First Horse seems nervous

[Dan Dare]

I have just had my first horse arrive about 7 weeks ago. I have been hacking him locally to get him used to the area and ideally there is a wooded track nearby. However, along the track, which is quite enclosed and where I have taken him on route just recently, he does seem to have a mind of his own. He will just turn on the spot and try to double back, if I ask him to stand he will almost trot on the spot and if I hold him standing he will rear. On the road he seems fine apart from one time when he did a similar thing on the road after having been on the track when I asked him to stand. I have to say that his mouth does seem quite sensitive with the bit and if you pull him up he does seem to go backwards quite quickly. Someone mentioned about having his teeth checked. He is an 8 yr old cob. Maybe it is just nerves but I feel uneasy about the rearing. He does have some young teeth, can't remember the name for them but they are in the space between the front and back teeth.

If just out on the road, he seems ok after the initial fizz has worn a bit.

Any thoughts.....on new ground here having only been with the riding school ponies.

[horseygirl123]

When you say 'track' what exactly is it like?

Sometimes if I do the 'roadblock' with tara and we come to the bridle path she'll get all excited and think 'oh great, a canter!'
Horses are clever, they know they cant canter on the roads, so as soon as you come to a bridle path or field they think its time for the 'off' :p

[Joyscarer]

I think it is wolf teeth you are thinking about :)

Having had a few problem after buying my first horse I would now recommend that you have the usual saddle, back, teeth checks done when you get the horse so that any inital problems can't be down to pain.

If he is feeling uneasy then your partnership is so new that he may not be able to entirely trust you to make decisions for him and the flight instinct may kick in which gets worse when you restrict him.

I would suggest that if you can't ride in company that you do an in hand walk because then he can see you and take comfort from that. Having said that you would obviously need to watch carefully for signs of discomfort from him as the last thing you want is a rearer horse in hand :D

When I first got my horse I had the the same problems, she was great on the road but wary when anywhere natural and hated mushrooms :rolleyes:

[Dan Dare]

Thank you both for your repsonses. I don't think it is the horse wanting to get under and canter as I have had problems getting him to a canter the once or twice I have tried. The track is a ***-used railway line so it is long and straight though places are quite confined with heavy tree and plant growth either side. So for the horse, maybe a bit scary!?

It is wolf teeth, I now recognise the name. I will get the dentist out to have a look though he was fully vetted at purchase just 7 weeks ago so would the vet have picked this up?. We haven't got any company to ride with at the moment and if I do take him out on the lead rein he is very good on the track. It is when I am on board that he seems uneasy on the track and I have to say that I haven't been to strong with him in the difficult situation because I am a bit of a novice and coping with rears is (whilst he has only done it twice) not top of my fun list. I intend to get a more experienced rider to try him to see if it is me or just the horse taking advantage / nervous.


many thanks again for your help.