Backing - WWYD

LaurenyLou

LaurenyLou

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Lovely mare, brief background: Brought as a 3yo from a dealer. Unknown history. Owner had a ''trainer'' come in when the mare was 4. Did all the desens. work, sat on then one day mare just decided to rear when ''trainer'' was on board (at immobility) and was pulled backwards onto a fence...

Needless to say owner said bye bye trainer, and put mare out for a year to forget about it all.

Mare now 5, and came to me a little while ago. Was very nervy, and horse orientated (more so than your average). Had no regard for people. Did plenty of groundwork, and gained respect and understanding. Then moved onto tack and desens work. All happy, going well. Used a weighted sack (20kg).

Seemed ready so started leaning and sitting - fine. Last few days we have been moving onwards. However today, she had enough. Bronked across the school and had me off a number of times. Removed saddle (fitted professionally) and used a rope halter eventually. And neck strap. Still not happy, so went back to densenitising and leaning. Made a fuss and put her back.

I am not feeling getting back on tomorrow as landed square on my head a few times and felt it down to my hips..

Options for tomorrow are to forget about today and go back again. But as the vet has cleared all issues, saddle fits etc I am tempted to get someone lighter (ideally who hasn't just had a c sec too!) to get back on and sit it out (as we used to do when we had ponies!).

I know it is hard without seeing how she reacts, but WWYD? YO is a professional and has suggested the latter..
 
I am not going to offer advice on a backing / riding away issue on a horse I have never seen but will say this behaviour is not normal and the worse thing you can do with a backing hiccup is turn the horse away with out working out what went wrong.
I would ask you to seek help on the ground as soon as possible from someone who specialises in backing and riding away the horses whole future depends on you turning this around.
And I would also get a vet check to rule out back , teeth etc etc.
 
It wouldn't surprise me if someone had tried to break her and failed before she came from the dealer at 3.
 
LaurenyLou said:
Seemed ready so started leaning and sitting - fine. Last few days we have been moving onwards. However today, she had enough. Bronked across the school and had me off a number of times. Removed saddle (fitted professionally) and used a rope halter eventually. And neck strap. Still not happy, so went back to densenitising and leaning. Made a fuss and put her back.
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At what point did she start bronking - immediately? after 5 minutes? when something spooked her? Was she 'free', being led?, on lunge?

From the background, sound like she has a remembered 'issue' - real fear of the 'predator' on her back! She'd be one we'd be putting a lightweight rider on, leading her, for increasing periods of time - for days/weeks - before letting her go on a longer line but still 'contained'. But, with the 'history', I'd be getting my physio to check her back out - and getting her ovaries scanned - before putting anyone's neck at risk!
 
Thank you all. We have been backing for while but just never had this before. Understand a few bucks at first, but these are fearful ones. Janet I agree and that was going to be our plan, skinny person aboard with a neck strap and when she has accepted the aids from them gradually get up to me. Thank you x
 
We DID have one loony WB mare that really struggled to accept the rider when led (which is how we normally start.) She could only do a maximum of about 6 strides before the tension became TOO much - and she bucked like hell. So after about 3 tries like that we changed tack - shoved the rider up (hanging onto neck strap for dear life) and sent her out on the lunge FAST! So she ran! (Flight - or fight!) After she'd done 20 circuits at speed she slowed down - realising the 'predator' was harmless - and we had no more trouble. It's just a case of figuring out the RIGHT approach for each horse! Sending straight out on the lunge works for 1 in 10 - leading first is USUALLY safer and more sensible.
 
Agree with Janet. We had one last year that had obviously had a fright at some stage. This one would not buck or rear, she would take off blindly if your left foot moved in front of the girth at all. And take off running from it. That and there was a wee problem getting off. Also used to take off blindly unless someone was holding her. Fine to get on and again wouldn't buck or rear but strange movement and she was off.

Thing is the guy wanted her broke to sell as a child's pony and that was never going to happen. Maybe we would have gotten her ok in the end but never to be trusted with a child. Even a good rider really wouldn't want to bother when they could have a nice one.

And really, just after a c section, please be careful. I've no doubt your one tough woman who can horseback but no need to prove it now!

Terri
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
Agree with Janet. We had one last year that had obviously had a fright at some stage. This one would not buck or rear, she would take off blindly if your left foot moved in front of the girth at all. And take off running from it. That and there was a wee problem getting off. Also used to take off blindly unless someone was holding her. Fine to get on and again wouldn't buck or rear but strange movement and she was off.

Thing is the guy wanted her broke to sell as a child's pony and that was never going to happen. Maybe we would have gotten her ok in the end but never to be trusted with a child. Even a good rider really wouldn't want to bother when they could have a nice one.

And really, just after a c section, please be careful. I've no doubt your one tough woman who can horseback but no need to prove it now!

Terri
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Did you get to the bottom of the problem and solve it? I only ask because we've got a cob that does the same thing. Takes off for apparently no reason and we can't figure out how to stop it.

Put my Mum in hospital on September after she bailed out when he took off in the direction of a barbed wire fence. Any suggestions?
 
No, as no history on this pony. She came to my client pregnant. He was told she was never started. It was quite clear she knew what was going on but she had serious fear issues. I really think she got hung up I something while being backed and or dragged something and it scared the day lights out of her.

Thing is I couldn't ask a client to leave a pony here indefinitely as they pay the bills. He told us his goals and I would not be comfortable with said pony going to a child. And most importantly my name attached. In fairness to her she was very good and did try very hard but it wasn't fair on her. She's a nanny now to the youngsters and has a good life.

Terri.
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
No, as no history on this pony. She came to my client pregnant. He was told she was never started. It was quite clear she knew what was going on but she had serious fear issues. I really think she got hung up I something while being backed and or dragged something and it scared the day lights out of her.

Thing is I couldn't ask a client to leave a pony here indefinitely as they pay the bills. He told us his goals and I would not be comfortable with said pony going to a child. And most importantly my name attached. In fairness to her she was very good and did try very hard but it wasn't fair on her. She's a nanny now to the youngsters and has a good life.

Terri.
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Thanks, we're trying to decide what to do with ours. Our current plan is to send him to a producer friend of ours and see what he makes of him. If he can't solve it then we're not sure what to do. :confused: We can't afford to keep him and his owner (my Nan) doesn't want him back. But that's a whole other story!
 
TommyTwoShoes said:
Did you get to the bottom of the problem and solve it? I only ask because we've got a cob that does the same thing. Takes off for apparently no reason and we can't figure out how to stop it.

Put my Mum in hospital on September after she bailed out when he took off in the direction of a barbed wire fence. Any suggestions?
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No horse just 'takes off' for NO reason - the problem is figuring out the reason which could be bad training, remembered fear issues, pain - or remembered pain - the list is endless. There IS a way of 'solving' the problem IF you're a competent and experienced rider who can keep your cool. If you want to know how, I'll first need assurances that you ARE a competent and experienced rider - and a few detais of the horse's age andbackground - I won't put 'the method' here - because if tried on the wrong horse by the wrong person for the wrong reasons - someone will get hurt!
 
I would suggest firstly you get the physio out and get them to have a good look. If they don't find anything, try again.

If bad behaviour then continues I would be getting the vet in to check for kissing spines, ulcers or a whole host of other problems the horse may or may not have.
 
For the record I AM a competent rider. Secondly as I said, goals for pony with owner were not going to be met. So I can just take money for the heck of it from a client when I know what he wants. I will never have this type of situation on my conscience, especially a kid's pony. If they want to go somewhere else that's not a problem.

Terri
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
For the record I AM a competent rider. Secondly as I said, goals for pony with owner were not going to be met. So I can just take money for the heck of it from a client when I know what he wants. I will never have this type of situation on my conscience, especially a kid's pony. If they want to go somewhere else that's not a problem.
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Absolutely right, Terri! Kid's ponies are a HELL of a responsibility - and even if you 'sort them' so they behave for you, you can't be sure they will be safe with a child!
 
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