New pony won't allow me to get on. Very sensitive

[Ambers Echo]

The is no form of 'horsemanship' that is going to sort out a pony in pain. I'd park any though of training - 'natural' or otherwise - until the vet has done a work up and you have a diagnosis and treatment plan. Then the rehab needs to be guided by your vet. So getting a trainer in at this point would be a waste of money in my view. Any decent trainer would not work with a horse in undiagnosed pain anyway. And if they would I wouldn't want them as my trainer.

I am very sorry you are in this situation. You have been had I'm afraid. This is a pony sold with a significant problem. You can only hope that the people who had her before you didnt bother trying to help her so you may find it is something readily treatable and she comes right for you.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I have (deliberately) not read any of the responses to this thread.

Am sharing my experience:

When I bought my "project" mare eighteen months ago and brought her home; she refused point-blank to stand up at the mounting block. It was very obvious that something was wrong and that this issue was clearly pain-related.

This was a mare who had been, in her past, in an RDA centre so was well-used to different riders and having to stand quietly. But once I'd got her home, she point-blank said "no"!!

It turned out (vet & chiropractic visits) that the mare had a sacroiliac issue and once this was treated and she was rested, then checked again, plus a saddle check, she was perfectly happy to stand up by the mounting block!

 

[MuffettMischief]

I have had a good read through here and its quite interesting. My mare is touchy on her sides, nothing wrong with her she's just sensitive. You say this is ONLY when you get on and then she is absolutely fine once you set off/get going? I agree you need to have a vet check to be sure she isn't in pain but I am starting to lean towards a training issue. She may well have been frightened at mounting in the breaking process, had a really heavy rider with an ill fitting saddle, something along those lines. Mares don't forgive and forget easily. Best of luck and keep us updated

 

[MiniMilton]

I know I seem to say it for most things, but have a check for ulcers too. My mare used to be okay (ish) to lunge but as soon as anyone got on she went vertical and this pony had never reared in her life so I knew something was wrong. Had her teeth, saddle back checked the lot. Vet scoped, grade 4 ulcers. She too worsened over time, worth mentioning to the vet I think.

I was thinking ulcers too. Especially when OP said shes fine to lunge, but not OK lunging with stirrups down (presumably stirrups banging off girth area)

Hindsight is wonderful, but to me any broken in horse being sold unridden for any reason is very suspicious.

 

[Lady Jane]

Your comments about 'kicking' her make me wonder how you are riding her? Its a very odd phrase to use

 

[Leahwood]

Your comments about 'kicking' her make me wonder how you are riding her? Its a very odd phrase to use

I have already replied to this further up . When I say kick , I dont mean great big Pony club kicks , I just mean a gental nudge on the side.
The problem isn't kicking ( squeezing) her throughout the ride it is the first time you kick (squeeze) her when you get on , or if you leg just touches her.

 

[Leahwood]

The word kick is very common way to tell someone ie nstructor to their student, for them to ask their horse to increase in pace ect.

Like your instructor says 'kick' or even 'used more leg '. This doesn't mean give the horse a pony club kick. It can just mean give the horse a squeeze with your leg.

 

[Leahwood]

Thank you for everyone's replys. I have taken the pony to the vets this week and have been told that there is nothing physically (medically) that they can find. They believe with everything she has been through, before we got her. It has caused her to be become very sensitive and very fearful. So have been told to spend a couple of months to try and make everything into a positive experience and help her as she has had so many bad experiences. So has a lot of bad memories, therefore it is tricky to do things as they don't forget.

Hopefully she will start to enjoy her life now and know that she will be loved.

 

[Pippity]

The word kick is very common way to tell someone ie nstructor to their student, for them to ask their horse to increase in pace ect.

Like your instructor says 'kick' or even 'used more leg '. This doesn't mean give the horse a pony club kick. It can just mean give the horse a squeeze with your leg.

This may be a terminology your instructor uses that's fairly unique to them, because I haven't had an instructor tell me to kick since I was on riding school ponies. I get, "More leg," and even, "Give her a nudge," but I haven't been told to "kick" for decades.

Hopefully you can understand why we were a bit concerned you were booting your horse in the ribs.

 

[AlDestoor]

Alarm bells would have been ringing if they couldn't ride the horse. I would have refused the sale until I saw someone on her.

Did they x ray her back? I bought a horse last July who was perfect but then one day reared on mounting. I went straight to the vets for a full workup and he has KS in 2 processes. He now requires regular physio and a way of approaching mounting to keep us both safe. I sent him to a professional after the rehab to approach this in the right way as he had some memory issues to get over, and with my confidence, I didn't want to jeopardise the hard work I had done. I researched and asked around before agreeing on where I sent him to. Best thing I did and we've stayed there as liveries now.