Backing a tricky youngster

[ABC]

Hello

As most of my previous posts suggest I have a very talented, but very tricky youngster.

I won't bore you with all his past history but now I can ride him bareback with no problems, but I mainly stick to walk with the odd trot because sitting on a bony 16.3/17 hand thoroughbred is rather uncomfortable.

However he won't let me get on with a saddle. I've now had 4 saddle fitters out to fit saddles and I've never felt that the saddles sat right on his withers.

Anyway to cut a long story short I've now found an old leather jumping saddle and a synthetic dressage saddle that fit him like a glove, and he know longer contests to have his saddle on.

I dont feel 100% confident just mounting him because I think he'll freak out so I've been making him stand next to the mounting block whilst I lean over him with all my body weight on and he isn't reacting at all, which is a step in the right direction

Anyway, my plan was to continue to do this every night for 10/15 minutes, and then at the weekend get my OH to lead him around a few times whilst I'm leaning over his back.

After then what is the best step? I wont rush him one bit, if he isnt confident then I'll go back a step until he is.

I've tried sending him away to be backed twice and he's been returned to me after the 2nd week on both occasions because he's not the easiest to handle if he doesnt respect you.

I've also tried to find an instructor but I can't find any instructor that will travel on a regular basis and I have no transport.

I was thinking I could try and ask a good, talented rider to try and get on him (obviously pre-warn them etc) but I dont think that will help my horse, because he wont become more confident etc.

Anyway, any advice greatly appreciated

 

[Spotsrock]

Talented rider v your bond with horse?

I'd just carry on lying over him then slide your leg over, keep your body low and relaxed and he should be fine from what you say, don't ask anything then get off. Repeat for a few days sitting there a while then get someone to lead him a little.

Good luck, you got this far.

 

[ABC]

Thanks

At the moment I have his bridle on him, with a headcollar over the top and a neckstrap on. When I have been leaning over him I've barely been touching his reins because he's very sensitive and I wouldnt want to jab him in the mouth.

Do you think I should keep using no contact, even when I try and slide my leg over?

Thanks, I think it's just a matter of time, confidence and patience

 

[Cop-Pop]

I'd see what he's like when you get on him with your OH around then go from there

 

[Archiepoo]

you could be describing my youngster!!! ive got to the same stage and have no idea if i should put my leg over or not,ive paid someone he didnt know to come and ride him for me and he exploded -she went flying and broke a rib! he doesnt trust anyone but me and as ive done all the work since he came back a wreck from being broken in .ive already had one bucking episode on him and i had to bail off , so im really reluctant to get on him again.(hes had his back/teeth/ saddle all done to make sure and im now back to leaning over him with a neck strap, and a balance strap on the saddle ready to hold on to just in case but im wimping out! i know if im nervous i shouldnt get on because hes very sensitive but no one else can get near him! (ive had him since a foal-hes now 6)

 

[teamsarazara]

Just keep doing what your doing! You didn't say if anyone is helping you but what we do with youngsters is lie across them evenly and ask them to walk on(someone leading them), that way its easy just to slide of if need be!

 

[ABC]

Just keep doing what your doing! You didn't say if anyone is helping you but what we do with youngsters is lie across them evenly and ask them to walk on(someone leading them), that way its easy just to slide of if need be!

Ive been doing it on my own but only with him standing still. Planning on doing what you describe this weekend

 

[ABC]

you could be describing my youngster!!! ive got to the same stage and have no idea if i should put my leg over or not,ive paid someone he didnt know to come and ride him for me and he exploded -she went flying and broke a rib! he doesnt trust anyone but me and as ive done all the work since he came back a wreck from being broken in .ive already had one bucking episode on him and i had to bail off , so im really reluctant to get on him again.(hes had his back/teeth/ saddle all done to make sure and im now back to leaning over him with a neck strap, and a balance strap on the saddle ready to hold on to just in case but im wimping out! i know if im nervous i shouldnt get on because hes very sensitive but no one else can get near him! (ive had him since a foal-hes now 6)

Tbh I think you should do it yourself Im a wimp too, so we can both be wimps together

Honestly, just take it slowly, its took 3 or 4 months for my lad to let me lie fully on him but its so rewarding.

I'm aiming for a prelim test next year, thats my motivation

Feel free to PM me about wimping out, it'll be nice to have someone who feels the way I do

Oh and good luck with your youngster!

 

[teamsarazara]

Ive been doing it on my own but only with him standing still. Planning on doing what you describe this weekend

normally once you get to that point your off! While your doing it, pat him all over, pat the saddle until he doesnt bother!

 

[ABC]

normally once you get to that point your off! While your doing it, pat him all over, pat the saddle until he doesnt bother!

How do you progress from leaning over, to actually sitting on? without them freaking out?

Thanks, I've discovered polos are my friend

 

[Archiepoo]

Thanks its good to have wimpy friend! im extra wimpy cos ive had back surgery and really shouldnt be riding anything that bucks-, ive always backed my horses before but its just typical its this horse as i just cant sell him cos hes my baby and so tricky- and i cant afford to keep him on livery if i cant ride him! im just going to have to have a whisky tomorrow and do it!!!

 

[ABC]

Haha, you'll have to let me know how you get on

Other than a 12h pony he is the first horse I'll have backed

 

[Archiepoo]

gulp! yes but as i said all jokes aside its getting expensive to keep 3 horses on livery -2 of which i cant ride! i also have an 8yr old tb who lives to jump (by commanche run) who im going to sell hoping my wimpy boy comes good! will keep you posted as to how i do!

 

[ABC]

I sold the three I could ride, to keep the one I couldnt

Love him to pieces though, wouldnt change him for the world.

Good luck!

 

[D66]

When you lean over the saddle do you have to keep still and quiet for him to behave? If so I would practice moving about, wriggling and slapping the saddle and his sides to test his reaction before sliding a leg over. Start off by banging the stirrup leathers against his side, gently at first working up to quite vigorously. When you are leaning across you are better placed to slide off and land on your feet if he reacts badly.
Also I would stand on the mounting block and fuss/touch him, (fidget with a rug or numnah or brush his mane and back), so that he gets used to you being above and behind him.
When he is used to all the movement and banging around you should be more confident about sitting on him.
Good Luck.

 

[foxy1]

I've had some very sharp ones to back, when you get to this stage it helps to have someone lead you around and very firmly tell them no and keep the head up if they try to get the head down and bronc. Keep watching his eyes and ears and only walk a few steps if he gets tense, stop and give him a scratch and walk on again when he's relaxed.

I'd give him a good lunge before you do this, and make sure your groundwork is 100% first.

 

[animalreflections]

Is he reacting to the saddle or the girth?

 

[teamsarazara]

if you have sat on him bareback? then sitting on him with a saddle shouldnt be much different once you have leaned over his back etc. If there is a problem then id say there is more likely to be an issue with saddle/back etc.

 

[lcharles]

lol *had visions of previous experience*

I once backed my friends 11.2hh pony because the pro's couldn't, he was never going to be a 'childs pony' but owner wouldn't listen so tried to help her by backing it. Once he was used to having the tack on, he was lunged with the tack on, lunged with tack on and stirrups down - so he got used to the stirrups tapping his sides - totally freaked him out to start with but got used to it then leant over him for a while, leant over him whilst on the lunge which he accepted very quickly, then sat on him - very quietly, any sudden movement would send him flying, did this for quite a long time until he relaxed, started with his little tiny ears nearly in my face, very tense and alert to then lowering his head, lots of calm praising - patting this pony was too much, sent him flying so calm voices, shoulder strokes and being still with breathing out chilled him out!(trying to stay on a little pony with no neck is hard!) x


He was soooo sensitive to any movement whilst in the saddle had to opt for attaching a variety of objects to his saddle, 'de-sensitising' of such!! he had plastic bags tied to his saddle, bells, stirrups down, anything within reason was tied to his saddle on the lungeline until he was happy......then i could progress to riding him. Had to do hundreds of walk, trot transitions to keep him listening, lots of soft praises and for short periods. He's now a happy hacker - which is all the owner wants of him, he was saved from the meatman and is a fairly sweet pony now! x

Of course, this is not a professional approach!! lol but it worked for him and now he's spook proof!! lol x

Patience, persistance and praise is the ways forwards. Nice to hear you dont want to rush him x Well done for your work so far xx

 

[Headpiece]

just to add, apart from the other sensible stuff you are doing, i would get him used to you using the reins from the ground. If you use your reins whilst riding him for the first few times you are inviting problems - at the least him pulling and resisting on his mouth, or worse.

The best way to get them used to rein aids is long reining - from the cavesson first and then progressing onto the reins, or if you dont like that, leading him in a bridle and using the reins a little to invite bend or halt, until he accepts them.

ive done a few difficult ones, just take your time and trust your instincts.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Sounds like you are going the right way, just one morning let Oh hold him and leg you up and over, if he's happy for you to lean over,go the next step, but don't try and walk him until he is use to you on his back and than only for a few steps and make a fuss over him, so he knows that he has done something that made you happy. Try and find a saddlepad or a saddle that fits but let him get use to having it on his back before your try and mount him, sometimes just taking the time works wonders, I've never rushed a youngster.

 

[ABC]

The saddle he was supposedly backed in didn't fit him and it caused a lot of muscular damage as well as physiological. Vet and physio are 100% positive he is healthy but he is still very wary of the saddle.

I'll definitely take up a lot of the advice offered on this thread and I'll post another thread in a few days, either saying I sat on him or I'm lay in hospital

Thanks again

 

[Archiepoo]

lol me too! my boy was sent to a pro and a badly fitted saddle was used on him too(he has an incredibly wide spine) so i think that was his main problem too,it took a lot of work to get him through it -he kicked the physio full out in the chest-thankgod hes unshod!! he had major trust issues and the only way i can lean on his back is to make a chute for him to stand in so he cant turn his back end away from me.hes fine with the tack now and i have done de-sensitising work with throwing ropes all over him and i bang the saddle and flap the stirrups, he wont lunge because hes afraid of the lunge line, but i do feel like were as far as we can go on the ground now,im going to get my foot in the stirrup tomorrow and put weight in it to see what he thinks of that. i was going to use a dummy made from tracksuit bottoms filled with rags and soaked to get some weight tied to the saddle -but hes afraid of that too!

 

[Foxhunter49]

I always work from a tall mounting block, this enables me to fiddle around whilst they are standing alongside it.
I will flap the stirrups, fiddle with the girth and lean into them prior to leaning over them. A tall mounting block allows you to lean over without any problems.
I will also get them use to weight in the stirrup first from me pulling the stirrup whilst on the ground and then from the block with my foot.
When they are happy with this I will lean over and just let them wander around the yard. Then I will put my foot into the iron and slip onto them as they are wandering.

I never ride a just backed horse in an arena. I find that they suddenly think about what is going on and you are more likely to get an adverse reaction. I take them straight out on the roads and tracks. They will have been along these with me either leading them from another horse or, long reining them. Out they are looking at other things and do not worry about the rider.

With the horse that has been messed up I will expect it to take a lot longer, each step has to be established and the horse totally relaxed with it all.

Accept small relaxed steps (as in progress not strides) lots of scratching and words of praise. I am sure you will get there in the end but always be safe.

 

[ABC]

Thanks I have a big mounting block, when I'm stood on it he looks like a 11h pony but I use it all the time, I put rugs on him when he's stood their, groom him whilst he's stood next to it etc, so he's used to me towering above him.

Tbh I think once he's comfortable with me leaning over him and him being led around then I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and sit on. He's not nasty, just frightened, but his saddle fits and I'm not too heavy.

I was just planning on walking him around his field for the first few days, when I can fully sit on, and then going for small, short hacks.

Thanks again, I'm excited