I can't tack up my moody mare

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Equestrihan

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I have recently taken on a Dales X mare on part loan.
In the saddle she's a superstar, she will do anything I ask and has a lovely soft mouth. On the ground she is not a cuddle, loving girl but she will stand and be groomed without too much trouble and is always the first to the gate. However, when tacking her up she is the devil!! The sight of a saddle, her ears are pinned back she kicks out, bites, heads thrown up! She is fine with her bridle. She is also fine having her girth tightened once the saddle is on and done up loosely and has no problem with the girth going up once I'm on.
I know her full owner, who also bred her and she has had her back checked numerous times and there is no problems. She said she has always been like it and that if I'd met her mother I'd think she was a walk in the park. She is 10x worse with me, I think because she's seeing what she can get away with! It got to a point today though where she was so violent and I was alone at the yard that I had to let her win and give up because I was concerned one of us was going to end up hurt!

any advice on how to calm her when putting her saddle on will be appreciated!! She makes up for her vile behaviour once you're on and I have no problems when we are riding but the saddle issue is really getting me down!

Thanks in advance!
 
If my mare was like that, I would be with the sharer when they tacked up until they were safe and confident. I'm always a bit wary of owners that leave sharers in a potentially unsafe situation, or the things they say, ie, saddle and back etc is fine. I'm sure that the mare is probably testing you out, but at the moment she is winning. Ask the owner to be there to help you until things settle down. If she won't get involved find another share where you are safe.
 
The sharer is definitely reliable, I have known her a long time. This was only the 3rd time in a month I tacked her up alone, as my sharer is in holiday. Until this week she's always been there. Everybody who knows the pony comments on how horrible she is on the ground but how great in the saddle. I had also thought about the fact she is probably coming into season which might make her more tender and grumpy!
 
A couple of things I would try. Show her the saddle first, let her sniff it and only once she has finished looking/sniffing I would try and put it on her.

You then need to make it a positive experience for her, spend a day or two not riding but just working on the problem. Saddle on, saddle off, saddle on, saddle off etc. I wouldn't do the girth up, in fact I would take that and the stirrups off to start with, maybe even the saddle cloth too. Cross tie her to make it a bit safer but don't get cross with her, just keep putting the saddle on and off till she realises it's no big deal. If she's not rude about treats I would give her one every-time you put the saddle on, or as soon as her behaviour improves (depending on her personality/weight etc).

I would have thought it would be a fairly easy habit to break, it will just take a bit of time and patience.
 
I'm a bit lost now. Are you the sharer/loaner or is the other person?

You're saying the other person/owner/sharer is reliable, but she has left you to get on with tacking a horse up that you are not managing, and you are in a situation that is dangerous. I'm not saying the person is not reliable, just perhaps a bit irresponsible - I would not let a sharer go near my horse while I was on holiday if they were not managing to tack a horse up safely and were at risk of injuring themselves.

My horse is not that nice in the stable and great to ride, if she thinks someone is novice she is ten times worse. I know this and that is the reason that I wouldn't leave someone who couldn't manage her on their own with her. And she only pulls faces/swishes at people, this mare you are talking about you described as kicking out etc so much that you had to give up - that is not a safe situation..
 
I'm not sure about 3b's suggestion. That would wind mine up no end and would be counter productive. The owner should come and show you how it's done and give you some back up, or you should get pro help.
Mine would quite happily avoid being saddled up, he doesn't like it. So I'm sympathetic but firm. He's pretty sensitive skinned, big soft lump.
 
teabiscuit said:
I'm not sure about 3b's suggestion. That would wind mine up no end and would be counter productive. The owner should come and show you how it's done and give you some back up, or you should get pro help.
Mine would quite happily avoid being saddled up, he doesn't like it. So I'm sympathetic but firm. He's pretty sensitive skinned, big soft lump.
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I know what you mean, it probably wouldn't suit all horses, it really depends on the individual. It's what I would, and have, done with mine in the past (same thing but for mounting) so I know it can and does work :)

It's about knowing the horse and choosing a method that will suit them!
 
If that were my horse, I wouldn't be letting any-one tack it up until I'd found out what the problem was. The fact that no-one has yet found out what the problem is doesn't mean that there isn't one. This horse is trying to say something and no-one is listening.
I agree that stripping the saddle down and putting it on carefully, with treats, will help the horse get used to the saddle once the problem has been identified. If this owner has 2 horses who object to being saddled, it makes me wonder if her tacking up technique is to blame. Does she bang the saddle down carelessly on the horse's back and tighten the girth roughly?
I've had horses before who have had to be taught that tacking up doesn't hurt because of the way previous owners/handlers have been rough with them.
 
if i had a horse like that then i agree i wouldnt let anyone tack her up without me there. that being said i would also cross tie her when tacking up. you say she has had her back checked but is the saddle correctly fitted? it could be rubbing/pinching her which is making her react badly. if she is genuinly taking the mick then cross tie her and be firm but fair. i would never hit a horse but i would use my voice (i find it very effective with my lot but i know all horses react different) if she is likely to try squashing you against stable wall then try cross tying her somewhere safe outside where you can move out the way properly and if you are going to attempt to tack her up while her owner is still away then i suggest wearing your helmet and someone else being present just incase.

good luck with her and hope it turns out ok.
 
Thanks for the advice.
The owner has 2 other horses, neither of which are bothered by their tack. All the horses live out and she doesn't try to squash me, I fact she stays still just kicks out and bites. It really was just yesterday that the kicking became a serious problem.
I always let her see the saddle and give it a sniff before I put it on (this usually results in it being chomped) but I think I will try the saddle on, saddle off exercise with her for a bit.
I have been out of action for a couple of years so maybe I am being a bit nervous without realising and she's picking up on it. I've never had a problem with tacking up with any of my previous horses so it's a new dilemma for me.
Thank you for your help.
 
With a reaction like that to the saddle I would be questioning the fit, the fact that she only does it with the saddle may be she is trying to tell you its uncomfortable, I would get the saddle looked at before trying anything else.
 
hi, my mare is exactly the same. i overcame our saddling issues by giving her treats every time she let me get near her on rest it on her back. she is now perfect to saddle even though still her give her treats as a reward. check your saddle fits correctly because my mares old owners had the wrong fitting saddle on which caused this issue as she only remembered pain from a saddle. hope this helps, if you need more details, let me know
 
I would tie up outside, with a tiny haynet with a few carrots so she is distracted and also rewarded for being distracted! I don't feed treats in hand as a reward for anything, horses often tend to start mugging you or get bad tempered if fed treats by hand.
I would ask my instructor [yes, time for experienced professional] what she thinks of saddle fit, the instructor will not be nervous and be able to handle Miss Grumpy,, the owner is never going to say that saddle in not a good fit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffsz53UwLF0
You can run your hands down the back and down either side of the spine to check for any obvious soreness, though of course this is not a proper workup.
Use a mounting block and don't mount from the ground by yanking the saddle over to one side, a method many riders seem to think is acceptable.
The main points on saddle fit are width of gullet and length of saddle, if these are not correct there is no chance the saddle will be any kind of fit.
 
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fredflop said:
A saddler is the first port of call, not letting the horse sniff the saddle first, or giving it treats
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Its always tricky if owner is onsite and has already said saddle is fine, that is why I suggested an experienced instructor, BHSII, rather than a young AI.
Sniffing saddle is pointless for a mature horse, it can see what is happening.
Is the saddle/girth nipping her at all, do up girths evenly on either side and don't overtighten as some people do. The girth should be adjusted once rider is in position, it often comes up one hole at this stage. Do not be afraid to ask someone to hold her in position at the mounting block while you mount and adjust girth etc. Everyone has met issues at some stage in their career, and experienced help is nearly always available.
 
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Equestrihan said:
Thanks for the advice.
The owner has 2 other horses, neither of which are bothered by their tack. All the horses live out and she doesn't try to squash me, I fact she stays still just kicks out and bites. It really was just yesterday that the kicking became a serious problem.
I always let her see the saddle and give it a sniff before I put it on (this usually results in it being chomped) but I think I will try the saddle on, saddle off exercise with her for a bit.
I have been out of action for a couple of years so maybe I am being a bit nervous without realising and she's picking up on it. I've never had a problem with tacking up with any of my previous horses so it's a new dilemma for me.
Thank you for your help.
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The whole point of letting them see /sniff the saddle is so you can get their reaction. If she's trying to bite it before you even put it on her she is telling you it hurts. This is the only way horses can communicate. Listen to her.
 
You have said she has had her back checked, which is great, however when was the saddle last checked. Once I knew that was ok, I'd get back done again and then I would do what someone else suggested and desensitise her to the saddle going on. These things only get worst, maybe she has learnt there is no point doing it with the owner because she doesn't pay any attention. However this is not your horse so I am not sure what you can do expect dodge her kicks,
 
Pinkvboots said:
With a reaction like that to the saddle I would be questioning the fit, the fact that she only does it with the saddle may be she is trying to tell you its uncomfortable, I would get the saddle looked at before trying anything else.
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Exactly this - this is the very same behaviour my mare displayed when she was trying to tell me her saddle didn't fit her properly. I would get your back person out and your saddler to work together to get a solution for you. Good luck!
 
The saddle hurts her. She is trying to tell you. She is probably better with her owner because she has tried and tried and has not been listened to. Now she is trying to tell you. I feel sorry for you because you are in a difficult situation with it not being your horse, but it were me, I would not be prepared to saddle or ride the horse until the saddle fit was looked at.
 
I would say definately something wrong. My Dales showed tension ridden, never naughty but tense. He was lovely to catch groom and bridle, but wouldn't stand still to be saddled at all. I am always careful to pull the saddle back behind his huge shoulder and I had the saddle checked.
I agreed with my trainer that he likely had ulcers and he is now on week 3 of omeprazole and I have had an osteopath out giving him cranial sacral therapy (2nd session today) and boy the difference is amazing. He is now so relaxed through his back, I am very happy. Horses react for a reason, listen to her.
 
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I took care of a pony for a while that sounds similar in that she would bite or kick out when saddle put on, but perfect when ridden, no issue with doing the girth either. She would make faces at me but I would ignore and put saddle on and it went no further, some people wouldn't even go in the stable with her and she then became much more aggressive to that person. There were also days when she showed no reactions when you put the saddle on, so it wasn't consistent.

IMO there was much more going on here than saddle fit, considering she showed no sign whatsoever of any discomfort when actually being ridden. Sore back and ulcers were also ruled out by vet.

The pony could be very marish and more than one person (including vet) suggested hormone imbalance and even possibly tumour on the ovaries.the pony was sold before any further investigation was done (new owners fully aware of her issues) so I don't know how it panned out unfortunately!

I too would get your pony thoroughly checked by competent vet and would not accept 'her mother is worse' as reasoning for the behaviour, sorry! Good luck I hope the solution is found.
 
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