Head Shy & Panic attack Spider (Long)

[Amykins]

So after owning Spider for a good month now, he's showing his true colours

.
After having him for a week and a half, I decided to ride him in the school, long story short, I came off (reared off, see my previous post), also he is very head shy, you only have to tweak the leadrope slightly and he goes off on one

.
Another livery on my yard, very kindly offered to help

. Unfortunately the weather hasnt been the best, first time it rained, second time it rained, third time it snowed, fourth time it rained

. So after being washed away so many times I decided to leave it till the weather perked up.
Anyway, on Wednesday myself and above livery were waiting for the barefoot man. In this time other livery decided to have a ride on his horse, which I watched with alot of jealousy under my belt

. After about 20-30 mins he asked if he could lead Spider round while riding Zak, I agreed, but warned him that Spider, is abit head shy and doesnt like to be pulled, if he is this results in a panic attack

.
After about 10 mins Spider was trooting around with Zak, I was very happy to see it wasnt handbags at dawn

.
Livery jumped off after noticing the time, 5 mins later we get a text from the barefoot man, he's running about 30 mins late, no worries

.
Livery gets the idea to try and sit on Spider bareback!!!

I warned and asked him if he was sure and explained that he threw me off last time I attempted to get on for a ride.
Anyway after some jumping, climbing, calming and standing still, he managed to get on and stay on!!!

A terrible feeling of guilt and hate for myself dawned on me, that it was my fault Spider reared up.

After livery had take Spider round the school a couple of laps, I noticed that he was moving and turning on verbal command not on leg, which I was amazed by.

Cutting this story short, what exercises can I do to prove to Spider I'm not out to pull or whack his head? and what can cause a sensitive right side, when being touched with leg?

I've called a dentist to make sure his gnashers are alright. But what else can I do?

But I am a very proud mummy, but I am beating myself up that it was my fault

 

[Tinypony]

Do you know why a lot of nh style trainers always back a youngster bareback before introducing the saddle? It is so that they know, if the horse objects at any stage, if it's something they are doing that is causing the problem, or if it happens when the saddle is added.
I wouldn't work at all on avoiding putting pressure on Spider's head, or touching his side with my leg. I'd first get him checked out to make sure there are no physical problems, then I would desensitise him to the things that bother him. First on the ground, then ridden (by which time, 9 times out of 10, the problem is gone).

 

[mtj]

Amykins.

I don't have the knowledge to help your pony, but would like to point out that the term "spaz" is just as offensive as the n, p and c words.

 

[MrsMozart]

Hm. Ignoring other subjects, do as Woeisme says - desensitize him. You can't spend your life with this horse soft-footing it round his head, it's not fair to him or to you

. He needs to learn that he isn't going to be hurt. It's going to take time and a reasonable amount of effort, which we know you're up for

.

It might be that others are getting on and doing okay simply because they don't have your level of interest/concern re. the lad.

Only one thought re the leg issues. Have you had the saddle checked? Back checked? I ask because the action may be tweaking either the saddle fit or his back (if theri is an issue).

Have a hot choccy while you mull it over

Edited to change title.

 

[spike123]

I don't know how long Spider has been backed for but the fact he is more sensitive on his right side could be down to whoever backed him did everything from the left side and so he is still quite wary on his right. I know this happened to my friends horse.She brought him as a project with an unknown history as an 8 yr old and restarted him.he was great on the left but very nervous on his right.In time and with lots of patience and repetition he is now making great progress.
If he isn't recently backed then I would explore pain as a possibility.The fact he is headshy makes me wonder if he has dental or poll pain.