mjohorse
New User
Hi, can anyone help. I have been given a 15yro ex race horse that I was hoping to do some local level dressage & may be jumping. I have been lunging him & have lunged him several times with a saddle. I had been told he was cold backed & always has been so bought sheepskin numnahs for him. Today I lunged him with his saddle on before putting a rider on hoping that this would help. It didn't. Although he doesn't do anything nasty, he hasn't got a nasty bone in his body, he did arch his back & jump a round before we could get him going forward. He was fine when the rider got on it was just when you asked him to walk forward. After a few strides he was fine & relaxed again. After walking him around for 10 mins we did the same thing again to see if he was any better & although the reaction wasn't quite so scary he still went very tense at 1st. Has anyone got any suggestions as I know this horse will be able to have another job in life but I am nervous of getting on strange horses & his reaction to the riders weight when asked to move forward has worried me although once relaxed again he is a lovely horse that wants to please, I'm just not brave enough anymore?