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  Discussion on How to handle a mini-tantrum
Author Message
Member:
njen

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 - 1:40 pm:

I've got a draft cross, 11 yrs, who is a total sweetheart on the ground. Without going into huge detail, suffice to say I believe he does not have any pain issues. When he doesn't want to work he throws a little temper tantrum - he stops short, bunches himself up, trembles like crazy and starts to spin. It happens so fast and I don't feel any warning. Last year he did it and I decided to just bail off and I ended up getting a compression fracture on a vertebrae. There doesn't seem to be any real trigger - he's done it when he's been ridden alone and with his buddy, in fields he's used to being in, when he's just walking and when I've asked him to trot. Since then, he's done it a few more times but I've stayed on somehow (grabbing mane, telling him no in a firm voice, I'm not even sure exactly what I've done). Once I get him to stop moving (and his head is still high and he's tense), I just get off. I don't want to risk getting hurt again. My question is what can I do to handle these situations? I don't want him to win, so the last time it happened I hopped off and then lunged him with all his tack on for double the time I normally do. Would circling him tight when he does it be a viable option? I'm afraid to crack him with a crop because I don't know how he'd react to it. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Member:
mhorse

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 - 9:42 pm:

Hi, I had a trainer teach me what she called an "emergency stop" for the situation you describe. You practice it frequently so when the time comes that you need it it comes automatically. You just pull one rein back to bring their head back to close to your knee. Hold it there until the horse stops moving their feet. You release as soon as the horse is still. If when you release they start acting up again immediately pull their head back around and keep it there until they stop. It saved me on more than one occasion with a mare that I had.
I know you said you were sure it was not a pain issue but you would be surprised how many bad behaviors are because of pain. You might want to be sure your saddle is not the problem. I have a horse that will stop in the middle of a workout, dead in his tracks, if the saddle is hurting him....as if to say "you are hurting me, get off!"
Member:
njen

Posted on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - 8:56 am:

Thank you so much. I think that might work for me.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - 9:21 am:

Hi Jennifer,

I just want to relate something similar that happened with my horse. It was because of the equipment I was using. I race my horses, and I was getting my horse ready to race, when he decided he wasn't, no way no how going to turn to go his training miles. He'd rear up, spin around, get all nervous, shake etc. I finally stopped with him before the winter and when I brought him back this year, I did 2 things, I put an open bridle on him with a different overcheck bit that allows him to open his mouth and I covered him up in front( he wears bell boots, pastern wraps and ankle and tendon boots. He is a different horse. Not nervous, willingly turns, very forward, not grumpy, doesn't shake etc.

So I am not sure if you changed any of his equipment lately but it may be something on him or not on him he doesn't like that could be the root of his problem.

At one point I really thought it was me and had someone else jog him, but he did the same thing until I changed the bridle and took off the stable halter and put a race halter on him. The next day he was absolutely perfect, turned, jogged relaxed etc.
Member:
njen

Posted on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - 2:24 pm:

Thanks. I have the name of a saddle fitter. I guess I will give her a call to see if that is the root of the problem. At least there's hope!
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