haunches, flying lead changes, etc.
One thing I’m looking for advice on is the following. My horse is great on trails, beach, new places, at a walk. He is not barn sour and we can go anywhere alone. It is pretty amazing. At the trot outside, he is usually also really great. But when we get to the canter- he gets a little nappy only sometimes. But it is a slightly unsafe form of nappy. He isn’t just getting excited and throws a little buck- nor is he just prancy. He usually starts to curl his neck and throw it down and to the left and right as if refusing to go. I think he is getting behind the bit this way, but I can’t be sure while on his back. He seems to be loosing contact with the bit. He will sometimes do little sideways bucks where his head goes side to side really quickly and down, and if he wants to go a certain way and I want to go a different way, he might get downright insistent at getting me off. He hasn’t succeeded yet- I always bring him down to a controllable level or push him through it with varying results. It is truly annoying and the next thing that I need to fix to make him a more enjoyable mount and safer to ride. Unfortunately, that trainer is now in Florida and my area has a lack of horse trainers- we have a lot of riding instructors.
So here is how I approached the issue:
I first thought it was my riding- ie maybe I’m now getting more nervous when I ask for speed and expecting something bad (sometimes comes and sometimes doesn’t) so I am holding him tighter? in the mouth or I’m less relaxed? I asked 2 instructors to ride him in the same scenario- and he tried the same thing with them. So not only me… was my conclusion.
I rode him on the beach at a canter behind a friend who was riding and ponying a horse and I aimed him between their butts so he was following the 2 horses. He did a great relaxed canter in the beginning of the ride (I post to the canter to create rhythm to calm him out there) but then he spooked at some ocean birds and was a little nappy after that and it got worse as we rode longer. I don’t let him escalate- if I punish (a little whip to say no is harsh to him) he is the kind of horse who shuts down completely. I stopped trusting him after this nappy sideways bucking at the birds. Maybe I then asked for too much control and it got a little worse as the day went on. I took it slower, and practiced at a trot and when he didn’t even fully hold it together there, I walked the whole way home on a looser and looser rein and he was great again.
Another time he did it- I tried to relax entirely and gave him a loose rein, and started deep breathing- because I thought- maybe I holding too tight? He still fought my queues to slow down with my seat and voice or to go left or right. Still nappy even on a loose rein?
I’m at a loss how to work on something that is intermittent. I don’t get nervous on him until he starts the behavior. So here is my question- since he is a gem in the arena- and great to walk or trot outside- I need to practice this riding outside at a canter and gallop. Any advice for how to safely get him to listen to all the same queues outside as inside? How do you practice with a horse who has a tendency to go nappy in this instance? Especially since I’m not too keen on getting thrown so I would rather come down to a walk then push him into a fight.
Advice is greatly appreciated…
Chris
