Horse really difficult to break in- anyone else experienced this

mellissa

mellissa

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Hi there,

My homebred gelding rising four is currently away being broken in. He spent the first 3 years of his life at a professional stud living with other youngsters and only handled for feet and worming.

Fast forward I got him home in September and he was brilliant- I taught him to lunge, saddle bridle etc and he was so brilliant got on him in the stable after around six weeks. I had an accident on another horse after I had sat on him twice. I was in plaster 14 weeks so have him a holiday then sent Him to my friend a professional show jumper to break in.

He was really nervous with them and was frightened even of rugs going on. He didn't accept them long lining as he didn't like anything behind him. So they lunged and got on. He was ridden three times by the girl who did the backing and was good. Then my friend got on and he bronced her off breaking her rib. She said he was dangerous and we picked him up. He had been there two weeks.

We got him home and he was terrified of anything above him. I broke my arm and leg previously so had no strength. I hired an ardall and got him long lining. He would shoot off in the pen before the ardall could be girthed and it would fall off with him galloping round. We eventually got him walking with the dummy next to him.

I then gave him a month to relax and he has now gone to a show jumper dealer to be broken who is good with difficult horses. He has been there two weeks and they have him going round the pen now with a rider, but went into the school and off he went again broncing the rider off.

He is top class breeding and I have never seen a jump like it, but by god is he twitchy. He is very good to handle and I have had his back checked and physiotherapy done, teeth etcetera.

My question is have you ever experienced one that is bucking so early on? And is meaning to get the rider off. He only stops bucking when the rider hits the deck.

I think the cause is that he was rushed before. I re started him but we had to start all over again. I have invested a good £8k into him and he is the first one I bred- but I am worried about this.

Thanks sorry such a long post x
 
Poor lad, he's obviously had a fright and feels unsettled with all the changes. You must be worried, as you have such high hopes for homebreds. If get was mine, I probably wouldn't send him away again. I'd go back to square one and get his confidence and trust back. He sounds like he needs a lot of repetition to get confident and it seems that maybe the pro yards pushed him harder than he could take. Good luck.
 
Thanks Springtime,

I hope he will get his confidence back. He is already away being broken as I cannot do it myself because of my injuries, and they have been able to get on him as I said. He is broncing though and this really concerns me.
X
 
Could be he just got scared and needs tonnes more leaning over while someone walks him around? I had one like this and we just had to go at snails pace but more haste less speed. Do you have reliable ground help?

Equally just because physio thinks the horse is ok, there's lots of things a physio can miss. A full vet work up could be in order. Even very young horses can get PSD. Or kissing spines.
 
To me it sounds like your friend falling off him scared him, and now this is his go to reaction every time someone's sits on him. Personally as a breaking yard, owners aren't allowed onto their horses until we're confident they're going well enough with us, least not in just 3 days! and that a little hiccup won't upset them, as that one wrong move can set a horse back a long way in some types. Personally I'd be taking him right back to basics, just taking every little step one at a time until he's fully confident with what you're asking. Get a decent quiet rider with a good seat who's used to this type of horse (a proper breaker rider imo) who isn't likely to get decked- if all the basics are in place and the horse is confident, even if the horse has a little buck or two- if the rider can quietly ride them through this they soon learn to overcome this reaction and get on with the job, a excellent person on the ground is vital too. Try pm janetgeorge I think on here? She has a team that break horses.
 
Hi there,
The girl that came off is the lady I sent him to for breaking initially. She has a girl who does the backing and got on him herself. She is an international show jumper and very good rider, I am not kidding. He bucked and bucked until she came off.

He is at a breaking yard now and they are not as concerned as me. He is electric and I am beside myself about it as I have invested 5 years and many tears into it.

X
 
I'm another who recommends JanetGeorge on here.
Also, you do need an experienced balanced rider who can sit a few bucks, and has their own very good ground team. Once you can get past that, I'm sure things will look more positive. Breaking horses, is an art, some can do it brilliantly, and some can do it well until there is a problem and then it gets very difficult. Remember, NO rush.
I wish you all the best.
 
Thanks. Yes I know she is good with the breakers. He is at a very good breakers now and I am not looking to take him away.

I just wanted to know if anyone had experienced similar problems before. Thanks
 
Yes, of course. It's pretty much impossible to have a problem with a horse that someone, somewhere hasn't had before.

He's scared or hurt or both. As it stands right now you can't do much more than leave him where he is and see how he gets on. If they aren't significantly concerned then that's a good sign. Ask them to at least entertain the thought that the horse might be hurting, without having a panic about it. If he doesn't progress as they expect then it's probably worth a work up.

I've seen the whole spectrum, from initially difficult horses that work out just fine to ones that get started after much effort but turn out afterwards to have significantly limiting physical issues.
 
Out of interest, whats his breeding?
I've had two nearly impossible to break, both due to a lack of exposure to things whilst young (virtually untouched till 4) It takes a long, long time and a lot of patience to move forwards in tiny steps, ensuring they're confident at every step before moving on.
 
Yep, mine was a panicker and a broncher. I believe I was too inexperienced and rushed him, and he was a super sensitive horse to do that to. Every time I messed up I went back 10 steps and I'm lucky horses are so forgiving. I can't tell you how I made it okay, a whole lot of time, patience, and really listening to and learning from my horse I guess. And a whole lot of love for that horse. I can tell you he is a wonderful horse 4 years down the line and I wouldn't swap him for anything...despite a fair few tears and bruises on the journey.
 
I think you are right not to move him, but be prepared for him to be there for quite some time.

It sounds like he completely trusted you, he needs to stay at his present yard until he trusts them.

Yes of course there are many horses that have been tough to break in, and a small percentage will be unable to be broken. It sounds like the breakers yard are not too worried, which is great and I am sure they will have seen much worse than him.
 
I am nowhere near as experienced as many on here - but we did have one a bit like this a few years ago, darling to handle and start from the ground but went wild with a rider's weight on board. He was eventually found to have kissing spine, and is now managed very carefully and doing a useful job for his owner as a ridden horse. Not quite what she had hoped for but he's doing ok.
 
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