Backing help .. also in TR

H

hamandeggs

New User
Joined
5 February 2013
Messages
2
Visit site
Hi Everyone,

Not quite CT, but know there is a wealth of knowledge here an some of you don;t venture into the (what can be ) mad world of TR so hope you don't mind !

I need your advice .... so I am in the process (with the help of an instructor) of backing my gorgeous youngster ... all the ground work has been done, longreining, tack, leaning over etc all fine. Then we got on him, again all fine, for the first two times that is, walk and trot, quite relaxed with no issues, 3rd time as soon as asked to move away from mounting block he exploded and rider came off. Not sure what happened, he is genuinely frightened rather than 'get the helll off me'.

We have since then been leaning over him but he seems really frightened, tense and wants to bronc ! We have now progressed to walking him round with someone leaning over him but he is still really tense about it. So my question is .. what would you do ? Would you continue as is and gradually build up again to someone sitting on him, would you try a dummy perhaps or something else ?

All checks are done so no physical issues surrounding this one ... just looking to see if there is something that I am missing ...

Thanks all !
 
I personally hate dummies so wouldn't use one.

It is really hard to advise because you cannot afford to get this wrong, you may be being tentative and doing something to upset him, in which case I woudl suggest him going away to someone really experienced and absolutely guaranteed like Janet George.

I would absolutely not progress with him though till he is a bit bored & completely relaxed about you leaning over and walking round.
 
First of all (sorry if I missed this) how old is he?

If he is 3, I would just go back a step,lungeing, longreining etc , end on a good note - then turn him away til next year. Next year start again with lungeing groundwork etc and build up from there, hopefully all the things that upset him will have been forgotten and he will be more accepting and of course another year older and stronger.

On the stronger note, make sure he is well muscled before you try and get on him, as any weakness here will cause discomfort and make him tense.

Even if he is 4, I would still go back a step for now, then definitely seek professional help or use a good Natural Horsemanship person.

Hope this helps? Let us know how you get on. x
 
No advice, just wanted to say I did all the ground work with mine, had him walking and trotting but he started exploding, in a 'get off me I want to kill you' way... I didn't want to force the issue, so sent him to Janet George, and she and her staff are fantastic so would def reccomend if you wanted to go that route!
 
Personally I would send him to a true backing professional. I have with my one of mine this year who has an innocent bronc in her, (short coupled and a bit nervous) even tho i break in 3 or 4 a year my self I know she needs a real 'horseman' as I may come off which is the worse thing to do as scares them. it's caused the guy no problems he rides thru it, installs confidence in the horse and she has a beautiful mouth now because of it. No short cuts taken. Yes more money but worth it as NOW is the important part of a horses career. You have no when to ask for help. Never force the issue, keep forwards and never touch their mouths if they do have a bronc.
If you message me where you are I can recommend the guy I use. He is a genius.
 
I may have read it wrongly but were you trotting the 1st & 2nd time jockey was onboard ? personally I would not proceed this quickly, I make sure they are rock solid with mounting dismounting, walking forward and halting before I would introduce trot with a rider on board. You may have possibly gone to quickly if the horse seemed confident, I did have a young horse who was very nervous about the rider, I spent 3 weeks long reining and then 3 weeks laying over and quietly walking round with the person laying on him before we attempted to sit up, its a long slow process with some and best not hurried.
 
^^^ Ditto that, sorry but walk and trot, 2nd time rider was on board, is too quick imho. I'd just walk around only, I don't ask them to trot for days and days, maybe a week or two. If you go too fast you risk triggering their 'omg there's a predator on my back' response, which is what happened.
I would take the advice above and send him to a very patient Pro. Or, if you are determined to do it yourself, and have a good light jockey, I would go back to leaning over from mounting block, lightly slapping all over back and rump until no reaction anywhere, then leaning weight onto horse, having 'rider's' head and torso (while standing on mounting block) up above horse's back in the predator zone so he gets used to seeing someone there and realises it is not cause for alarm, then gently get on (I would prob say bareback), just stand, then get off again. Repeat, eventually walk forward a few paces, pat, get off. Tiny tiny baby steps. Eventually get to walking circles both ways. I only ask for trot IF horse knows the verbal command perfectly, you can't ask with legs on a just-backed horse, not yet, it can trigger them.
Good Luck, hope that helps. Hope jockey was fine after being decanted!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top