Comments | equestrian: Strange horse behaviour

ally112038 in equestrian

Strange horse behaviour

Feb 24, 2010 06:32

George my welsh section D has began to have some behaviour issues when hacking out. (Trail riding for my Friends across the pond!). Due to my work schedule my BO and trainer has taken him out for me and he has behaved very strangely. Jogging, spooking, crabbing and generally behaving in a very erratic manner. Now, he has always been fiesty and ( Read more... )

behaviour issues, trail riding

Comments 19

bluelinegoddess February 24 2010, 06:58:09 UTC

My mare is definitely a one-person horse. She doesn't do anything dangerous, but she makes it pretty clear she isn't happy with anyone else riding her. I trained her, so she definitely got quite set in my way of doing things.

I hope Jo can get over his issues - for my mare and I, there's no need for anyone else to ride her, but it definitely sounds like it's a great benefit to both you and Jo if your trainer rides him.

thehomicidehoe February 24 2010, 07:20:11 UTC

Definitely happens. Maybe try her riding him and you on the ground?

young_modern February 24 2010, 07:22:28 UTC

a lot of horses just feel more secure with one rider. especially if they've been ridden/handled by only one person for a significant length of time. these animals thrive on consistency.

i'd say two riders would be better than three. give him a predictable weekly schedule, a predictable warm-up for every ride, and a little time to adjust to this new routine before investigating other possible causes for his behaviour.

ally112038 February 24 2010, 07:48:05 UTC

Thanks for that. Just to clarify though - Jo is my trainer and also BO so it's only the two of us who ride him. Mostly me, maybe twice or three times a month with her. In the menage he is fine but I prefer her to hack him if possible due to me being unable to hack as much with light, ice issues etc.
Thanks again :-)

april_lady1979 February 24 2010, 07:55:44 UTC

My Welsh D mare used to do this. She was used as a stock horse most of the time. She knew I was a nervous rider so would behave perfectly with me but if my Dad got on her she knew she would be able to do all the galloping, chasing cows fun stuff so she would sidle, back up, crow hop, throw her head. It was just that she was excited to have a different person on her that she knew would let her do different things than I would.
After I gained confidence she would behave for me in the ring, but let her see a cow and OFF we would go. If the cows were slow she would walk behind them & bite their tails! LOL!

I miss her so much, we had to put her to sleep when I was seven months pregnant with my son, on Easter Sunday 2007 at 6.42pm.

But, perhaps in your horses case it's just a case of "ooooh someone different, lets see if I can get away with something a bit naughty! OMG fence! Look out, TREE! NO, not the ROAD!" kind of thing. Probably the more Jo rides him the better behaved he'll get when he realises he still has to behave himself.

hagazusa February 24 2010, 09:53:37 UTC

This post is full of Welsh Section D mare love. I <3 you! They're so full of character and make you fall so totally in love with them . . .

april_lady1979 February 24 2010, 10:04:59 UTC

LOL! I love Welshies! I'm looking for another, but unfortunately they're pretty rare in this neck of the woods. They have sooo much attitude and just won't take sh*t from anyone, but totally understand if you need a bit of TLC.

hagazusa February 24 2010, 09:57:31 UTC

Hi Ally!! From what I've heard, Welsh Section Ds do tend to be one person horses. They can put up a real fight in the beginning with new owners/riders but once that person earns their trust and forms that bond, they'll do anything for that person. I think if Jo keeps riding him consistently, that bond will take off. In the meantime, does she have the option to hack out with others? I assume the problems come when she's hacking him out alone?

ally112038 February 24 2010, 10:07:02 UTC

Hi Mary and Miss Boo! He's actually the same with or without another horse! She hacked him in company yesterday and he behaved the same. When I went up to the yard after work he was still worried and tense although he had relaxed when by the time I left. The hack had obviousely left him feeling upset and anxious and I hate to see my boy like that :-( welshes are funny little horses and I agree with the bonding with them. He is grand with me and I can get him past anything with a reassuring pat and a 'good boy' tone of voice.

hagazusa February 24 2010, 10:16:39 UTC

I see. Maybe the trick of you on the ground would help?

Btw, I've successfully used your trick of backing up Miss Boo on purpose when she plants. So we did the two steps back, two steps forward thing until she finally agreed that it was easier to go forward pass the Scary Object of Doom, in this case a leafblower behind a tall fence.