I have a 10YO OTTB mare who I have owned about a year now.  When I bought her and brought her over the barn where she is now she was rather green, very forward, and kinda all over the place, but very eager to learn and to please.  She rapidly excelled in Dressage and all aspects of jumping.  She had a lot of scope, a lot of courage, and when asked to go round she would very willingly take the contact, round her back and try her little heart out to do what I asking her.  I bought her in Feb. and by June she came in 2nd at Baby Novice level at a very popular local event in VT.  I couldn't have been more proud of her.  I figured since she had made such nice work of her first event that we would start schooling for Beginner Novice.  At the next event she took 5th.  I was still very proud of her, but it was obvious we still had some kinks to work out.  However from about July on she has been steadily backsliding to the point where she is almost exactly like she was when I brought her to the barn without that willing attitude.  She won't let me take up the contact, and she freaks out when I take her over a fence like I'm hanging on her mouth which I'm not.  I bought a bitless bridle to see how she would go with out a bit and its helping, but I need to sell her soon and it breaks my heart that she is like this.  I have a vet coming to check her out this week, but if anyone else has come across this sort of thing let me know.  Or offer any advice.  thanks

Sounds to me like she has been overfaced either physically or mentally.  Talking to your vet is exactly what I would recommend, let us know what they have to say......

I agree the horse is showing signs of being overfaced. But I'm also curious about a 9 YO TB (when you got her) being "rather green" but coming along as quickly as you indicate. I can't help but wonder if there might be a "Been there -Done that" T-shirt somewhere in her past that involved an injury or just a bad experience that is coming back to haunt her. Ditto also on the vet check to eliminate physical problems. It's unfortunate you have to sell her too soon to take her back to basics. But with a clear physical exam she sounds like a good project horse for someone with patience and time to rebuild her confidence. Good luck! ~FH

You know your're right it does seem really odd that a seemingly green horse would excell so rapidly, and it shocked the hell out me that she was actually willing to do the things I was asking her.  What I know about her history is that she was trained for the track, she "bucked her shins" (I don't have any idea what that means), she was put on stall rest for about a year and by the time she was well enough to race she was 5 and too old for her maiden race, so never actually ran.  During her recovery her owner at the time got attached to her and decided to keep her as a pet.  He eventually went bankrupt, and gave her (and the rest of his stock) to a friend of mine to keep until he was back on his feet.  During which time I started working with her, I saw her potential and he reluctantly sold her to me.  So I don't believe that she has had any formal training.  But you guys are more than likely right about her being overfaced.  She was doing so well, I probably did push a little to hard and expect just a bit too much from her.  I've been lunging her in side reins with the bitless bridle and she has been doing really well, but if I get on her, it seems that she forget everything we worked on on the ground.  If the vet can't find anything wrong I may have to find a trainer to help me out.

heardjess:

I've been lunging her in side reins with the bitless bridle and she has been doing really well, but if I get on her, it seems that she forget everything we worked on on the ground. 

Ahhh!  A possible saddle fit issue causing her pain?  That would definitely make her "forget everything"!  It's possible the saddle was fitting well and not causing problems, but as she became more fit and her muscling changed, the pain started and started the issues.  The vet check could possibly find this (or some other) problem.

From HorseInfo.com - bucked shins:  muscles are attached to the bone through a tissue (membrane) called the periosteum which is attached to the bone by a dense fibrous connective tissue. A Bucked Shin occurs when the periosteum tears away from the front of the cannon bone. In young horses the anterior surface of the cannon bone is softer and less dense than in older more mature horses making it more likely that the connective tissue will tear away from the bone under the pressure involved in high speed workouts.

Good luck with her and I hope you can find the problem.  Is that her in your sig?  Very nice!

heardjess:

she "bucked her shins

Bucked shins is a common ailment found in TB and QH racehorses.  It is microfractures to the front of a horses cannon bones (can be one or both).  Horses develop these "stress fractures" usually from being pushed too hard too young.  Even though this affects the front cannon bones, if she was allowed to heal properly, she shouldn't have any residual effects. 

Thank you for clearing that up for me, no one at my barn knew what that meant either.  Must be a racing term. 

She has no obvious bumps or bows anywhere on her lower legs, and she has been sound everyday that I have owned her so she probably was allowed adaquate time to heal.

As far as saddle fit goes, I thought the same thing.  I've been through 5 different saddles trying to find the right one untill I finally broke down and got a saddle fitter to help me.  I finally settled on a Collegiate Convertible that I am very happy with.  I even got her a Fleeceworks wither relief half pad, but I've only had the new saddle for about 3 weeks so maybe it will take some time for her get used to it.

 And yes Remmer that is her in my sig.  Thanks, I think shes pretty nice myself...

 What a conscientious horse owner you are!  Kudos to you for trying to find that perfect saddle. Hard, isn't it?  Even though you have a well fitting saddle now, that doesn't mean she is out of pain.  If that is the issue, she'll need a little time to heal.  When is the vet due out?  Now, I'm curious!

Of course, I'm biased toward gray TB's..... These are my guys, just so you know why!

Winter grays: 

I've always been attracted to greys too.  I'm not much on color, I'm really more attractred to personality but there is something about a grey horse thats just striking.  Your boys are adorable!

So the vet is coming out tomorrow 1/31.  He is coming primarily to do a gastroscope, but I'll definitely be telling him all about my struggles.  He is also her chiropractor so he is already familiar with some of her issues.  I'll let you know if I find anything out.

 Great!  Inquiring minds want to know.....

Thanks for the remark on my guys.  You're right about "something about grays".  Both my guys are quite the characters and have a *presence* that I can't quite define that is different from other horses I have owned.  They know they're special? 

Here is a few things that come to mind that could cause these problems without knowing anything about your horse.

Bad saddle fit (could cause a great deal of the issues you are talking about)

Teeth needing to be floated (which would explain why she is better in the bitt less bridle)

Lime disease (very big here and causes similar problems)

These are the first things that came to me when I read your post. I think having the vet out is a really good idea. My advice is have a blood test done and make sure all her levels etc are normal.

Good luck!

It sounds to me like she might be overworked.  Now I have no idea what kind of schedule you have etc. but do you ever do trails or fun rides with other horses etc.  Does she get turnout or playtime with other horses.  Maybe you just gotta add some more fun to her work.

I agree with most on here, many times sudden behavior issues are related to pain and discomfort.

Her teeth should be checked out by a equine dentist. That wold be be my first guess. Also, a general checkup by a Vet. A good horse chiro is worth their weight in gold. Even a well fitting saddle can cause discomfort with a rigid tree inside, have you tried going treeless?

Burn out is also a big possibility, esp. if the horse is constantly being challenged, and there is never just plain' "funtime". Turnout, letting her be a horse, and sometimes going out there just to spend time, handwalk, trail ride etc. is important, too.

People get burnout too, if its all work and no play, esp. learning new things and being challenged nonstop...

Good luck with her, she is dropdead gorgeous !!!!!!!!!!!

Lu

Thanks so much everyone for all your help!  I really needed some support and encouragement.

I had the vet out today to check for ulcers and he found none, which is good and bad news.  Good b/c I don't have to pay for the treatments, but bad because it doesn't answer any questions.  He did take a blood sample to test for Lymes Disease, but I don't think he is very optimistic that it will reveal anything.  I'm not either.  I think you guys are probably right I have worked her too hard. 

She is my first horse, so I'm sure I have made some mistakes in her training, but I take better care of her than I do myself   Unfortunately she is a cribber, so she gets turned out 24/7.  She only comes in when she is being fed or when I'm getting ready to ride.  Her teeth were floated 2 weeks ago and the vet didn't notice anything major when he was there.  During the summer months I rode her out on hacks a great deal, but now the days are too short to leave the indoor after work and the conditions haven't been very nice to ride the trails.  Here in Upstate NY its been either lots of snow/ice or mud.  I can ride her on the roads, and I think I will start that this weekend. 

Although I love her to death, she probably wasn't the smartest choice for a first horse.  I know she has boat loads of potential, but I am definatley lacking in the "training of green OTTB mares" catagory.  I don't think either one of us is benefiting from this partnership.  She's frustrated and I'm exasperated (not to mention broke).  I just hope I can find a good home for her, she deserves the best.

Oh yeah, back to the whole saddle fit issue...

I have had at least 3 trainers, 1 saddle fitter, and a vet tell me that her top line is under developed.  I have been trying to do the "long and low" exercises to try to get her to use her back more, but now that I can't take up the contact its getting harder.  I also think that she probably has a bad memory of being asked to go round in a poor fitting saddle so she is afraid to use her back. 

I usually work with her 5-6 days a week usually for 30-45 mins at a time.  I think I will continue to lunge her with the side reins to encourage her to drop her head and use her back more while I'm not there to interfere with her, and do some trotting up hills on the weekends.  What do you guys think?  Too much work?