An eventful morning....

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ghostie

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So, today was the morning that my new boy was to get his new saddle - was all very excited to be able to get him out and about.

He came on Friday and is in isolation for three weeks so has only been out to be walked in hand and to be lunged during that time - bit of a shock to the poor thing given he was out 16 hours a day and ridden most days before.

So I expected him to be a little bit excitable - what I didn't expect was the minute I was in the saddle he took off at full pelt and bunny hopped himself around the arena. Got ourselves back under control, settled down and then when we went to trot the exact same thing happened again.

Don't think it was malicious, just excitable and cooped up, but I am a bit shaken given I'm pretty rusty having not ridden anything but sensible riding school horses in recent years and was very lucky not to come off. Also, he was sold as being suitable for a novice/young rider (which I'm not, just very rusty) so a bit more of a reaction than I would have thought, but I understand that a lot of upheaval and change can do funny things to a horse so I don't blame the seller.

On the bright side no harm done, we now have a saddle and the saddler was a complete sweetheart about the whole thing, but I'm feeling a bit shaken up and nervous about getting back on him tomorrow! I kept riding him for another 15 minutes after the final performance to settle him down and will lunge him tomorrow before I ride, but I suspect we will have repeat performances until he can be turned out - not much fun :(

Sorry, just feeling sorry for myself :(
 
I think a good lunge tomorrow is advisable, and every day until he is able to be turned out - he obviously needs to be out to get rid of his excess energy. Tomorrow will be a better day I'm sure
 
Definately lunge tomorrow first! If he's used to being turned out for most of the day and lately has been in he's bound to be feeling a bit fresh, and it is really windy today! Hopefully after he has had a few bucks etc on the lunge you can get on and start your relationship with him on the right footing, good luck :)
 
Maybe just lunge him for the next few days, see how he goes. Do lots of transitions as he'll find those more tiring and they won't get him as fit as running round in circles for twenty minutes will! Also try and do it twice a day if you can.

It's a big change for the lad, not only with having moved, but the change in management.

Also review his feed levels (any hard feed and haylage).
 
Poor you!!!!

yes, sounds like lots of lunging is in order before climbing on board tomorrow!! I hate changing saddles. I had a similar experience with a young horse years ago. Regardless of which professional I had out to fit a saddle and how much they believed something was perfect for him, the second I asked for trot he would explode into a bronking, bolting fit until he'd got you off or got you to bail out!! It was a nightmare, especially as I needed a dressage AND a GP for him! I still have a bit of a phobia of that time of year when the saddler comes to check and reflock my saddle... even though I now have a totally different horse who has never objected to his saddle!!

Good luck with your new boy. Don't you just wish you could skip the teething period and get on to the bit further down the line where you have bonded? I'm sure all will be fine once you have him in the routine you have planned x
 
Thanks guys, I'm feeling a bit better about it now :)

The thing is he's as good as gold on the lunge, not at all excitable! But I guess a good 20 minute session should wear him out a bit before I get on board.

In an ideal world I'd lunge in the morning and ride in the evening, but I can't get up there twice a day at the moment due to work (he's on full livery), although the livery staff are walking him out in hand for me in the afternoons.

I think I'll get a lesson booked in for the weekend so that if we're still having problems then they can help sort me out.

Christmaspixie - that's really interesting, I wonder if my boy was upset by the feel of having a rider on with a new saddle - presumably it must feel very different to them with a different saddle.

Deep breaths.....
 
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