Why does my horse do this?

[J.Everheart]

My horse is an OTTB who has the opposite problem of most ex-racers. He won't go! Yesterday we started out on a ride and we got a little ways down the road. He walked slower and slower until he finally came to a complete stop. He stopped in the middle of a dirt road and just stood there. He didn't seem scared; he was just looking around. I squeezed with my legs, slapped his rump, and used every other "GO" signal I could think of, but nothing. We sat there for at least 5 minutes. Finally, a car came and I had to hop off and lead him away. I know I lost the battle of wills by dismounting and rewarding the behavior, but I had no choice because of the car! Any ideas why my horse is doing this? Any ideas on how to get him to move his feet?

[Barbara F.]

Hmmm, were you alone? What is your regular routine? Does your horse stop in the middle of schooling sessions, or just when you try to leave the barn area? Will he follow another horse?
Let me know and I'll try to help you!:)

[J.Everheart]

Yes, we were alone. I have only had him for a couple months, so I'm still learning his quirks. The only other time he's done this, I asked him to go through a wide gate that he's been through tons of times. He just stopped dead in his tracks and wouldn't move. My friend had to take the bridle and lead him through. The funny thing is, he does not have a problem with narrow spaces usually, and the gate wasn't even narrow. I think he was just "done" and wanted to go back to the barn.
This time we were alone when he stopped. He could see his buddies in the pasture, but he wasn't calling to them or acting particularly interested in them. He didn't show any signs of being scared.
I don't know if he'll follow other horses because I've never ridden him in a group before.
Thanks so much for your input!

[J.Everheart]

Oh also, we were well away from the barn when he stopped, but I think he knew we were headed to the trail. On our last trail ride, I made him face his fear of mud puddles. I didn't make him step in them, just made him stand still and face the puddle before I let him turn around. Maybe he remembered and didn't want to go there again?

[Bernd]

hm,
I don't know your experience level. It could just be that a more experienced rider wouldn't have the problem;- but:
if I were you I would call a vet to check the horse.
I don't know the English words for it, but a horse stopping in movements after some time of riding, refusing to move any further can have an issue with his muscular norishment. This is a painful thing and makes horses refuse to walk. It can be deadly or demage the horse to a point that it cannot be used anymore.
Its easy for a vet to check and hence won't cost much.- just to make sure

[Lallanslover]

What you're refering to is usually called Tying up.
Tying up in horses is also called azoturia, rhabdomyolysis, rhabdomyelosis, monday morning disease, paralytic myoglobinuria, myositis, setfast, cramps, equine exertional rhabdomyolosis (EER), EERS, ERS, metabolic myopathies, market day disease, snow disease, frost disease, polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSM) and probably quite a few other names!

Tying up or azoturia is a muscle metabolism problem. The muscles over the loins and the quarters harden, with cramps and stiffness. The stride becomes shorter, the horse may stagger behind and go lame. The horse may refuse to work. The horse may collapse if work is continued. The temperature is usually raised, and there may be sweating. In severe cases the myoglobin released from the damaged muscles turns the urine dark red or brown.

I'm guessing, in this case, that it's a training issue, but I'd also recommend having the vet check the horse out just to be sure...(be aware that diagnosis of the condition of tying-up or azoturia may be difficult and can be confused with other conditions which have similar symptoms).

[V]

What are you feeding him? How old is he? How fit? How long have you had him? Do you carry a crop or wear spurs?

[Alexis Alice Sachs]

Just want to note this to make you feel better I have an OTTB who is extremely lazy. And he won on the track he has just decided moving isn't what he wants to do anymore. There is nothing physically wrong with him he's just lazy.
Also I would recommend next time he does it and as a last resort you end up walking back, since you know its letting him win, dont go to the barn go to the ring or somewhere and work his butt. You really dont want him thinking I win. Just show him we either go out for a relazing ride or we hang here at the barn and you WORK!!! That is probally one of the problems he thinks when you go back to the barn you are done, make him think that is not the case. It might help. Good luck!!!!

[J.Everheart]

Thank you! There is definitely nothing physically wrong with him. He acts like a Grand Prix dressage horse in the pasture! And that is great advice about taking him back to the barn and making him work. Then he won't be winning after all!

[DLW & Excell Warmbloods (Renee)]

lunging, or round penning him is also a good way to see what he is doing from the ground point of view. It also insures that you are the boss and his refusing to go forward is an act of disobiedience and you need to get control of your situation before it gets worse, right know he is only stopping what is next bolting and running back to the barn with or without you risking himself you and perhaps others. I agree with that making him work when he thinks he is going back to the field is a way to insure this. and you also mentioned that you have only had him a few months and don't know much about him. I have an OTTB he is 18 know but I have done dressage and show jumping on him, he had the opposite problem I had to take him to a trainer in the end mind you I was 14 and not experienced to handle a horse quiet like that before. It is an avasive manouver and should be stopped know. Good luck and I am sure everything will work out great. There are lots of books yuo can read as well John Lyyons is a good one if you need to go back to the basics with him. good luck

[J.Everheart]

I rode him yesterday and he did it again, just stopped when he got in sight of his buddies in the pasture. I figured out that whacking him on the shoulder with the reins get him moving again. I whacked him hard and he turned around and looked at me like, "What the hell, Mom?" but then he started moving again. It's definitely a training issue. I think ground work is going to be the key to earning his respect. Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it!

[Rebecca Franklin]

I have also had my ottb for a couple of months. I went through a stage of always carring my crop (his was a rearing issue, not a stopping issue) I would spend more time in the arena if you have one and just not let him get away with anything. I used my crop as a last resort. He is probably trying you out and if he has wins you are going to have more problems in the future. Once you are confident he is listening to everything you ask. Venture out again and make sure you have someone with you. Everytime Merlot starts playing up, I go back and grab my crop again. Carrying it seems to be enough now. just my thoughts.

[sandy best]

Alot of track horses work with blinkers or running cups during their daily workouts and racing. Blinds, blinkers and cups were invented for a reason. Maybe your horse is one of them.