Advice needed with new horse...........

Halfpass

Halfpass

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Ok so we have only had Spike since Sunday but I really want to start getting him into a routine with his work so would like some advice please.
He has just had about 8 weeks off work due to his old owner being unable to ride after a fall. We were told by his owner that she bought him unbacked a dn backed him herself in December last year. He is a 5 year old ID x TB.
We bought him knowing that he had issues with mounting and are hoping that this will be easily resolvable.
We had been palnning on going back to basics as if he wasn't backed ie teaching him to stand at the mounting block etc etc.
He apparently long rein s and I have seen him lunge,
My issue at the moment is that he is just so nervous we put a bridle on him and he was fine but tried to put the roller on and he jumped 2 foot the opposite way!!!
You can not even stand on a bucket next to him without him panicking!!
He took off on the lunge yesterday (not his fault he got spooked) then stood in the middle of the school shaking as if he was waiting for someone to beat him up.
Poor sod I really think he may have been badly treated in the past, whenever he thinks he has done something wrong he looks terrified.
If anyone can give any advice on dealing with this kind of horse I would really greatfull. I am aware that we need him to trust us and that we have only had him a couple of days but I really want us to start on the right foot!!
 
This is going to be a long process by the sounds of things. I would let him get used to you initially, get him leading happy and confidently from you, then proceed to lungeing him with someone leading him, once he is happily walking and trotting get the person to take him off the lead and still stay by there side. Do the same with longreining as you did with lungeing. It will take a while but once you start to gain his trust and confidence you'll really progress
 
would def not try to ride for a while yet, he needs to get to know you and the yard and sounds like he may have some issues to sort out first, even with an established horse moving to a new yard is a big deal and they need time to settle. do lots of bonding exercises with him, grooming, going in the field taking him treats, even gentle in hand walks in quiet areas would help, also is his back ok, might be worth just checking if its sore, maybe thats why he flinched at the roller?
 
Personally in your shoes, I wouldn't try to do any sort of work with him for at least a week.

I would just let him get used to you and his new surroundings. I would bring him in twice a day for a small feed and a fiddle with and then turn him back out. He sounds very nervous, and allowing him the time to adjust and learn some trust will help enormously. Rushing things may just make it all go pear shaped.

Brush him, pick his feet out. Comb his mane, introduce a smaller object than a bucket to stand on - and then gradually get higher objects, until you can stand on the bucket and brush his back - and lean on him etc.

Sounds like the poor lad needs to go back to square one and start afresh. An interesting challenge, that I'm sure you're more than up to.

Maybe I am over cautious - but slowly, slowly catchy monkey for me......
 
Poor pony. Just keep doing what you need to and don't creep around him, treat it all as totally normal. Don't try to do too much all in one go.
 
I would spend a week or so getting to know him, make friends with him, grooming etc as AmyMay said.

Its better to take things slowly with a horse like this, he needs reassuring, and overfacing him will just make matters worse.

It sounds like he has had a bad start bless him.
 
As AmyMay says take it easy. Trust is crucial. If this is a horse for life then you have all the time in the world. Sometimes the ground work is more satisfying than the ridden work. One day he'll completely trust you and it'll be worth the wait. Enjoy building a bond it never breaks!
 
I've taken on a few of these souls. Each one needs different handling, but the first thing is to get them to see you as their rock - so he knows what you will and won't expect of him in every situation, and what he can expect of you.
Then just listen to him and progress at his speed. If something seems to work for the pair of you then don't worry if it's not very conventional, or not quite going in the order you expected.
You'll get there, but it's time, patience, boundaries and loads of love. Good luck!
 
I agree with Amymay, just let him chill for the 1st week, let him watch and get used to the yard and you.
I would also go right back to basics...maybe just taking 1 day at a time...get him to completely trust you by just rewarding him for standing quietly while brushing, treats for letting you catch him etc...I would also use my hands alot of the time, just gently rubbing over his back along his back end and over his neck, and face so he gets used to you and has to learn to turst you....I did this with my boy as I tried to lunge him early and he went mad, reared and ran off....he is now so good..I can ride him on his own, through heavy traffic and gallop in open spaces...it has taken about a year to get to this so patience is the key.
I wish you the best of luck....long reining and lunging is the best thing really and lots of talking...:0)
Also is there another horse he could maybe walk out with etc...a schoolmaster..?
This would help him to watch the horse and feel comfortable too.
 
have you ever actually seen him ridden?
i knew a farmer once who sent a shetland to a new home for a kid to ride, it had literally only been backed the same day and it went as safe for a kid
 
I would do as Amymay suggests.

Just feed, groom, scratches and placing hands all over him. Let him get to know you - lots of fuss and if he is not a nippy sort, the odd bit of carrot when he comes to you so he associates you with being a nice and place to be.

I would treat him as if never handled and start from scratch - get him used to a bridle, being led and take everything very slowly.

Chancer has always been led by me to the mounting block and asked to stand, and then a second person holds him and talks to him and keeps him in place. I have now made the huge step of being able to lead him to the block and mount without assistance and him stand still and square.

Before that, I used to stand on my grooming kit and then a stool to groom him so he got used to me standing on something by him.

Do everything slowly but don't creep around him, be confident and treat everything as normal and par for the course. Lots of groundwork - getting him used to bags, poles and most of all trusting that you will always look after him and keep him safe.

So far this has worked very well for my little Stinker.
 
Poor boy
crazy.gif

I would give him some time to settle in and established in his routine. Get to know him and get him relaxed in your company before you ask anything of him. I would forget everything you have been told about him and start him right from the beginning the right way.
Good luck with him.
 
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