?

He kept refusing a jump. Swinging out at the last moment, its the same jump he clear yeaterday no issues so not sure what his issue is (2feet , 60cm ish ) . Anyway i didnt have a crop so i smacked him with the tip of my rein on the shoulder. But the buckle must have caught him straight on because them it made a bump. I felt so guilty i could die, he was sweaty and upset, my head wasnt in it anymore and i couldnt win. So i called it a day.

now tomorrow im not sure what would be the best follow up on today's absolute failure

1) just hack out relaxed

2) do some groundwork and free jumping to build self confidence

3) do another jumping session but keep to lower jumps and poles

4) just flatwork

PS: he is definately pissed off with me.

he is a 7yr old ottb, does have a slightly nappy and pushy personality but i dont think that had anything to do with today, or it might... I dont know, it was a terrible end to a session and i feel very wrong so what do you think i should do tommorow to fix this?

as in rodeo events. There are very few rodeo/western event locally where I am (south Africa) but there was one recently... (its modelled on you guys over there yonder)

This happened: apparently rider releases buckstrap when jumping off/falling... rider did not do this and horses proceeded to buck until his leg broke and then some more.

SO??? im very much feeling that rodeo is cruel...

PS: I train race horses and ride English (very little exposure to western)

He is essentially lazy. Does not want to engage his hind end. So basically just drags himself along by his frnt legs. Im currently trying to get him to stretch his back muscles and lift a bit so working on loose circles long rein type of stuff.

So the biggest issue im facing is that he throws his shoulder out on turns. I try to ride him forward and even into the turn and then as he gets there he just thows his shoulder to the outside.(ouside leg does nothing) When he does this he disengages completely behind ,hollows his back and tilts his poll to the outside while his neck is at an angle to the inside. He CAN turn properly. Its happened a handful of times and the heavens opened up and angels started singing... He is such a lovely ride. But I think this is a little "trick" he has learned that has never been corrected.

I understand he needs the muscling for this kind of movement and that slow and steady wins the race , im just asking him to do it a few times and on very easy bends.

So I just need a few tips as im not sure that I am riding this correctly

Im asking slightly on the inside rein for flexion while keeping the outside rein steady, keeping equal weight in both stirrups, and riding forward with a little extra from the inside leg to encourage him to bend.

Im also starting to do serpentines to loosen him up(especially his neck as he tends to "brace" against the bit when turning)

Remember his haunches are on the right track. Its the outside shoulder that he is pushing out and falling onto his forehand.

Hard swelling in the area, so I got the vet. He said that his suspensory is buggered. (already thickened ect) The swelling has not changed in any way in almost two weeks. Thing is the horse is not lame? he has a slight reaction on flexion test (and he is a baby with pain) . He is resting now, vet said he needs 5-6 months. So its just a bit strange to me that one can see the damage(or feel it) but the horse doesn't seem to be bothered by it much.

His leg has not been scanned.

Anyone deal with this kind of thing before?

Im resting him and the leg is getting iced regularly, how else can I help it?

recently my horse has been testing me a lot. He picks fights aabout things he already knows the correct answer for. I have not changed his routine or my handling although he may be a bit more fresh as the weather has been miserable and not good for riding.

He is seven years old ottb gelding. He isn't being dominant or anything dangerous, just irritating. He is the undoubted alpha of the herd he lives with. I can separate him ... Do you think there is a link between his dominance in the herd and then trying to get his way with me? He has stallionish tendencies (he fights quite aggressively with challenging males and is very protective of his herd)

He was gelded late (two years ago).

I can separate him to an adjoining paddock where he can still talk to the other horses but obviously not lord over them. But do you think there is a likelihood that there is a connection? Have you experienced this?

Im asking also because when he was dominated by another horse a while back he was much more meek toward me as well?

Anyway to separate or not, what you think?

My horse is very sweet. But before he used to attack people in the stable ,bite ect. I have got him super relaxed and obedient but he still has an "edge". For instance he always tries to push his boundries. If you are firm and fair he will accept you as leader and be an angel to work with. But you cant take it for granted because he will always test you. You can back him up by simply saying "back" , he listens and obliges but he will for instance back up with his ears drawn back.

The point of my question is that I want to start doing some bridleless work but I know that if he realises that here he can get his own way he might take over which in turn will be dangerous for me. Are there any exercises I can do to help get into that kind of work? He knows his vocal cues very well im just not sure that he will listen to them if he gets excited.

He is a 7yr old ottb, ive had him off the track for almost 2 years now. He was gelded at 5 only so has some stallionish tendencies.

Im not interested in doing join-up. Or being referred to dvds, just want to know if anyone know some nice ground exercises that will help with the fine tuning, thanx!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N36fezTOsCA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmp8pkbU03I

I came across these...Please explain how this is allowed? Extremely cruel, makes me very sad

http://www.gumtree.co.za/cp-horses-ponies-in-cape-...

LQ: What is the proper attire/turn out for a dressage show?? i might be doing a practice show in the near future but i dont have white/beige jods... Do i have to braid my horse? Tail? just wondering.

Working with a 3yr old TB colt. He was backedand under saddle for 5 months. Then left at pasture for 6 months and now i have him. He is very weak and unbalanced obviously. I normally retrain OTTB's but they are older and stronger.

So i have been doing some under saddle work mainly trotting. He is comfortable to use trotting poles now. But im a little stuck for creativity... i want to keep the work interesting and educational but he doesnt have much muscle tone so sesions cant be too intense.

So im just wondering if you have any fun exercises you use with youngsters, as i would like to keep his work fun.

ive noticed people mention corrective farrier work in relation to conformational faults? Ive had people come look at horses who toe in or toe out and then they mention 'their farrier can fix that at least a bit'

i went to this vet seminar a while ago where they had a discussion on soundness from foal to adult horse.

They mentioned the way bones harden ect and that trying to change the trimming shoeing of a grown horse is not always a good idea since the pressure points on the bone then change as well. So if you try to help correct a horse who has turned its toes in its whole life you are changing the way it distributes the weight on its joints. So more weight is then suddenly being placed on a part of the joint/bone that is not used to bearing as much concussion and weight and can lead to lameness issues.

Corrective trimming should be done as a foal but thereafter its not always a good idea to change the way the horse walks and bears its weight.

What do you think?

Do you have any experience with this?

three yr old filly is standing with her eyes closed. They are a tad watery but not much. No discharge. Not particularly red, just a bit darker than the normal pink.

She is standing quietly, not agitated. Has not stopped eating or drinking but not the amounts she normally consumes.

She basically looks sleepy except that she is still actively moving her ears toward sounds.and she can open them like 80% but they dont open entirely and she prefers to keep them closed. Doesnt mind if i touch them.

Vet is coming a bit later. Just checking if anyone has seen this or knows what it could be because i dont... And im concerned.

he is a 7yr old OTTB. I retrained him and he can do the following:

collected trot

extended trot(medium-knee action limited still)

canters nicely

forehand turn

backs up

leg yield and almost good with a side pass

jumps 3ft

but:

u still need to be an experienced rider.he is one of those horses that tests you.

So i might have to sell him...

And if i were to describe him in an ad, what could i say? He is not 'green' but he isnt perfectly 'schooled'

either. Or should i just list the things like here? However then the ad starts getting a bit lengthy.

Anyway just wondering where he would technically fit in level wise?

i was checking on the horses now on my lunchbreak. The yard is very quiet this time of day. The one young colt was sleeping. But he was making little grunting noises and kicking with his back leg a bit. As though he was dreaming about something.

Ive never actually seen this in a horse. Do they possibly dream?

i ve been so distracted by this, i just need some opinions.

I love my horse. Have had him a year. He is a 7yr old TB gelding. Have done a few local shows and he is amazing. Just the most awesome intelligent animal ever. And i have an older gelding(20-something yrs, retired)

my boss has offered me the opportunity to recieve his tb's off the track. I can choose which ones i want. I can then train them on and sell them. I can make money because i wont have to pay for anything but showing expenses.

The problem is i simply dont have time for three horses. Actually one horse to train is more than enough since i work as an assistant racehorse trainer and do 'english training' on my lunchbreak everyday. So energy levels can hardly keep up.

The pro's of taking the deal:

1)im a relatively 'poor' 24yr old so the money wil really help

2)i wil gain so much more experience from training a different horse to jump/dressage every few months

the con's:

1)selling my current horse.

O and also i can get quite a bit for my current horse because he is a bold jumper, very safe sensible horse with no vices.

What would you do?

i work in a racing yard, when the horses reach retirement i need to find them homes. Some are young and green so i dont sell them for much. Because they are cheap i get loads of idiots calling about the horses.

a lady once called about a horse. My ad described the horse as a TB. I had to clear up the misunderstanding that it meant thoroughbred and not something funny that she thought it meant(cant remember but it was random) but thats ok, its when she asked me what exactly it meant that he was ''gelded'' that i told her that an ottb might not be suitable for her.

Just now a young girl called and after some chit chatting she asked me whether the filly is ''fixed'' or if not, could we fix her at our place. Im like huh? She said well there are two stallions in the paddock so could she get pregnant. Im like...yes she can get pregnant and no im not fixing the filly. She's like 'oh ok, but can she like break? Like a dog?'' i dont even know what she was asking me. But the conversation ended quite quickly after that.

have u ever had ignorant people try to buy a horse from u? And how did u handle it?

Another one: a women brought her 8yr old daughter to come try a gelding i had for sale whom i specifically advertised as forward and spirited.suitable for an experienced rider. The 8yr old girl had like 5lessons under the belt. Honestly.

like rolling in hand? We have Tb's and after work they are untacked, taken to a designated sandy area to roll. We hold them and whistle holding the reins near the ground and trow a bit of sand on their back. They know then they can roll. Afterwards they are washed and put in their stable. They are less likely to roll in their stable and get cast in a corner.

My friend went to the UK to work in a racing yard and after untacking she went to the paddock to let the horse roll and when it wouldnt and she asked about it everyone was like 'huh?' why do you want to do that? And ive not seen much reference to it on this site so i was wondering if it isnt really something everyone does... To me its like an essential thing, teaching a horse to roll after work. Its what ive always been taught.

this young TB colt came in to start training. As the truck arrived the driver told me that we need to get the other colts off first and the fillies (there were seven being dropped off) because the one colt had broken its haltrr and is running around loose on the one side of the trailer and they cant get the halter back on. So eventually we get this colt into the paddock with the others. To me he looked brain damaged. He hurt his neck as a foal and it is now skew so he has this permamently ''puzzled look'' with it tilting to one side.but his eyes look vacant as well.

I was told that the horse is crazy and should have been put to sleep allready. I gave him the benefit of the doubt since he seemed unhandled,confused and obviously he travelled horribly.

Training starts.this horse has no idea how to lead. And he is dangerous. So we get a professional who always helps us with difficult horses.

After a week the horse still cannot lead. Its like he cant learn.all he does is rear up and throw himself to the ground.then doesnt really want to get up. He has broken numerous paddock fences. He doesnt care what he throws himself into. Over and over and over. He has no aggressiveness. He also doesnt seem to have any ''flight'' response. He just goes wobbly and throws himself up and over. The fact that he has not broken his own back is amazing. We keep him on soft surfaces just in case.

The owners want a verdict and im frightened to say what i think. Have u seen a horse behave like this?

Honestly i think there is some very wrong with him.

The vet has check his vision but the owners are not interested in paying the money needed for xrays of his neck or further neurological testing. My personal opinion is that he has a nervous system issue or brain damage but i cant back that up with much since im not a vet

just for jumping. I execise racehorses all morning everyday(which i do with bridged reins). I ride my horse english. Its just that when im jumping a course i do it so much better if i take a bridge. Do u think this is ok? I know im not expected to ride like that in the show ring, but is it really a problem?

just wondering. My gelding is by hussonet. The dam's name is 'songfest' and i only know of one other progeny called 'better than ever'

so im wondering if anyone has any ottbs by hussonet and what their personalities are like. I think he's an australian sire and im in south africa so we dont have many hussonets here.

I like looking at sire lines and looking for similarities and traits. My favourite racing sire is 'windrush' and 'jet master' but jet master died. They both tend to throw nice big scopey horses. Windrush seems to produce very calm, sensible horses whereas jet masters often are more fiery spirited types.

So just curious if u have any experience with hussonet progeny. Or even 'songfest' the dam(she's by unbridled's song)

my gelding is bay 16.2hh. He is very calm and clever. But can be cheeky and not very submissive. He has a slight roman profile to his face with thick wavy mane and tail. He doesnt have very good feet they are soft and sensitive. He is slightly front heavy but has big movement and seems to be a very talented jumper.

i was always taught to do it. Once ive fastened the girth before i get on i stretch each front leg forward. Just to stretch out a bit and loosen any skin pinched in the girth.

I dont actually see other people do this.