Breez
Well-Known Member
Please bear with me, as this may be long - if you're short of time just read the final paragraph 
Any replies appreciated.
I've recently brought home a 4yo gelding (nearly 4 weeks ago). He's a very sweet chap, very friendly, sociable, loves both people and horses. He was sent to a professional breaker in February by his previous owner, and was fully broken to a point of walk, trot and canter on both reins. He's also been hacked down quiet lanes on his own, but hasn't been worked since returning from the breaker's (May this year).
We gave him a couple of weeks to settle, then started groundwork with him. We established that he was fine with tack, he was clued up in walk and trot on the lunge, and he was fine when long reined around the school. Stirrups were swung, saddles were banged, plenty of desensitising stuff done and he was golden. He was leant over (full body weight), and still no issues. Great.
So, Friday before last (18th) we decided to take it to the next step and sit a rider on him (myself). My weight had barely touched the saddle when he freaked, took off, and full rodeo-style bronked the length of an olympic sized school. I attempted to sit it, and ended up hitting the deck at the top end, flat on my back. After regaining the use of my lungs(!), I got on again, very slowly, like you would first backing. He was unsure, but didn't lose it. We left it there.
We continued the sitting-on work every other day from there on, very slowly, but gradually increasing the time sat on him. Plenty of reassurance given by a friend on the ground. He began to relax as the week went on, and by last Sunday (27th) he was offering a very relaxed walk forwards, so we did a few strides and left there. On Monday he offered more, so we walked around the school with a rider - he didn't put a foot wrong. He then had a day off.
Today we went to pick up where we left off. Mounted in the same fashion, slowly, only the minute my weight touched the saddle he freaked again. Reared vertically, and took off bronking. Having hurt myself the first time I slid off as he went, and watched the mid-air acrobatics from the ground. He bombed round the school for a couple of circuits, then stopped & relaxed. He was happy to stand next to the mounting block and with light weight leant over him (sleepy eyes, not a care in the world), but the minute more weight was applied we had a similar response - rearing and shooting forwards. The panic subsided very quickly every time, and to look at him in his stable afterwards you'd be none the wiser.
Now, my question - what would be your first port of call? Teeth have been checked and are fine, back will be checked ASAP (although he's not reluctant to be saddled, and shows no reaction to having finger pressure applied to his back), saddle is a Solution saddle so there is nothing to pinch. He's a well built 15.2, I'm 5'6 and 10st. I'm struggling to wrap my head around how he can be so well behaved (and verging lazy!) for the past few days; he'd relaxed, he was accepting it all like a pro, and he was doing really well. Suddenly we've hit another (bigger) explosion when nothing has changed, and I can't quite fathom it? I've backed before, I've broken before, every youngster I've done up until now has either been relaxed, or nervous. Never relaxed with episodes of panic. I've spoken to the professional responsible for breaking him, she claims he never misbehaved when with her, however she was particularly cagey in regards to giving information on what she'd done with him. He's also been known to panic when tied up (no tack / riding type stuff in sight).
Thoughts / opinions appreciated? Thank you.
Any replies appreciated.I've recently brought home a 4yo gelding (nearly 4 weeks ago). He's a very sweet chap, very friendly, sociable, loves both people and horses. He was sent to a professional breaker in February by his previous owner, and was fully broken to a point of walk, trot and canter on both reins. He's also been hacked down quiet lanes on his own, but hasn't been worked since returning from the breaker's (May this year).
We gave him a couple of weeks to settle, then started groundwork with him. We established that he was fine with tack, he was clued up in walk and trot on the lunge, and he was fine when long reined around the school. Stirrups were swung, saddles were banged, plenty of desensitising stuff done and he was golden. He was leant over (full body weight), and still no issues. Great.
So, Friday before last (18th) we decided to take it to the next step and sit a rider on him (myself). My weight had barely touched the saddle when he freaked, took off, and full rodeo-style bronked the length of an olympic sized school. I attempted to sit it, and ended up hitting the deck at the top end, flat on my back. After regaining the use of my lungs(!), I got on again, very slowly, like you would first backing. He was unsure, but didn't lose it. We left it there.
We continued the sitting-on work every other day from there on, very slowly, but gradually increasing the time sat on him. Plenty of reassurance given by a friend on the ground. He began to relax as the week went on, and by last Sunday (27th) he was offering a very relaxed walk forwards, so we did a few strides and left there. On Monday he offered more, so we walked around the school with a rider - he didn't put a foot wrong. He then had a day off.
Today we went to pick up where we left off. Mounted in the same fashion, slowly, only the minute my weight touched the saddle he freaked again. Reared vertically, and took off bronking. Having hurt myself the first time I slid off as he went, and watched the mid-air acrobatics from the ground. He bombed round the school for a couple of circuits, then stopped & relaxed. He was happy to stand next to the mounting block and with light weight leant over him (sleepy eyes, not a care in the world), but the minute more weight was applied we had a similar response - rearing and shooting forwards. The panic subsided very quickly every time, and to look at him in his stable afterwards you'd be none the wiser.
Now, my question - what would be your first port of call? Teeth have been checked and are fine, back will be checked ASAP (although he's not reluctant to be saddled, and shows no reaction to having finger pressure applied to his back), saddle is a Solution saddle so there is nothing to pinch. He's a well built 15.2, I'm 5'6 and 10st. I'm struggling to wrap my head around how he can be so well behaved (and verging lazy!) for the past few days; he'd relaxed, he was accepting it all like a pro, and he was doing really well. Suddenly we've hit another (bigger) explosion when nothing has changed, and I can't quite fathom it? I've backed before, I've broken before, every youngster I've done up until now has either been relaxed, or nervous. Never relaxed with episodes of panic. I've spoken to the professional responsible for breaking him, she claims he never misbehaved when with her, however she was particularly cagey in regards to giving information on what she'd done with him. He's also been known to panic when tied up (no tack / riding type stuff in sight).
Thoughts / opinions appreciated? Thank you.
Such is life I guess... I'm glad you and your guy are back on track - fab post!
