When your horse is acting weird, how do you know if the root cause is a physical problem or training related?
Definitely a question that deserves a correct answer.
We would likely all agree on that.
Potential Causes
Is it ulcers, something like EPM, or pain related?
Or is it simply that the horse is not educated enough to be consistent?
If your horse is only half broke, then the root of a problem can be a mystery.
But if you get a horse sure and right, with consistent movement and behavior, then it becomes much easier to determine the cause if they go all weird on you.
What is my definition of a ‘broke’ horse? Read this article to find out.
Example 1 – Horse Acting Weird
I am currently riding a 4 year old filly.
She doesn’t shoulder out when she makes a turn.
And she’s confident and consistent about it.
If this horse suddenly started doing something like that, or even worse, I could be pretty certain it was a physical issue that needed to be checked out.
What if she wasn’t as consistent and confident?
Then it would be more of a process of elimination to determine the root cause.
But a horse is typically not going to lope perfect circles bridleless for a month and then start bolting.
Example 2 – Horse Acting Weird
Another mare that I periodically ride for some friends is not yet as sure.
So if she starts acting weird, it’s not nearly as easy to pinpoint the root cause.
Could be either one.
How can working with a horse be compared to standing on a ladder? Watch this short video.
Do Wet Saddle Blankets Solve Horse Problems?
Is more wet saddle blankets the answer or does she need to see the vet?
And since I brought the whole wet saddle blankets thing up, I’ll get on my soapbox for a minute.
If you put a bad rider on a horse and chalk up a huge pile of wet saddle blankets, you won’t get the results you’re looking for.
I’m around horses all the time that get plenty of miles, but they progressively get worse instead of better.
Even ranch horses that sure get their fair share of miles, but are still spooky, inattentive, and not able to really trot out straight and go somewhere.
It has more to do with the quality of the ride than the quantity of the miles ridden.
So, once again, it falls to us as riders.
If we increase our awareness and improve ourselves enough to get our horses as confident as they need to be, then the question of ‘Is it training’ or ‘Is it physical’ will no longer be a puzzle.
