Driving issues

[Maple Hollow Farm]

So this is the weirdest thing ever. I have a very ornery stallion and I figured I would take and harness some of that energy (literally

). He is always happy and prancing around but the second I put the harness on him he becomes this perfect gentleman but that is not necessarily bad but what is bad is he just walks or trots with it on with his head hanging and just acts super depressed about it and once I take it off I expect him to become himself but he just stands there with his head hanging down and looks so sad. I am curious as to whether he does it to make me feel bad and not make him do it anymore or if it truly does kill his ego. Should I just keep working with him and hope he gets over it or is there a way to work him into it differently that might make him enjoy it more. He doesn't even get excited when I drive him near the mares

so that just shows how into this he gets.

 

[whitney]

You might feed him 1/2 is hay before you hitch him. He may have stomach issues.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Poor little guy! I'm going to have to think about this one for awhile.

Leia

 

[targetsmom]

Did you train him to drive or did someone else? Could this be related to his driving training?

 

[crponies]

The first thing that came to my mind was pain of some kind, perhaps in his mouth. If the bit (or some other part of the harness) is irritating something, it could continue hurting even after he is unharnessed.

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

Did you train him to drive or did someone else? Could this be related to his driving training?

I trained him myself and he is my favorite horse so I took it really slow and was never mean to him at all he did it the very first time I put the harness on him and I have only had it on him a couple of times since then and he has never been bad under harness for the reason that he is always depressed and I have never even hooked up to a cart. He is only a coming 4 year old.

Crponies: I did consider pain but I checked the harness over for points that might be rubbing and I checked his mouth to make sure all was well there but couldn't find anything.

Thanks

 

[MiLo Minis]

Did you train him to drive or did someone else? Could this be related to his driving training?

I would like to know the answer to that question as well. The only horse I have run across that demonstrated that type of reaction came from a background of being trained by someone that was less than kind.

Most horses react much more strongly if they just plain don't like driving.

Once you have ascertained that he has no physical issues, such as pain somewhere, I would try different types of driving to see if there is anything that gets him enthused. If you are only driving in a ring try taking him out on the trails. If you have been on the trails only try him in a ring. Maybe cones would appeal to him - I know lots of horses that perk right up when they see those cones!

 

[MiLo Minis]

Did you train him to drive or did someone else? Could this be related to his driving training?

I trained him myself and he is my favorite horse so I took it really slow and was never mean to him at all he did it the very first time I put the harness on him and I have only had it on him a couple of times since then and he has never been bad under harness for the reason that he is always depressed and I have never even hooked up to a cart. He is only a coming 4 year old.

Crponies: I did consider pain but I checked the harness over for points that might be rubbing and I checked his mouth to make sure all was well there but couldn't find anything.

Thanks

Sorry! You must have been posting at the same time as I was

If you haven't yet hitched him to a cart then what you may be seeing is confusion on his part. This is something entirely new to him and he has discovered that he no longer is in total control when that bit is in his mouth. If you are certain there is nothing physically bothering him I would go ahead and hitch him and see if, once you get him going in the cart and out having some fun, he doesn't perk up!

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

Did you train him to drive or did someone else? Could this be related to his driving training?

I trained him myself and he is my favorite horse so I took it really slow and was never mean to him at all he did it the very first time I put the harness on him and I have only had it on him a couple of times since then and he has never been bad under harness for the reason that he is always depressed and I have never even hooked up to a cart. He is only a coming 4 year old.

Crponies: I did consider pain but I checked the harness over for points that might be rubbing and I checked his mouth to make sure all was well there but couldn't find anything.

Thanks

Sorry! You must have been posting at the same time as I was

If you haven't yet hitched him to a cart then what you may be seeing is confusion on his part. This is something entirely new to him and he has discovered that he no longer is in total control when that bit is in his mouth. If you are certain there is nothing physically bothering him I would go ahead and hitch him and see if, once you get him going in the cart and out having some fun, he doesn't perk up!

Yep I was posting too

! But I have been trying to find a cart small enough for him but still in my budget. I mainly started ground driving him for something to do but never intended on hooking him up but he is so well behaved now and I think if he gets used to it and starts to get out more he might perk up but he is only 28.5 inches so I am a little hesitant about it unless I find a small enough cart.

 

[BannerBrat]

[SIZE=12pt]How does he act when you do other things? (Walks, grooming, etc.) [/SIZE]

Have you harnessed him & left him in a pen to see what he does?

I'm not sure how open or what resources you have but is there a way to include clicker training (or some version of it) in your training. You'd be hard pressed to find a depressed horse doing clicker training.

Well this has got me stumped... thinking... may post other idea's later...

Post any updates please!

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

[SIZE=12pt]How does he act when you do other things? (Walks, grooming, etc.) [/SIZE]Have you harnessed him & left him in a pen to see what he does?

I'm not sure how open or what resources you have but is there a way to include clicker training (or some version of it) in your training. You'd be hard pressed to find a depressed horse doing clicker training.

Well this has got me stumped... thinking... may post other idea's later...

Post any updates please!

Out of the harness I am not even sure if he knows what walking really is

. As I said he is a little ornery (aka spoiled) which is mainly my fault because he was my first mini I decided to keep on my own (I got him from my parents). When grooming he loves to rub all over you and if you dont rub his back or hips he will stomp his feet and tell you to keep doing it! We didn't get my roundpen set up before it snowed and there is no way we can do it now with over 5 ft of snow in some places, so that ruins turning him loose with the harness! I have to lunge all of my stall horses all winter but it lets me have a little more bonding time with them so I dont mind. I am not really sure how clicker training works, I have looked into it but all of the websites for it just try to sell you stuff for it but don't actually explain in detail how it works. I need to find someone in my area that knows about it and have them show me or something.

 

[funnybunny]

Do you think the harness makes him feel claustrophobic or something similar to that?

We had a dog that was that way when we put a sweater on him. He would not walk, move, or anything until we took the sweater off. He would get very depressed and not move at all. It was like he thought he was in a straight-jacket or was being punished by wearing that sweater.

Have you tried just letting him get used to one part of the harness at a time? I don't know, but do you think he just feels totally overwhelmed by the harness?

Please let us know how this issue is resolved.

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

Do you think the harness makes him feel claustrophobic or something similar to that?
We had a dog that was that way when we put a sweater on him. He would not walk, move, or anything until we took the sweater off. He would get very depressed and not move at all. It was like he thought he was in a straight-jacket or was being punished by wearing that sweater.

Have you tried just letting him get used to one part of the harness at a time? I don't know, but do you think he just feels totally overwhelmed by the harness?

Please let us know how this issue is resolved.

He does kind of act like the harness is trapping him or else it just hurts his feelings

but I will try some more things if the weather clears up again he cant be out in this extreme cold because I took him to the October Pinto Jubilee and clipped him for it (never again!) it was fun but not worth the risk he still doesnt have long hair on his ears or legs it just never grew out again since he had already grown his winter hair before clipping

. I will definitely let you know if he gets better about it but I just feel terrible every time because he is my baby and I hate to see him sad

.

 

[Sandee]

I'm trying to read between the lines but it sounds as if he might not be sure what is expected of him. Like he's not sure what to do so he justs stands. Or he could just be trying different methods to avoid working. Since he's a guy maybe the latter is the correct one.

Both of my boys are very lazy. They both drive and behave in harness but both refuse to lunge in the round pen. They just stop any old time they want and refuse to move.

The other option is what my filly did. It was more like she wasn't comfortable (muscles weren't built up enough) when hooked to the cart. After I put her in a lighter cart and worked her more often, she started trotting and moving out. Then she seemed to enjoy it more.

 

[Connie Ballard]

Almost sounds like he has something out of alignment...like his neck or back possibly...like he notices it bothers him when harnessed then when you take it off...still feels kind of froze up about moving. Can you do some slight stretches with him, like gently lengthen out each leg...see if he pulls back or reacts...turn the head gently sideways, move the tail dock left and right..., run your fingers down his spine like you are reading braile...thumb on one side, finger top, finger on other side of the spine and follow it down the neck, back to the tail. Press a little firmly doing that...not hard...but like a back massage pressure wise.

Seems like he's trying to tell you something is wrong...but they can be a puzzle figuring out what it is. Good luck with your boy!

I have a little poop that I spoiled...first mini...that I taught to drive to 'harness' that energy....he's very fun.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Just one more thought- try talking to him. As you get the harness out explain to him that you love the way he prances and want to find a new way to enjoy his energy. Tell him that he's going to look so handsome while driving and that everyone is going to think he's so beautiful/handsome/amazing/whatever and will ooh and ahh over him. Get him excited about this! Driving is fun! Driving is time to show off his good manners and his elegance! Driving is time to impress the ladies and win fabulous new fans! Make the harness something exciting and wonderful that he can't wait to put on. Sometimes an attitude change is all they need.

Leia

 

[Kawgirl]

Are you sure he's depressed? Could it be that he is just feels relaxed in the harness, or possibly bored?

 

[Littleum]

My immediate thought is 28.5" and acting depressed when hitched= pain issue.

Either he had a pain issue in the past and now associates driving with being in pain, or he IS in pain being hitched. It could be anything from ulcers to his mouth to his back. He's so small it could easily be a cart balance issue or a subtle harness issue. If it were me, I'd enlist a trainer/expert I trusted AND a vet to rule out pain issues. He's at the absolute bottom threshold for driving (IMO) so everything has to be just right.

Once you rule out pain, maybe he's just too small and the work is too hard for him. This is a really subtle thing you might need a very experienced eye to see- it's also something us owners tend not to want to see (that the horse simply can't do the work, or hates doing the work)

Once you rule out he can do the work comfortably maybe it's mental- it's not unusual for a greenbean to realize their cushy life is over. But usually they act obnoxious and get resistant and try to fight the tide, not mopey.

He simply might not like driving. He might be unhappy in the work. Some horses just don't like it, and they're kind enough to go along with it, but really wish you'd stop asking them to.

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

Are you sure he's depressed? Could it be that he is just feels relaxed in the harness, or possibly bored?

Definitely depressed, he is the type of horse that if he knows you have a treat and you dont give it to him or arent paying attention to him he will bite ya in the bum! But after I take the harness off I can't get him to take at treat from me, I am pretty sure he just finds the whole thing insulting and gets grumpy about it

.

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

My immediate thought is 28.5" and acting depressed when hitched= pain issue.
Either he had a pain issue in the past and now associates driving with being in pain, or he IS in pain being hitched. It could be anything from ulcers to his mouth to his back. He's so small it could easily be a cart balance issue or a subtle harness issue. If it were me, I'd enlist a trainer/expert I trusted AND a vet to rule out pain issues. He's at the absolute bottom threshold for driving (IMO) so everything has to be just right.

Once you rule out pain, maybe he's just too small and the work is too hard for him. This is a really subtle thing you might need a very experienced eye to see- it's also something us owners tend not to want to see (that the horse simply can't do the work, or hates doing the work)

Once you rule out he can do the work comfortably maybe it's mental- it's not unusual for a greenbean to realize their cushy life is over. But usually they act obnoxious and get resistant and try to fight the tide, not mopey.

He simply might not like driving. He might be unhappy in the work. Some horses just don't like it, and they're kind enough to go along with it, but really wish you'd stop asking them to.

I have had his teeth checked so I know it isnt in his mouth but I can't see it being pain from just the light harness on him I have never actually had him in a cart before so there is no way that is an issue. He is trained to jump and loves to do that I would think if something were hurting him enough that just the harness would do it then he wouldnt want to jump either.