Heat = pain...is that possible?
I have a project horse, Pete, whom I got from my vet. I got this horse because he kept throwing people during the upward transition to a canter. He's got a good trot, but he would lurch sideways and buck when asked for an upward to a canter on both sides. I rode this horse through the winter and seriously thought I had the tantrum thing under control. I had him to where the most he would do is try to stick his nose in the air and I was pretty fast at getting him back into a good frame.
Until 3 days ago.
I have seriously spent three days trying to get this horse not to lurch into a full on rodeo bronco act when asked for a simple canter. I can't even say I've gotten a single good transition from him in the last three days. The best we've done is a non-disaster. Actually, the best we've done was a transition I didn't ask for - I just let him transition up from a trot by himself. I didn't ask, I didn't change anything from the nice framed up trot we were doing. I felt him surge forward a little bit and deliberately didn't half halt him down. He did a nice, smooth, non-freaked out upward. I brought him down and tried the same frame and same position but asked him for an upward transition. Disaster.
My trainer pointed out that I got him late last summer after he threw about five people. In the heat. It's really hot right now. Now I'm super paranoid that I have been treating a pain issue as a training problem.
Is there any joint issues that show up in hot weather as opposed to cold? Anything anyone can think of that would cause pain in the heat but not be an issue during cooler weather?
I got him from my vet almost a year ago, and she didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with him physically, she just thought he was a brat. I'm ok with brats, and I'll just ride him more often if that's the problem. He came off of a week and a half off three days ago because the only saddle that fit him broke and had to be fixed. If it's just that he had too much time off, that's fine - but I don't want to be riding the crap out of a horse that's reacting to pain as opposed to one that's just pretty sure he's supposed to be out in the pasture having fun.
Things I am positive it is not:
Saddle fit problem (I have a pro who flocked the saddle for him)
hoof problem (he's got feet I would kill for my horse to have)
bit problem (no changes there - why now?)
Feed issue (no changes)
Things it could be:
Too much time off
Rider error (I could be unconsciously doing something when I signal an upward)
Bratitude
Heat-pain connection???
I have a lesson scheduled for Friday, so if I'm screwing it up I'll hear about it then. I guess the most obvious answer is that he's had too much time off, and he has never had this much time off - but DAMN. I have never had him react this balls out crazy, even when I first got him last fall. So of course now I'm freaking out thinking there's might be some sort of health issue I'm punishing him for reacting to.
Watch him be just fine tomorrow now that he has me all worried about him.
Until 3 days ago.
I have seriously spent three days trying to get this horse not to lurch into a full on rodeo bronco act when asked for a simple canter. I can't even say I've gotten a single good transition from him in the last three days. The best we've done is a non-disaster. Actually, the best we've done was a transition I didn't ask for - I just let him transition up from a trot by himself. I didn't ask, I didn't change anything from the nice framed up trot we were doing. I felt him surge forward a little bit and deliberately didn't half halt him down. He did a nice, smooth, non-freaked out upward. I brought him down and tried the same frame and same position but asked him for an upward transition. Disaster.
My trainer pointed out that I got him late last summer after he threw about five people. In the heat. It's really hot right now. Now I'm super paranoid that I have been treating a pain issue as a training problem.
Is there any joint issues that show up in hot weather as opposed to cold? Anything anyone can think of that would cause pain in the heat but not be an issue during cooler weather?
I got him from my vet almost a year ago, and she didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with him physically, she just thought he was a brat. I'm ok with brats, and I'll just ride him more often if that's the problem. He came off of a week and a half off three days ago because the only saddle that fit him broke and had to be fixed. If it's just that he had too much time off, that's fine - but I don't want to be riding the crap out of a horse that's reacting to pain as opposed to one that's just pretty sure he's supposed to be out in the pasture having fun.
Things I am positive it is not:
Saddle fit problem (I have a pro who flocked the saddle for him)
hoof problem (he's got feet I would kill for my horse to have)
bit problem (no changes there - why now?)
Feed issue (no changes)
Things it could be:
Too much time off
Rider error (I could be unconsciously doing something when I signal an upward)
Bratitude
Heat-pain connection???
I have a lesson scheduled for Friday, so if I'm screwing it up I'll hear about it then. I guess the most obvious answer is that he's had too much time off, and he has never had this much time off - but DAMN. I have never had him react this balls out crazy, even when I first got him last fall. So of course now I'm freaking out thinking there's might be some sort of health issue I'm punishing him for reacting to.
Watch him be just fine tomorrow now that he has me all worried about him.