Well, Im not generalising thoroughbred's, because I think my thoroughbred is a bit of a donkey sometimes, and then some are hot headed and then some are lazy as anything, and then some are just perfect. But the 'typical' thoroughbred, derived from racing terms of the highly strung (high energy feed) gallopers, seems to be coming out in my quiet lazy thoroughbred more and more every time I see him.
At first I thought 'oh no! What on earth has happened to my horse?' first I had this slow, ploddy, couldn't be bothered doing anything, kind of horse. To a rearing, sweating, excitable, jumpy, forward horse, which I was not used to at all, and it took me by suprise! Then i asked myself what season it was, and it was grand old spring!!
Spring grass, lush emerald green as fresh as anything, a group of 7 big rowdy thoroughbred geldings to play with in the paddock, and just to make things even more eventful, there's a new mare in the paddock. What could possibly be more exciting for a horse that gets ridden twice a week? That's now got a fair amount of energy to burn...
Well, how about we lunge? Mmm nice upbeat walk, steady very forward trot...This is great, he's making his paces nice and big and forward. Lets ask for the canter, *Pulls Head Down, Then Throughs It Up, Sending Mum Flying, Then Rears And Bolts Down The Paddock To Fellow Horses, with a lunge lead entangled through all four legs* ok, maybe a little to much energy. Little did i know this was going to happen, I would have put gloves on, instead of getting a nasty case of rope burn.
I decided I would lunge him till he worked up a tiny sweat, then ride him. 10 mins, no sweat, 20 mins, no sweat, 30mins still no sweat, 35mins...Does this horse sweat????
Ok, fine I will get on and ride...So I tack him up, which takes a while because I've got one girthy thoroughbred that likes to cowkick!! I eventually get on, and he channels all of his energy into carrying himself in a nice frame and extending and collecting, and just putting all of his energy into being good while Im on him. I took him over some jumps and he cleared them perfectly, though he was a little rushed.
Anyway I get off him, and he's back pushing me out of the way again, throwing his head around, stomping his hooves!! Grumpy man...
Its also exceedingly difficult when i ride him 'NOW' alone...He's getting really dependant on the herd, which is stressing me a little, I hope he gets over himself soon, I want my old boy back, who acted like an old man...Not this grumpy thing that couldn't care less about where I am. Im good for carrots, but after that its 'Bye Bye Julz!' so yeah...
And this is a totally new experience for me, I've never owned a horse through spring, and it's expected that they get a little bit more fizz, just a little re-assurance from anyone would be great to let me know, that it does end...And u do get ure old horse back!!
But aside from that he's being really good, actually when we went out to Dandenong show, as u can read in my thread, there were rides, showbag stalls, clowns, and not to mention 1000's of horses and he was such a good boy after a while...But u know, I was expecting things to be drastic, but he was really well behaved!!! So Im not sure whats going on, I'll just have to wait things out a little bit...