New horse rearing and barging

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Maddie14

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I've been riding for 9 years and I've recently got my own horse, a 5yr old 15.2hh Apploosa x. When we went to see him before we bought him, he was an angel, maybe a bit stubborn but he certainly didn't act 5yrs old! Since we got him to the yard which we are keeping him at, he has been bargy, refusing to go in his stable, flicking his feet up when I go to pick them out like a foal and very interested in mares. (He hasn't been around mares much previously although he has a certification of gelding) I've been long reining him in the arena because we've not got a saddle for him yet. The saddler came and we got a saddle and I rode him in the indoor arena and he was great, we only did walk and trot though. The next day, (he'd been here for 4 days) I decided to ride him in the outdoor arena so I tacked up and was told that there was a mare in there at the moment but she'd be out in 10 minutes. I waited 15 minutes and then went down to the arena and the mare was still in there but a woman came and told me it'd be fine and that the mare wouldn't do anything whilst I was in there. I knew it wasn't a good idea but after being hurried in and legged up I began walking around the arena and my horse reared, I ignored it and took him to a trot and he was fine for 10 minutes or so but then he began rearing again and it scared me so I got off, I know that's rewarding him for that behaviour but the rearing really scared me and I've seen a horse fall over on top of a rider when it reared. I took him back to his stable but he wouldn't go in so I put him in another free one and untacked him. As I came out yo get his headcollar, he flew at me from the other side of the stable and kicked me in my lower back so I fell out of the way and he escaped. Lots of people caught him for me and after a few minutes of struggling with 3 lead ropes, they managed to get him in his stable. I have since been looking at people who train problem horses but I don't know what to do? He's been home bred so does he need more time to settle in or does he need that blast in the field he can't have until his worm count comes back? Someone give me some advice!
Thanks
Xxx
 
Get a good instructor immediately and explain the situation warts and all. Sounds like he is testing you (and winning at the moment!)
He will need to settle in, but during the settling in time will need firm confident handling and riding, or else he is learning that he should be worried- and that is when it starts to go wrong!
 
I do feel for you, first time ownership can be a bit of a baptism of fire. He's young and very worried, you're apprehensive and not able to give him the reassurance that an old hand would have. Some horses are more sensitive than others and find settling in a new home quite traumatic.
He WILL settle, but you need someone to help you and him through the transition period. He's also stabled which will make him more likely to be full of pent up energy. Turning him out will help, after the initial mad hooley.
Don't panic, if he was a good horse in his old home, he's still a good horse today. If you don't have anyone suitable at your new yard to help, invest in a good instructor or an IH trainer to come out and explain the best way to work with him.
Don't worry about when you got off him after he reared. It was wise to keep him and yourself safe. Wait until he's off box rest and you have an instructor with you.
Good luck.
 
I don't know whereabouts in the county you are, but it might be worth calling one of these guys for a chat http://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/specialist-horse-training.html

Agree with others above that he is young and unsettled, and perhaps just needs an experienced hand to settle him in. Don't feel pushed into doing anything you feel uncomfortable, and stay safe when riding. You're a new combination, and it takes a little while to cement that partnership sometimes! I think you would hugely benefit from some help so you both gain confidence in each other. Good luck!
 
Oh good grief - poor old you! Theres several thing you probably need to do. He may need more time to settle in, he needs firm handling and showing where his boundaries are, he needs lunging and ground work and he probably needs turning out fairly soon, you'll also need to draft in some experienced help to keep you both you and the horse safe. Don't give up on him just yet, it'll probably turn out fine, but you must get some practical help and good advice from someone. Can you ask around and see if there's anyone local to you experienced enough? Also talk to his previous owner and see if they can shed any light on the situation.
 
Horrid situation, but don't panic, this is a very common issue with new horses. He's young, in a new home, new owner, he's anxious and it's manifesting itself in difficult and unacceptable behaviour. I imagine there will be lots of people on the yard telling you to do this and that, but, as others have said you need to find a pro you can trust to work with you both and help you through this.
 
It is not uncommon for horses that have been moved to a new yard to become quite unsettled and anxious and it can take quite some time (many months) for them to settle in to their new surroundings.
You need to get your nice new horse in to a routine which will include lessons with a qualified sympathetic instructor who will take both you and your horse forward.
You should also spend time grooming your new horse and getting used to each other.
With a good qualified instructor and sensible advice on stable and horse management you will find that your new horse will settle down.
 
If he's not yet had any turnout since he arrived that could explain a lot - why is the worm count taking so long (Westgate, for example, email my results the same day they receive the sample).
 
No turnout could well be contributed but also don't discount the saddle pinching. Have another saddler out to check that the first one did their job properly. Failing that it might be worth getting his back checked by a vet. I have known very few rearing cases caused by behavioural issues, the vast majority are caused by pain
 
Some very sound advice already, but yes, no turn out is really not ideal and affects some more than others so could go a long way to explaining his behaviour. Also he may well never have been in an arena with another horse before. We've got a youngster at the moment who had his first taste of sharing an arena and it completely blew his brain...a horse going in the opposite direction and he wasn't allowed to follow!
 
With any problem, I go back to basics, as though they have not been backed , though fast track.
In this case I would get him out in field asap and start a little routine that you and he can cope with, get an instructor to help you, and advise. If you have not done long reining, this is the time to learn, under instruction.
 
Thanks everyone, I've spoken to his last owner and she was really shocked and said he's never reared in his life! It has made me feel a bit better now, knowing that this is not something he's done before and his worm count has come back so he'll be going out in the field tomorrow. I long reined him today and he was great and he's getting better with his stable manners so he will back up now. :) I'm going to look into getting his back checked and I have been personally recommended someone who will give lessons, his name is Joe Midgley (he has a website and fb page). Now that I come to think of it, the saddle was slipping when I was riding him yesterday, could this have caused discomfort for him? Thanks again xx
 
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my riding mare was moved twice ina very short period - to livery when i bought her and them home to me four months later. She was four and a half when i bought her. She was sold as an angel, placid etc and she on both moves, es[ecually the second, she displayed some fairly unpleasant behaviour. Reared with girls at yard being brought in, barged in the stable, the at home with me would walk through me in the field, bit me, wouldnt pick up her feet and was generally a bit of a bolshy c*w (the latter not helped by the fact i was in cast on my right leg and my OH just wasnt confident handling her). Routine and lots of turnout and consistent firm handling sorted her out and she is now back to being the angel i was sold. I still have to remind myself every now and again not to turn soft with her - treating her from the hand in the filed is a big no no - she needs boundaries. Small steps and keep yourself safe!
 
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