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Post by Margo + Sara on Nov 5, 2009 14:57:27 GMT 1
 We have had Leon about 6 month now he only came out of racing in April, he is fine out hacking with other horses but when i take him on his own he is very nervous, he is always looking around and wont relax, i dont really want to stress him out so i have only been taking him for short walks in hand down the lane on his own and as long as i keep talking to him i can sort of calm him down, he isn't doing anything crazy but I'm not really sure what to do now, I'm scared that if i force him out on his own i will make him worse. I also can not get him to trot in hand, this is not a big deal but i feel a bit of an idiot at shows when I'm trying to drag him and he is just sticking his head up in the air, i have tried a crop to get him moving but he just moves his bum away from it. If anyone has any advise it would be very much appreciated. 
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Post by gemmat on Nov 5, 2009 15:16:32 GMT 1
Its only natural for him to be nervous on his own, racehorses generally go out as part of a string. Walking him out for short periods is a good idea, just build him up gradually.  As for the in hand part, I would ask a friend to help you and try it in the school. Lunging him might help as he will be used to being told to 'trot on' and a wee lunge whip click if needed. He is probably just misunderstanding what you are wanting. Sounds like you are doing a great job, 6mths is not a long time to have had him. Just keep doing what are doing and dont rush him, he will learn to trust you and it will pay dividends.  |
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Post by Margo + Sara on Nov 5, 2009 15:53:53 GMT 1
thanks for the advise i will try it, im sure it wont be to hard to get him out of his few bad habbits. Im not that concerned it is to be expected of an ex race horse and tbh i was expecting alot more problems, as i say i just dont want to make him worse as he is my first ex race horse so im still learning about them and checking with more experianced people just gives me abit of peace of mind that im doing the right things for him.
Sara xxx
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Fleur
Member 
Owner and Patter of Jolie Fleur and Kirkside Pleasure
Posts: 1,560
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Post by Fleur on Nov 5, 2009 16:10:45 GMT 1
Aw - poor guy! Sounds like he just needs to settle in.
When we're teaching the babies to trot up in hand I lead them and when as I turn to trot away I get someone to clap loudly behind me when I say trot. Will work especially well if they're a bit nervous! ha ha! Just a few times of that should make them trot when you ask.
No whips involved!
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Post by lisah on Nov 5, 2009 16:48:46 GMT 1
Hi ladies Firstly, you are doing a GREAT job with Leon so let's just start by saying that :-) The trotting in hand issue is the easier one to deal with. he will not understand and in racing they are expected to behave well and walk when being led. As others have said, teaching him the voice command ''trot'' by either lunging, someone behind giving a friendly bit of encouragement or even saying trot when riding to get him used to what the word means should eventually get you there The riding alone issue will take longer but again, it can be resolved quite easily. Once Leon totally trusts his rider he will feel less tense when out alone. I would start with what you are already doing and walk him out in hand so that you are his ''comfort blanket'' where he can see you. Once he feels less tense, long rein him on the same routes you have led him. He will still know you are there, but will not be able to see you so he may go a bit tense again, but once he gets used to being up front alone he will settle and be fine. Once you feel he is settled on his own being long reined, then is the time to ride him out on his own along the same routes. It may be a good idea to have someone on the ground but not walking right next to him - walking a bit behind so he can not use them as his safety blanket. All of that could take a few weeks or it could take months - the key here is getting Leon's trust that YOU will look after him when he is out on his own - this means you have to be super confident and not show any nerves as he will pick up on this and get all nervous too, and then it is a downward spiral  From all your posts so far you are both doing a WONDERFUL job with Leon, he has come on so far already and I am sure that you will have him hacking out on his own, quite confident, in a pretty short time. The most important thing is to keep his trust, don't push him too hard and let him tell you when he is relaxed and ready to move onto the next stage. Good luck - I am sure you will both do a grand job with this next stage of his re-training. Lisa H |
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Post by Margo + Sara on Nov 6, 2009 0:10:53 GMT 1
Thanks for taking the time to give me a little advise, I am going to start putting it into practice tomorrow |
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Post by yellowrattle on Nov 6, 2009 15:50:07 GMT 1
Lisa is right you're doing a GREAT job with him. We went through something similar, I walked miles with Nyx in company in hand and on our own. It was great for forming a bond and most important trust. If she spooked then she was allowed all the time it took to relax and be comfortable with what ever it was. Which in turn made the riding out part easy when we got to that bit, now she'll happily go out in company or on her own. It just took time. We still sometimes go back to walking in hand when I'm introducing someting new like a new route or small bridges over streams. The trot bit I did that same a Fleur, not quite as polished as my friends horse who trots on the word AND, can be funny when walking along and you say AND in the right tone.  |
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Post by Margo + Sara on Nov 14, 2009 2:12:40 GMT 1
I have been taking him out most days for short walks and he is getting use to it now =D so i am going to try taking him a differant way next time maby slightly further and see how he goes with it, i am hoping i will be able to ride him out on his own with no problems by maby next year, I am going to take it slow with him and make sure he is totally confidant with what we are doing before i go on to the next step as i understand how easy it is to ruin a horse by doing to much to soon. Do you think i should get on his back down the paths we have been working on with some one walking behind him a few times before we moove on to a differant path? Or can any one think of a better way to progress from here, any suggestions appreciated =D
he is also comming on great with the troting claping behind him is working wounderfully so thanks for suggesting it =D
Thank you
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Post by alibogue on May 12, 2010 19:55:41 GMT 1
My own horse is exactly the same, he will hack very happily with another horse but if hes by himself he becomes dangerous( hes probably a bit worse than your horse) and trys to whip around usually into oncoming traffic.
I have found a massive improvement in his general temperament by using herbal calmers these have absoloutly no sedative effects and are completly legal for competitions but it has completly sorted out his brain, last year i had to take him home from a competition because he was out of control and trying to flip himself over this year he is getting double clears eventing and is much happier.
Its definitly worth a try!!!
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Post by lisah on May 13, 2010 6:58:23 GMT 1
Hi Alison
great to hear your lovely lad is settling, I remember he was quite tense at the show at SNEC last year, but I also thought what a stunner once he settles.
L xx
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