http://www.flickr.com/photos/7196868@N0 ... datetaken/
Okay, hopefully I haven't broken any rules here, but that link above SHOULD take you to an aerial pic of Clairwood...I've colour coded (very badly) the 2 different tracks we work on, and the openings etc.
ummm...I don't even know what "tarping is" so can't comment on that. I do have a very firm belief though that brute force/sever physical discipline is an absolute LAST resort...and in all honesty, IMO, if it's gone that far then really, it's best to just retire the horse... things should NEVER be allowed to get as bad as that, which is why I posted my cry for help in the first place!!!:)
He could very well be bored, and I have mentioned this on several occasions...I believe that Taps is pretty intelligent, and changing his routine as often as possible would probably do him the world of good, unfortunately though there aren't many options available in that regard.
Yes, I'm pretty certain that both testicles were removed, but again, I'll have to get our vet to check that out too.
I said in my previous post that Taps has always been a little bit punchy - he would "stick up" going to work, but never anything HALF as dramatic as what it's become now, and we would usually just get a spare hand - usually myself - to lead him out the ring, then he would trot off quite happily (in the company of another horse). All that's happening now is more than likely a development of what was happening then, but since he seemed to quiet down after moving to Clairwood we never thought anything of it, until all this!
But having said that, i do agree with BJ> 9 times out of 10 there IS a physical problem when a horse suddenly starts misbehaving for no apparent reason...I've seen it often myself. Our vet did look at the horse this morning, and he couldn't find anything obvious, but I never thought to ask about the gelding, so when my vet comes again on tuesday ill ask him, and ill also take blood and see about maybe scoping the horse.
I also agree that trying to force horses to work through their pain is NOT the right way to go...got to find the problem first, sometimes horses who have been hurt in the past suffer from "phantom" pain....We've had several horses come from yards where they've been abused, and even though now they're physically sound and healthy, they still remember the pain. a good example is one filly, she was raced ALOT as a juvenile, even though she was so sore (her trainer was to skint to get the vet) so anyway, in her last juvie race she chipped both front knees...the b****** raced her again 2 weeks later, and - surprise surprise - she refused to jump...and only THEN did he decide to send her away....to cut a long story short, the filly eventually ended up with us - she's now 4 and has won 3 races for us....purely because we look after her and don't "grass" her or anything like that....but to this day she's exceptionally difficult in the gates, and i believe it's because she "remebers" the pain of racing...so as a result she'll be retired at the end of march...her owners (who absolutely adore her *not the ones who had her originally*) want to give her one more run....i must stress the fact that she is 100% sound in her knees - we have our vet to check them regularly, and she's always had up to 14 days after a run where she's just been handwalked or put in a paddock.
back to Taps, will post a pic of him tomorrow....
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"But i don't want to go among mad people." Said Alice.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the cat. "We're all mad here."
wow...never expected such a response/debate!!!
They think they have a sense of humor and like to make sure the boy is paying attention, and ate his Wheaties that day. But I think that is a sign they are feeling good, not upset or hurting. And a firm but KIND hand, and well balanced boy, will handle that just fine. No need for taking the fun out of the process for the horse, as some might suggest.
Sounds like you already knew what to do, but just needed verification of your own instincts! 
