Warm up blanket issue...?

Oka, I have a 15 y.o TB who has a few issues...


He has iffy hips sometimes... in order to keep him ride able he needs to always have warm hips. I have a warm up cooler [with the cut away saddle area] but he will only walk with it. Once we trot he freaks out and gets to be terrible. He is FINE with other blankets being on him, even in turnout when he’s running like mad...





Any ideas on how to get him de sensitized? I need to ride 5 times a week, and it’s COLD. I don’t want him to get lame and be on stall rest because then he would be dangerous.





Also, he has an issue with bell boots, when trotting they hit each other and it drives him CRAZY! But he over reaches when doing the extended trot... Any idea about this?





Finally, we’ve [my trainer and I] decided that he is claustrophobic. We can’t ride in the small indoor arena with the door closed because he worries himself to death and trips, falls, bucks, anything and everything... Any ideas about this one?

Warm up blanket issue...?
I would lunge him with the blanket you use when you are on on him. If it's one that Velcros in front, you can put the sides of it under the flap of the saddle to prevent it from flying off. If he doesn't have an issue with it then, perhaps it's something you are doing when you ask him to move into the trot that is causing him to be upset. Horses that have had some bad experiences with people really need everything you can give them to regain their trust and build confidence. Check your saddle fit as well. I answered a question some time ago about withers and backs and put how to check if it is correct in that answer. As for the bell boots, I had a horse who had the same problem. They make a boot that is specifically for overreaching. It fits a little tighter than a bell boot, is not rubber, and has a wedge in the back to help prevent turning. They don't do well when wet so they aren't good as a turn out boot, but they may help when riding.
Reply:have you had a chiropractor out to look at him? have you tried lunging him prior to riding to help loosen him up? what about joint supplements? how are his feet? are his toes too long? if his toes are too long, that can cause your over reaching. also misaligned hips can cause over reaching as well.





have you had his eyes checked? the problem with the indoor arena and the doors shut could be because of bad eye sight.





add- i would still have a chiropractor check him, especially since he is an ottb.
Reply:I would lounge him with a pessoa lounging rig and let him trot for awhile to get him loosened up. We have a horse that bucks when he's cold , if you lounge him, voila, no bucking.





He should be able to deal with bell boots, make him live in them and he should get used to them; they really shouldn't be an issue.





If you lounge him with the doors closed would that help him get used to it? Maybe he's better with another horse in there with him? Good luck.



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