New Uncontrollable Horse?

Question

I got a new horse (told she was a quarter horse/thoroughbred but she LOOKS a lot like an arab and is neurotic like one) about 4 months ago and moved her to my barn. At her old place, she was so calm and easy to manage. You could literally just sit in the saddle and she stopped. At my new place I CANNOT GET HER to stand still. Its like she's a completely different horse. At first, we thought it was the move, but its been a while and I really can't manage her. I have tried everything from lunging before I ride to going from an eggbutt snaffle to a full cheek twisted dr.bristol. I ride her often and she's out all day and most of the time all night...HELP!

http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s259/alina12_92/?action=view&current=AVS-Sugar050608.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s259/alina12_92/jump-2.jpg

Answer 1

well my first concern was her turnout, but you say she is out most of the time, so that is good, allows her to move around. We do alot of turnout at my barn, and often people who bought horses will come back and complain, but when they start turning them out, voila the problems go away. So definatly keep turning her out!!



As to solutions/ideas, how many times did you see her before you bought her? did you get her for a trial period to stay at your barn? both of these are good things to do to try to avoid this problem so the people selling can't drug them.

I would check with her old owners about her feed (grain) amount and what type. Sometimes going from pellets or something to a sweet feed can cause this kind of reaction, sweet feed makes some horses a little happy!!

good luck, hope this is helpful

Answer 2

Well for a start a harsh bit obviously hasn't worked, start using a snaffle again before that starts causing more problems.

Looks like a thoroughbred cross to me. Why do people get so uptight when you call arabs neurotic? Personaly I think a lot of them are in comparison to other breeds! Each to their own.....

What do you feed her?

Have you changed her feed?

I suggest you cut her hard feed back or change to a lower energy mix until you're riding her safely.

When a horse misbehaves, the rider often shows tension in their hands and can end up climbing up the neck and not using their legs. Think of the adage "soft hands, hard legs".

If she's naughty, you'll have to grip quite hard with your legs, especially if she's spinning round. Keep as much weight in the irons as possible, and your hands should be soft so you have a sympathetic contact. I know this will test your nerve, but you need to cultivate courage and persuade yourself to be confident to break the vicious circle that has built up.

Are there any other horses where she is being kept now?

She may be missing her pasture/stable mates.

Could it be her hormones? Some mares are notoriously "marish". The estrous cycle, also known as "season' or "heat" of a mare occurs roughly every 19-22 days and occurs from early spring into autumn.  Due to the timing this could be part of the cause for her bad behavior. Most mares’ cycle is disrupted by the shorter daylight hours in the winter and most will not come into season. Mares are sometimes placed on hormone therapies, such as the drug Regumate, to help control hormonally-based behavior.

Also you could try getting her back, teeth and tack checked.

If you are still stuggling you should look for a trainer and get some advice.

Sorry I'm in a rush I probably could be more thorough...... hope this helps.

Good Luck =)

Answer 3

well my friend had that same issue, except the horse was a little bit more hyper when she rode her at her place. (she had been forgotten and left out in the pasture, so she didn't get to eat.) after two weeks of riding her where we ride, she calmed down and was easier to ride. it's probably just her nerves- she's nervous and doesn't know where she is.

hope this helps :)

Answer 4

try relaxing your own seat.  Your back, seat, legs and hands.  If your tight and expecting her to fidget, jig around and not settle, she won't.    Go back to the bit she came to you in, its not sounding like a bitting issue and lunging her before you ride to settle her is a vicious circle you dont want to start.  Every time she will be a bit more fit, and it will take a bit longer to take down the edge.  

    Take her into your arena, and ride with soft long legs at the walk. keep your seat as open and supple as you can and only tighten it when your ready to stop.

A riders seat can make all the difference in the world.  My sister can turn a deadhead, calm horse into a lunatic chomping the bit, because she is tight and always a bit nervouse.  Its simply the way she sits and always has in 30 years of riding.  I can put a lunatic to sleep.  Long open legs. soft seat, soft hands and eyes.  Try just totally relaxing on her and see what happens once.  trust her to respond

Answer 5

she might have an injury,or it could be a health thing,my friends had a horse that suddenly changed,it turned out that due to her age she was CONSTANTLY IN HEAT! and that made her moody,you might see the vet,or if you have changed tack,it might rub her or something...

Answer 6

We have plenty of horses at my stable who sound as wild as the horse you're talking about. Here's a few ideas:

1) Is she responding to sounds? If this is possible, try using cotton - you can buy it in rolls at any drug store. Stuff a little bit - about two inches long and as wide as the opening in her ear. Many horses aren't a fan of this at first, so you may need to use a stool/neck twitch to stuff it in, and don't take it out for a week or two. This worked fantastically with my own horse.

2) Have you ever used a flash noseband? It's possible that your horse may be opening her mouth to ignore the bit you're using. A flash noseband, which attaches to your regular noseband, can be fastened securely below the bit to make sure she's not opening her mouth.

3) The Dr. Bristol is a strong bit - but bits such as the Control Bit, and two rein bits such as the Pellum, can help as well. My horse, who was also wild, instantly responded when we used a Straight Bar bit. In many horses, the "joint" of the bit can irritate the roof of their mouths. Though not powerful, it's worth trying the Straight Bar to see if she's just being irritated. It is a good idea, no matter what you do, to rotate bits.

4) Though it's important for her to get worked, make sure you aren't getting her...too fit. Try chasing her in the paddocks with a lunge whip before/after every other ride, and giving her a few light days of work each week (2 or 3 twenty minute to half hour rides).

5) As a last resort, you may want to try using simple calming drugs. You can purchase these right at your local tack shop.

Good luck!!

Answer 7

okay, first of all, arabs are NOT neurotic. I board and train at an Arab barn and many of the Quarter Horses and other Stock Type horses are much more crazy than our arabs.

i also used to have an arab and he was al calm as can be.

the horse in the pictures also does not look like an Arab.

you say you were told it was a thoroughbred/quarter horse cross?

i think it may be because it looks a lot like my horse which is a cross of those two.

as for help,

i wonder, do you have a professional trainer?

or anyone with extensive horse knowledge around?

the horse may have been drugged when you looked at her.

and after this amount of time she should be settled it VERY well which it seems she is not.

i would suggest getting a trainer out there immediatly..good training will do better than using stronger and stronger bits.

Answer 8

Arabs aren't neurotic...people who don't know how to train them are.  My guess is that you don't know how to handle the horse and you blame her for your own shortcomings, as do most people who call Arabians neurotic.

Answer 9

My horses did the same thing! she was so laid back at her old place, then she came to my barn and she was crazy!

Demi doesnt stand still either, shes really fast, and she shys a lot. I don't think the people drugged her or something, but i'm not sure.

I started her in a dr. bristol, and we've had pelham, elevator bit, twisted wire, snaffle, d-ring, and now were in a kimberwick.

I think switching bits around a lot makes her a little better, and going from light bit to harder one.

Riding every day is good, i could never give mine days off. Turning out is good, does she go out with others?

Maybe try backing up when she wont stand still. take a little circle then halt. or try walk, halt, canter, trot, halt, walk and so on. Make sure you dont seem nervous while sitting in the saddle because she'll pick up n it and be skiddish. and milk the reigns too. then she'll give back to you