Horse nervous to mount/ride

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Irishsportgirl

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Hi everyone
As per title really.. My horse is nervous to mount, anyone else has similar experiences? Any tips or tricks?

(He will stand as far away from mounting block as possible, when I step onto the mounting block he will flinch and get nervous, walk back etc.. he's fine with me hanging over him (having to treat him like a re-breaker) but when sat in saddle he will shake all down his legs, look as if he 'doesnt know what to do' then his 'flight of fight' kicks in, he bucks and gallops off with rider on floor). ** passed a 5 stage hunting and jumping vetting in previous home just before arriving with me, my vet has also signed him off fit and healthy, saddle fitter also not worried**
 
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Irishsportgirl

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southerncomfort said:
Did you try him before you bought him?

Is it at all possible that he's never actually had a rider on him? Or been very badly backed?

He sounds very scared bless him.
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I bought him unseen but I spoke to the vet that did his vetting and obviously my vet's seen him with me. I have the video of his vetting where he completed a cross country course no problem, looked very alert and 'with it' so not drugged.. they too said he was nervous at the start but after they sat the first buck he was fine and did his thing.. however I can't even get anywhere near him now to get on him..
 
paddi22

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assuming eye issues are ruled out by vet it sounds like a pain response, it could be kissing spine/trapped nerve, shoulder fracture, anything really. the trigger is weight on his back. if he was mine I'd looking for a full performance work up and possible back xrays. I've had a few with kissing spine and there's no way of knowing without xrays.
 
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ISG you have posted about this horse before and I have explained my scenario to you with the horse I imported last year. I’d if continued with him without restarting him it would have been catastrophic.

You need to go right back to square one and treat this horse as an unbacked 4 year old. I wouldn’t even be attempting to get on him. It took me 8 weeks from mine having his “crises” of confidence to me getting back on.

Once a vet has seen him to give the all clear that is.

Edited to add, can see that you’ve already done that Re vet. Might be worth a second opinion though or a professionals opinion from a ridden perspective.
 
Rowreach

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Mrs. Jingle

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OP from the threads you have started on here, all really asking the same questions in a round about way, I really think you need to be talking to an equine solicitor about this. You are obviously not getting the answers you want to get, and I don't think you will on any horse forum, no matter how you phrase the questions you are wanting answered. Talk to an equine solicitor ASAP.
 
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Upthecreek

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Irishsportgirl said:
I bought him unseen but I spoke to the vet that did his vetting and obviously my vet's seen him with me. I have the video of his vetting where he completed a cross country course no problem, looked very alert and 'with it' so not drugged.. they too said he was nervous at the start but after they sat the first buck he was fine and did his thing.. however I can't even get anywhere near him now to get on him..
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So did you have him vetted yourself or is this the vetting from his previous home you referred to in your first post? Never heard of a horse completing a cross country course during a vetting. You weren’t concerned about him bucking on the video? You say the dealer has refused to take the horse back or refund you. What did they say when you explained the problems you are having? How long have you had the horse? You bought unseen, but did you see a video of the horse being handled and mounted? Have you tried mounting any other way than from a block?
 
Rowreach

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Upthecreek said:
So did you have him vetted yourself or is this the vetting from his previous home you referred to in your first post? Never heard of a horse completing a cross country course during a vetting. You weren’t concerned about him bucking on the video? You say the dealer has refused to take the horse back or refund you. What did they say when you explained the problems you are having? How long have you had the horse? You bought unseen, but did you see a video of the horse being handled and mounted? Have you tried mounting any other way than from a block?
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If it's IHI then they always run their horses round the xc as part of the sales pitch.
 
Rowreach

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LEC said:
IHI part exchange within 2 weeks if you are not happy so can’t be them
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OP has had him for 3 weeks. IHI will do p/ex up to 2 weeks from the time of purchase (so that is literally from the moment the deal is done).

Just interested to find out if the horse did come from there as there are so many experiences of similar.
 
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Rowreach said:
Is the Irish Horse Imports one? A search on here should explain everything


Yeah, I'm still trying to clarify if the OP bought the horse from Irish Horse Imports or is just asking in that other thread about horses imported from Ireland iyswim :)
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Hi no I bought him from a different irish dealer who has loads of 5* reviews.. its a shame I'm not getting the same service... Not Irish Horse imports
 
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Upthecreek said:
So did you have him vetted yourself or is this the vetting from his previous home you referred to in your first post? Never heard of a horse completing a cross country course during a vetting. You weren’t concerned about him bucking on the video? You say the dealer has refused to take the horse back or refund you. What did they say when you explained the problems you are having? How long have you had the horse? You bought unseen, but did you see a video of the horse being handled and mounted? Have you tried mounting any other way than from a block?
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Hi :)
So the horse had a 5 stage hunting and jumping vetting which was video'd as well as the papers sent to me of him 'passing with flying colours' there didnt seem to be any issues with him in the video... the dealer has argued back to me that 'he was sold to you without a warranty. you knew he was nervous to mount' ... however I didn't know he was this nervous! It seems as though he doesnt just have a 'funny 5' he becomes almost dangerous, to the point now I can't even mount him.. have tried 3x different areas with different mounting blocks, tried mounting him from the ground, has someone else try.. obviously we dont want to stress him out though so have left this for now till I can get some further information about why he could be doing this other than nerves.. I've got another vet coming out Monday for a second opinion..
 
Mrs. Jingle

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The 5 Stage vetting for hunting and jumping - I am assuming you mean the horse was passed as able/fit for hunting and jumping> Was this by a vet you used and paid from here in Ireland or was it a vet chosen by the seller?

Over here vetted as suitable sound enough for hunting and jumping would not take into account any temperment issues, like being difficult to mount from mounting block and a bit of a nervous or hot ride. Your own vet might have pointed out to you that although sound the horse did appear very nervous if this was the case at the time of purchase? You also state that your own vet there in Uk has passed horse as sound. Therefore you are left with a temperament issue, rather than an unsoundness issue as your own vet has pronounced the horse sound and fit.

The problem at the mounting block does not surprise me at all. Most young 'staff' riders at yards leaping on the horse in a nano second as it is almost trotting out the yard is not unusual and they would very seldom use a mounting block, it just would not be seen as necessary to the dealer unless they were specialising in very steady beginners horses, then they might put in a bit of training to include the mounting.

I really do feel for you - it is heart-breaking when you find you have bought a horse that is totally unsuitable for you. I would think, seeing more information, you would not do well in court with this problem. I would send the horse for some serious re training at a reputable yard, and then put up for sale with full disclosure.
 
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Mrs Jingle said:
The 5 Stage vetting for hunting and jumping - I am assuming you mean the horse was passed as able/fit for hunting and jumping> Was this by a vet you used and paid from here in Ireland or was it a vet chosen by the seller?

Over here vetted as suitable sound enough for hunting and jumping would not take into account any temperment issues, like being difficult to mount from mounting block and a bit of a nervous or hot ride. Your own vet might have pointed out to you that although sound the horse did appear very nervous if this was the case at the time of purchase? You also state that your own vet there in Uk has passed horse as sound. Therefore you are left with a temperament issue, rather than an unsoundness issue as your own vet has pronounced the horse sound and fit.

The problem at the mounting block does not surprise me at all. Most young 'staff' riders at yards leaping on the horse in a nano second as it is almost trotting out the yard is not unusual and they would very seldom use a mounting block, it just would not be seen as necessary to the dealer unless they were specialising in very steady beginners horses, then they might put in a bit of training to include the mounting.

I really do feel for you - it is heart-breaking when you find you have bought a horse that is totally unsuitable for you. I would think, seeing more information, you would not do well in court with this problem. I would send the horse for some serious re training at a reputable yard, and then put up for sale with full disclosure.
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Honestly this is so hard for me as he's a lovely horse and obviously I want to give him a chance.. hes a 14yo as well so the thought of me passing him on yet again is just upsetting :( poor boy.. if I was in the position to have him as just a companion or retire him then I would but sadly I just don't have the grazing..(I have other horses too).. I would like to add that the vet was chosen by the dealer, however I have also found a previous vetting from just before the dealer had him which he also passed.. If second vet opinion comes back the same then I think I will be looking into re-training or behaviourist etc however do I really want to put a 14 yo 'nervous' horse through all of that? Don't really know what to do for the better...
 
paddi22

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you can't pass him on. you either have to decide to figure out the issue or pts. I feel so sorry for both you and the horse. we get these type of horses in here all the time and I love it because it's a puzzle you have to figure out. you need to be really methodical trying to figure out what is triggering stuff. with a lot of them it can be stuff as simple as teeth/mouth issues and they are anticipating pain when someone mounts and take a contact.sometimes it's kissing spine issues from being ridden badly/hollow and it takes months of groundwork and strengthening work to build them up. sometimes its remembered pain from a saddle and rough riding, and we have to just get them to a stage where we can sit up bareback for a second and slide off, then work it to taking a few steps.

You seem not keen on getting back xrays or more intensive vet checks done, but the worry is you will spend a fortune on behaviourists and trainers but still not fix the issue because it's a physical one. the danger with vets is that the more you look into a tricky 14 year old horse, the more issues they will probably find and thats just opening a big money pit. we are fortunate because it's a charity that vets often take on as case studies for students at hospitals but it's a different situation than someone trying to pay for their own. with any of the ones we get in like yours the vets always find a physical reason for the bad behaviour.

but you have to be realistic about how much you can afford to spend.
if it was my horse I'd work out how much I can/wanted to spend on trying to fix it and I'd draw a line I won't go over. if you spend your budget with no success then I'd put to sleep because you cannot pass that horse on. it's any awful situation for you and you have my sympathy.
 
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paddi22 said:
you can't pass him on. you either have to decide to figure out the issue or pts. I feel so sorry for both you and the horse. we get these type of horses in here all the time and I love it because it's a puzzle you have to figure out. you need to be really methodical trying to figure out what is triggering stuff. with a lot of them it can be stuff as simple as teeth/mouth issues and they are anticipating pain when someone mounts and take a contact.sometimes it's kissing spine issues from being ridden badly/hollow and it takes months of groundwork and strengthening work to build them up. sometimes its remembered pain from a saddle and rough riding, and we have to just get them to a stage where we can sit up bareback for a second and slide off, then work it to taking a few steps.

You seem not keen on getting back xrays or more intensive vet checks done, but the worry is you will spend a fortune on behaviourists and trainers but still not fix the issue because it's a physical one. the danger with vets is that the more you look into a tricky 14 year old horse, the more issues they will probably find and thats just opening a big money pit. we are fortunate because it's a charity that vets often take on as case studies for students at hospitals but it's a different situation than someone trying to pay for their own. with any of the ones we get in like yours the vets always find a physical reason for the bad behaviour.

but you have to be realistic about how much you can afford to spend.
if it was my horse I'd work out how much I can/wanted to spend on trying to fix it and I'd draw a line I won't go over. if you spend your budget with no success then I'd put to sleep because you cannot pass that horse on. it's any awful situation for you and you have my sympathy.
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thanks for your response - very helpful.
I'm at the stage where I just want to do what's best.. he honestly is a lovely horse, complete gentleman on the ground - however the issue is a bought a 'ridden horse' not a 'companion'.. and obviously if he's in pain somewhere despite what vetting has stated and what my vet has stated then I want to help him. If second vet's opinion comes back with him having issues then of course I would be happy to investigate further/xrays/having physio out, etc.. However first vet seemed to think nothing wrong..? Will see what Monday brings..
For now he's getting walked out in hand which he loves and being completely pampered.
 
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