New horse worries....need a hug and a slap *long and boring probably*

Hippona

Hippona

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:(I've had my new horse 3 weeks- so no time at all really. He's a 5 year old purebred arab. Very green. He was left in a field to mature ( ie not handled much)....he was sent away to be backed and broken (by a well respected professional who seems to have done a good job- he is very responsive and knows whats what) but when he went back to his owners he started to be reluctant to be tacked and mounted. Turned out his saddle was too tight and nipping his withers and making his back sore. So- his back was treated and they stopped riding him.

I went to try him, he tacked up fine, mounting was a bit of an issue - he was reluctant for his owner to get on but let me mount fine. He was foot perfect when ridden ( he was in a saddle of mine that I had for my previous horse of a similar build which fits him well) - forward going, responsive and floaty.

He is a very tense horse- he seems to get worried easily and panics. I wouldn't say he was spooky as such- he settled well into my yard, gets on with the other horses- is interested in people and whats going on. For instance, when my daughter is riding her bright pink-tasselled bike he will come over to the fence and stand watching her, which says to me he is interested and not a total wuss.

He's a bit head-shy, but will let me stroke his forehead and brush his face- he will accept the bridle but does try a bit of evasion initially. I have a feeling his teeth need doing- he kind of 'chomps' and slobbers his feed and is always licking and poking his tongue out - and teeth issues I suppose could account for some of his behaviour.

I had a bad day on saturday- he was messing around, did not want to stand near the block and it took me 90mins to get him standing nicely. I rewarded him for standing and turned him out. Yesterday it took a lot less time...probably about half an hour. In the end he was standing calmly letting me touch and stroke him all over. I was putting weight in the stirrup and moving around on the mounting block and he was really good. I really want to get this mounting issue sorted- Flinging myself on board while he spins sideaways isn't solving the problem and I don't want it to escalate, I want to sort it properly. I've been using Richard Maxwells techniques which seem to be effective. His previous owners are lovely people who just didn't have the time and didn't 'get' him IYKWIM. Shouting at this horse will do nothing apart from blow his mind....he needs so much reassuranace and praise when he gets it right, you can visibly see him relax bless him.

I was so dis-chuffed on saturday, felt much better on sunday. I know he is a really good horse, loving, handsome- so much potential - I just want to help him. Ive changed his diet, and to be fair he is much less tense than when he came and I know its only 3 weeks.....so can I please have a hug, and also a slap for being a daft cow, and any advice you can think of to help me help my lovely lad.

Kettles on......:D
 
Sounds like you are doing a great job, and well done for taking the time to sort the problem out, alot of people wouldn't. I think you will feel really proud of yourself once the problem is sorted and have no doubt that this will help you bond with your boy. I read the article of Richard Maxwell on mounting and found it really interesting. My boy was a bit funny to mount but a handful of nuts in my pocket solved it!! He wouldn't stand so I gave him a few nuts before mounting, asked him to stand once mounted then gave him a few more. He now stands like a rock at home or at a show!! Good luck with your boy x
 
Sounds like your slowing getting there with him so I'd just be patient and not get too stressed over the job, besides he will be a bit of a Kevin anyway if he's a 5 year old and a bit of a sensitive sole, so by the sounds of things your making headway.

I didn't know you had another new horse though, must of missed your posts, how exciting, any pics? :)

Good luck with him.
 
Big hugs, don't worry 3 weeks is no time atall, if it takes a year then so what, as long as there are steady improvements then I wouldn't worry. He's young and green and sounds like he needs reassurence, he doesn't know you that well so made need time to learn to trust. Charlie didn't like to stand at the mounting block when he first arrived, he was also headshy round his ears and planted his feet when I wanted to pick them out....all issues which we have overcome (I've had him 5 months) You could try getting someone to stand with you while you mount up then make lots of fuss, that's what helped with our mounting block issues, it just taught him that nothing horrid was about to happen.
Good luck and enjoy!!!! :)
 
Of course you can have a hug! I just wanted to say how very lucky your horse is to have 'found' you as an owner, it is so nice to hear you are giving him time and going back to basics. Agree a teeth check sounds like a good idea, I'm sure you will have a lovely, kind and obliging horse in no time at all. I would just keep going as you are, it is such early days and you have already achieved LOADS!
 
Time and patience - and definately no shouting.

Arabs can be flighty and spooky - and this one sounds as if his education has been compromised as well, which won't help.
 
There is a very good article this month in either Your Horse or Horse and Rider (can't remember which) by Michael Peace on mounting issues - may be worth a look, but it sounds like your starting off down the right track.
 
lctrouble said:
There is a very good article this month in either Your Horse or Horse and Rider (can't remember which) by Michael Peace on mounting issues - may be worth a look, but it sounds like your starting off down the right track.
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Yep- read it;) Putting all this stuff into practice.

I have other horses which I can get out and hack about on, so I don't mind really how long it takes to sort him out. I've rang my usual EDT but she hasn't got back to me yet- I personally think sorting his teeth will help greatly. I don't do shouting and hitting TBH......my previous horse was a sensitive lad when I got him, very similar to this one but not 'quite' as bad...he turned into a confident hack-anywhere lad whose brain exploded only at shows:rolleyes::D

I took him on knowing he had a few issues- he used to travel really well then was involved in an accident on his way back from the backers so he takes a bit of loading too but thats not an issue right now.

Kenzo....its a horse I really liked for a while - he's been for sale for a while too but I wasnt in a position to have another then. I kind of feel like he's been 'waiting for me' if you like- pathetic I know :o I also know where he's been kept , which explains some of his behaviour, and he should get over that in time .......
 
Well done, you sound like you are doing a good job with this horse. My mare was really difficult to mount when I first got her, she would walk through people and spin sideways. Was told that she was just a bolshy cob, she didn't come with a saddle and I found out that she had previously had a saddle that didn't fit properly.
Spent lots of time mounting from the ground with my other half holding her, the reintroduced a mounting block (she associated this with the saddle pain), can now get on and off and she stands still. Even on hack there is a difficult gate and she stands still for me to get back on. We don't have a school and just started having lessons and she still associates the school mounting block with pain so we need to work on that one! It takes time and hopefully your horse will soon trust you and forget some of his past experiences.
 
Charlie007 said:
Sounds like you are doing a great job, and well done for taking the time to sort the problem out, alot of people wouldn't. I think you will feel really proud of yourself once the problem is sorted and have no doubt that this will help you bond with your boy. I read the article of Richard Maxwell on mounting and found it really interesting. My boy was a bit funny to mount but a handful of nuts in my pocket solved it!! He wouldn't stand so I gave him a few nuts before mounting, asked him to stand once mounted then gave him a few more. He now stands like a rock at home or at a show!! Good luck with your boy x
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Good tip about the nuts...I'm not averse to bribery lol:D
 
poppymoo said:
I kind of feel like he's been 'waiting for me' if you like- pathetic I know :o I also know where he's been kept , which explains some of his behaviour, and he should get over that in time .......
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Doesn't sound pathetic at all, in fact your probably right, makes him all the more special. :)
 
katherine1975....thats the thing- he still associates being mounted with pain, although as soon as you are on its obvious there is no discomfort. I'm hoping in time this memory will lessen. He's accepting of his saddle now he has one that fits....
 
Well done, it sounds like you've achieved a lot in 3 weeks! He sounds like a typical 5yo arab to me, mine is just starting to grow up a bit and he's 15 now! You're quite right, they can't be bullied and are very sensitive souls. After owning him for 12 years, my boy still has tense spooky days, days when he doesn't want to stand still, days when he's head shy etc. However, on a good day he's the most rewarding horse I've ever had. Keep up the good work and you'll soon start seeing improvements. Would love to see some pics when you get a chance!
 
You are not alone - I think a lot of people have trouble with mounting.

Well done, it sounds like you are doing all the right things, and as others have said, just be firm, kind and patient, patient, patient.

Nothing wrong with bribery if it's done right - my friend's 17.2hh hunter used to walk right through you when she tried to get on and wouldn't stand for his girth to be tightened or stirrups adjusted. A few discreetly administered polo's and a couple of months later, and he's the image of a gentleman.

Good luck - your new horse sounds lush!!
 
Old arab mare could not be mounted from the ground at all I got her when she was 17, but was ok at mounting block or any high ground. She did have a spell of shooting off quickly when mounted and had me off but gradually we got it sorted. New arab not used to our fixed mounting block so had to be bribed but is ok, she can be mounted from the ground but I only do this on very rare occasions if I had lead through mud!

I used to get very disheartened but your baby is only 5 years patience and a few titbits don't come amiss and as an arab will learn very quickly.
 
Hey, you are doing great!!! From your title I expected loads of problems, but really you are doing very well! He is a young horse, he had a scare with the ill-fitting saddle, it's only natural that it will take a while to get over it. Keep being patient, it will come. As you say it's worth getting his teeth done and might also be worth getting a physio to give him the once over (he may be tight in the pole and therefore unhappy for you to touch him).
 
You'll be fine, it sounds like you really do "get" this horse which is a big part of the battle won.

If you want to speed things up, have you thought about sending him back to where he was backed for a bit of a re-establishment of what he knew in the first place before he got confused and exposed to the badly fitting saddle. My little Arab who has just been started at the same place is absolutely straightforward so her methods must be good.

Otherwise, just try to enjoy taking the time it takes and not get too frustrated. You know there will be a fabulous horse there for you to enjoy once you've got through the issues. :)
 
Aww your doing a fab job!!!

It may take a little while but you will get there in the end and you will have beautiful and wonderful horse.

If its any consolation I shed a few tears over training my old mare as a youngster. She was stunning and intelligent and very very sensitive. She turned out amazing though and it was all worth it!

Current baby horse can also have his moments lol!

Making them yourself is always hard but it is so so worth it in the end, especially the beautiful and sensitive ones, they take longer but they always turn out the best :)
 
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