[BNA526]

I wanted to add, about the ulcers, that sometimes they are very hard to catch. They may only show one or two symptoms of it, and it may even appear to be a different issue than ulcers.
I've known two warmbloods now that had mild symptoms and we thought these symptoms were due to another issue, when in reality we soon realized it was ulcers.

I'd definitely look into it.

[SaddleTrail]

Not a horse but my donkey yes. To the point I was in tears, hurt all over, yelled at my husband for being a no good helping sob and posted on the forum he needs a new home.

Soooo yes kinda been there.

[tlwidener]

I think my mare has a tendency to have ulcers. A few days worth of Ranitidine have made a difference in her attitude. She's much more relaxed and less worried about what the other horses are doing and/or where they are. I am going to put her on U-Guard, and she's getting alfalfa morning and night. Alfalfa is higher in calcium than other hays, so it has an antacid effect. I am also putting her on a ration balancer feed instead of a sweet feed. I try to keep grass hay in front of her too.

Might be worth a shot to try the Ranitidine (Zantac) for a couple days and see if her attitude improves. There are some informative threads on it.

[Hopeful Wishes]

Originally Posted by pippy

Don't give up on her that quickly - I often get frustrated with riding.

Two things that I will mainly do:

Put the horse back into the paddock before I get to the almost tears stage, keep rides short and to a minimum.

Go get a lesson to help me get back on track.

Or just go for a hack and pretend not to care whenever the horse doesn't something the anoys me.

Oh - another thing is - just go ride another horse a few times thats nice to enjoy it, then go back to the "pissy" horse

I think this is great advice I haven't gotten frustrated with the behavior of a horse, recently. But this the best advice, as far as not getting TOO frustrated to the point of wanting to give up.

[Taihoa]

I feel your pain. Tai has been out since April this year and I had such high hopes of doing the winter dressage series - that went out the window. Just as I brought him in after winter he put himself through the fence and while being confined did plenty more damage to himself. GRRRRR!!! Finally got him in and working well, had a great lesson with Bill Noble and was all fired up for the season and then Tai caught a virus and has been out six weeks - ARRGGGGGHHHH!!!!
At 18.2hh he is difficult to handle at the best of times and is definately a horse that needs to be ridden daily to keep him under control. Six weeks off is like suicide when it comes to handling him. I walked him for 20 mins each day and seriously was ready to shoot the **** thing!!
Sometimes I wonder ... *sigh*

The best thing I can do is lunge him before I ride for the first few weeks, he can throw his toys and have a tanty, buck, rear whatever without getting me upset or frustrated. Once he cools down he gets sidereins on to change his mindset to work mode - then I get on my nice quiet co-operative horse, have a great ride and love him again. Trying to hop straight on just leads to massive fights when I want him to walk, and he wants to canter full speed pretending to be a giraffe.
I totally agree that ending on a good note rather than pushing the issue is the best way to go. Don't ride if your in a bad mood/short tempered - you don't do yourself or your horse any favours.
I give my horse one day off a week, and one day a week where we just hack out and he gets to be a horse - no schooling of any kind. I don't tell him off (unless its a major issue). Its nice to have a calm relaxing ride every now and again!!

[Bruce Wiley]

Hello horse345:
This issue require some soul searching with an understanding that this has happen when most of us has been on wonderful vacations and we didn't want it to end.
Our tendency made way for us to display some type of resistence or rejection of the thought of having to return to work.
Fairly normal behavior for humans and also horses, with them being away from their working routine.
This should be view as the reason and the above statement, in which it does explain those unwanted issues and specially when all health issues has been ruled out.

Those problems can be corrected, when the handler is able to understand this feeling of the horse with coming to the conclusion this moment won't last forever.
The horse's actions or reactions should be look upon as they will pass and the real focus should be placed on what you really desire or want from your horses and set a goal or course of action to continue and without having any grudge or negative human behaviors.
We must remember our life and everything within it is nothing but a cycle where those bad times will change into good ones and we shouldn't lose sight of our planned goals. Its very important to execute and continue our course of action and be steady all of the way until we have attained our goal.

As teachers, in which we all are and we must expect these stumbling blocks with the understanding that frustration isn't a solution or the final result. Its only a test of our own determination to succeed with our horses.


I hope this insight has been a way of an encouragement not to giveup.

[farmeress]

You know...some of my best horses...have come from owners who were frustrated...and sometimes....all they needed was a little medical attention or time.

You have some good opinions here....I would be investigating.

An example...Duallman...Gandolfes' brother...bucked...jumped/spooked sideways...reared...he had an excellent show record that went downhill after the new owner got him...and...she is not an "awful" person boarding him at an "awful barn"

Thinking the horse was getting more...ummm...ring smart with age...they sent him to me....after about 6 rides....I took the saddle off and rode him bareback....to "feel" he had a true slanted shoulder and the saddles were all pinching him...much like Gandolfe and the reason he was a "problem" horse.

Changed the saddles...corrected the issues...and DANNNNGGGG...I have two extremely nice Gold level Hunters that do not do too bad in the big rings.

Find the cause of the issue to help indentify the cause of the problem....and you may find you have a whole different horse.

Now


That said....my boy Copper....he frustrates me everytime he cheats playing cards on poker night...oh....and he always brings one flavour of chips....carrots....lol.

[horse345]

Originally Posted by farmeress

You know...some of my best horses...have come from owners who were frustrated...and sometimes....all they needed was a little medical attention or time.

You have some good opinions here....I would be investigating.

An example...Duallman...Gandolfes' brother...bucked...jumped/spooked sideways...reared...he had an excellent show record that went downhill after the new owner got him...and...she is not an "awful" person boarding him at an "awful barn"

Thinking the horse was getting more...ummm...ring smart with age...they sent him to me....after about 6 rides....I took the saddle off and rode him bareback....to "feel" he had a true slanted shoulder and the saddles were all pinching him...much like Gandolfe and the reason he was a "problem" horse.

Changed the saddles...corrected the issues...and DANNNNGGGG...I have two extremely nice Gold level Hunters that do not do too bad in the big rings.

Find the cause of the issue to help indentify the cause of the problem....and you may find you have a whole different horse.

Now


That said....my boy Copper....he frustrates me everytime he cheats playing cards on poker night...oh....and he always brings one flavour of chips....carrots....lol.

When I first got her, I was riding her in a different saddle than I am now. After a few rides in the saddle I started her out in, she would pin her ears every time she would see me pulling that saddle out of the trailer. I found out that it was too narrow for her. Switched saddles and the ear pinning went away.

[LRHenneman]

Start with some small exercises that will give both you and her some success then enlarge her horizons. Horses need a bit of work--she's been off, so her routine changed and is now changing back. Maybe there are underlying medical issues, maybe not. She may just like her new routine and not what it changed to. Been there, done that.

Try very hard not to lose your temper. Put her up before you do. As for tying. She needs to be able to do that. There are some good suggestions on this board on how to teach a horse to tie. If she's just having a tantrum, tying another horse next to her doesn't solve the problem--except for that one time.

Be interesting to see what you find out medically.

[K Riding Girl]

i got sooo frusturated with mac when i first got back from camp this summer! i had an 11 day sleep away camp where i was riding nicely trained horses and it was amazing - - - but mac is COMPLETELY green - and i couldnt get him to walk in a straight line! it frusturated me sooooo much!!!

its really hard to get mac in a frame and nicely collected and getting his head and neck where i want it to be, but i just keep at it because i know hes still learning and he still doesnt get it yet

just keep working! your effort will pay off!