Backing Advice Needed Please

mitters

mitters

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Last September I bought a TB x WB gelding, he has just turned 3. I have spent a lot of time doing ground work, lunging etc with no problems. Three weeks ago I got on him for the first time. He was totally relaxed and stood still while I was given a leg up. We walked around on both reins with rein and leg contact with no problems at all and he was relaxed and happy. I have repeated this a couple more times with no problems so last weekend decided I would use the stirrup and mounting block to get on rather than a leg up. Big mistake. He freaked out with me half on, I managed to jump back off and settle him down again. He then became very weary of me standing on the mounting block and everytime he thinks my helper is going to give me a leg up he runs sideways.

So the last couple of sessions I have lunged him as usual first, then practised getting on and off the block and making him stand still, which after a few attempts he is fine and stands like a soldier while I get on and off the block and put my arm with a bit of pressure across the saddle. But the problem is actually getting on him. We spent an hour last night practising on and off the block and he was so relaxed he looked like he was going to fall asleep! However, soon as he sees my helper going to leg me up he moves away. I think he is a little worried, but I also think he is starting to take the mick! I’ve tried standing him against the side of the school, but then he just goes backwards.

Unfortunately although I have ridden and competed for the last 20 years, I have never backed a youngster so this is all a bit alien to me and I am unsure of what I should do next. I feel I have gone back to square one (standing on the block with him relaxed) and the next step is to actually get on him, but I really don’t know how I can get him to stand so I can do this. I can’t afford to send him away to a professional, plus it is something I was hoping to do myself.

So, can anyone offer any advice?! Or maybe know of anyone experienced in the West Sussex area who would come out and give me some ‘lessons’?

Sorry for the long story!
 
Speak to JanetGeorge on here.

But you've frightened him by the sounds of it. Whilst you were being legged up you weren't higher than him. The minute you got on the mounting block your head was higher than his - hence freaking out.

Back to square one.
 
We backed a pony just like this, who's "funny side" happened to be the side you mount on at. The way we fixed it was we got on and off him in the stables each day about 10-15 times, when he finally perfected it, we'd get off and leave him to it, rewarding him with his bucket of food. Then we finally moved the mounting to outside the stable, again leaving him alone if he got it right, and finally down the school. Now he's perfect. It takes a while, but it did work, so it might be worth a try?
 
amymay said:
Speak to JanetGeorge on here.

But you've frightened him by the sounds of it. Whilst you were being legged up you weren't higher than him. The minute you got on the mounting block your head was higher than his - hence freaking out.

Back to square one.
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I was being legged up from the mounting block, so the same height as when i tried using the stirrup. But yes i have frightened him, i think by putting my weight in the strirrup rather than evenly over his back like when i was legged up.

To be honest, i'm not entirly sure where square one is. He is completly comfortable lunging in his tack, and with me getting on and off the mouting block, so where do i go back to?
 
GrumpyMare said:
We backed a pony just like this, who's "funny side" happened to be the side you mount on at. The way we fixed it was we got on and off him in the stables each day about 10-15 times, when he finally perfected it, we'd get off and leave him to it, rewarding him with his bucket of food. Then we finally moved the mounting to outside the stable, again leaving him alone if he got it right, and finally down the school. Now he's perfect. It takes a while, but it did work, so it might be worth a try?
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I hadn't thought about trying it in his stable, but i would be a bit worried about the person holding him getting trampled! Our stables are 12 x 12 and he is 16hh so there wouldn't be much room. But it would perhaps make it easier to get on when he has less room to move away
 
Have you gone back to basics with 2 of you standing there? So instead of it just being one person standing over him, patting him, feeding him carrots from the mounting block do it with 2 people. When he is fine with that build up to being legged upwards but not over so you just go upa nd down at the side of him - repeat until he is bored / used to that. Then build up to getting on. I'm no expert but maybe doing the ground work you've already done but with 2 people so your helper doesn't worry him when you are going to get legged up.
 
mitters said:
I hadn't thought about trying it in his stable, but i would be a bit worried about the person holding him getting trampled! Our stables are 12 x 12 and he is 16hh so there wouldn't be much room. But it would perhaps make it easier to get on when he has less room to move away
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Oh goodness please don't try and back him in the stable - I've been roped into helping someone with that before I knew any better and I was terrified the whole time that this great big TB was gonig to squash one of us against a wall or the jockey would get launched and we'd all end up under her feet with no way of getting out.
 
I really don't know if this will help, but I did a kind of "alternative" way...

- used a sack on his back, gradually made more heavy, and gradually added stirrup leathers then the stirrups, holding it all on both sides so he got used to sommit on his sides..
- used an umbrella to get him used to something being "above him" - this took a while !
- jumped up and down at his side, putting more pressure on his back each time.
- practiced lining up at the mounting block, lying over gently (held by hubs) further each time - while he was bareback. In fact I did it all bareback (couldn't afford a saddle at that point *sigh*)
- finally went for the full monty, but laid right down along his neck, did this for a good few days before trying to sit up.
- then tried the walking round, first with me lying down (and being led!) then finally sitting up.
- I introduced the saddle three months later on christmas day !! :D

I hope any of that helps. I think the key is patience and trying to understand what's going on in the horse's head. sm xx
 
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Walrus said:
Oh goodness please don't try and back him in the stable - I've been roped into helping someone with that before I knew any better and I was terrified the whole time that this great big TB was gonig to squash one of us against a wall or the jockey would get launched and we'd all end up under her feet with no way of getting out.
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I'm sorry but if the horse was like that then he was not ready, he hadn't been prepared properly.
Having done it for more years than I care to remember, I've never had a problem at all with backing in a stable because the horses were well prepared to begin with. You just take your time and do things methodically; each step takes as long as it takes, it's not something to hurry or cut corners on.
 
Can you not practice with a mobile mounting block & just use that to get on without putting a foot in the stirrup till you are on?
That's how I just backed mine, didn't have a leg up and won't till he's more established and wouldn't put weight on one side by putting foot in stirrup either.
Just get him to stand quietly by the mounting block, stand on it. Do the same from the other side, then quietly swing your leg over and into the saddle. Then proceed with riding away.
 
How big is your mounting block? Can you jump up and accross the saddle? (without attempting to get right on at this stage.) If so, keep your helper at horse's head and first, jump up and down beside him on the mounting block. Once he's happy with that, jump up and across the saddle - pt him on the off side. Just keep repeating until he's happy, THEN move around from that position until you can put your leg over. Between EVERy attempt, stop and pat him.

When he's happy with this, stand at the mounting block and put some weight in the stirrup (with your hand). Reach over with the other hand and pat him. Just keep trying SMALL steps - and don'tgo ANY further until he is relaxed.
 
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