Can I have a hand?

[Raych]

Well, I'm off riding in a minute. My instructor has put me on a new horse, I rode her last week too.
But last week when I was taking her up, she started kicking out with her front and back feet.
She was fine having her bridle put on, made it really easy but as soon as I put the saddle on her back and went to hold the martingale she kicked out and started pawing at the ground, I leaned to get her girth and she did the same again, which unnerved me a bit, so I asked for help from someone on the yard. She also started kicking out at the helper so it wasnt just me

I am fully capable of tacking up, and I don't really like asking for help, but I don't wan to be kicked in the process. Any ideas as to why she is doing this?
And anyways I can learn to ignore it? She's relatively new to the stables and I think she's young too, so that could be a factor.
Advice anyone?

 

[Tinypony]

She may be uncomfortable. Her saddle may not fit properly. She may have been girthed up too tight or inconsiderately in the past. Loads of reasons why this might happen. The stables should get her checked physically and get her saddle checked by a good saddler.

 

[TelH]

Agree with Tinypony

Years ago I worked at a riding school and we got a new pony, she would whip round and try to take a chunk out of you every time you went to do her girth up. Saddle fitted perfectly well (professionally checked etc), the problem with her was that in the past someone had repeatedly yanked the girth up real tight. I 'cured' her by doing the girth up on the very loosest hole and then really slowly doing it up one hole at a time every time she was tacked up. It took her a long time to stop doing it but eventually she did realise that it wasn't going to hurt/pinch her and would stand quite happily to have her saddle on

 

[NeilM]

Agree with Tinypony

Years ago I worked at a riding school and we got a new pony, she would whip round and try to take a chunk out of you every time you went to do her girth up. Saddle fitted perfectly well (professionally checked etc), the problem with her was that in the past someone had repeatedly yanked the girth up real tight. I 'cured' her by doing the girth up on the very loosest hole and then really slowly doing it up one hole at a time every time she was tacked up. It took her a long time to stop doing it but eventually she did realise that it wasn't going to hurt/pinch her and would stand quite happily to have her saddle on

Harry used to do the same, swing round and try to bite while flattening his ears and swishing his tail.

I cured it by putting the saddle on gently and working slowly with the girth. Every time he didn't try to bite, he got a fuss and a treat. Now the second the saddle comes out, his ears go up and he turns his head round for a fuss and a treat....which he gets cos I'm for too soft on him.

 

[Tinypony]

The thing is, this is a riding school horse, so if the handling is to change they would need to arrange it and make sure it's consistent. Sending the people who are having lessons off to tack the horses off won't help with that.

 

[Pebbles]

The thing is, this is a riding school horse, so if the handling is to change they would need to arrange it and make sure it's consistent. Sending the people who are having lessons off to tack the horses off won't help with that.

^^that ^^ Not fair on the poor horse or people paying for the pleasure!