Reactive Pony

[Carlosmum]

Long story shortened! I have a 6 yr old NF gelding, he has been backed several times in the past but each time moved on because he has been tricky. He is now with me and I hope to be able to sort him out. How do I help him overcome his reactiveness? Currently we are walking out in hand because I am not yet fit enough to ride him ( Hip replacement in January) He lunges perfectly, longlines after a fashion and is a sweet pony, means no harm to anyone. BUT squirrels in the hedge, a gust of wind and unseen ghost and he 'startles' mostly he will back up suddenly and stop, if I haven't go my long lines in order he will disappear. Is it just persistence, and building up that trust? I hope to take him out to do agility or similar and present him with lots of options, get his brain working. I don't have much help, and only a minimum budget so I cant afford to send him away. He needs time, he lives at home on his own though he has sheep and cattle around and equines in shouting distance. Looking for ideas or hopeful stories of people in same situation. I have experience of youngsters and an not afraid, but I don't bounce so well now and really cant afford to fall off if I can help it. I know the sensible thing would be to move him on myself, but at the moment he is not sellable as a partly broken 6 yr old.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The first thing I would do is get him a calm equine companion of a similar size to help him relax. Startling happens because the pony is only just holding his emotions in check and the slightest thing tips him over the top.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

As Pearlasinger said above. Also has he been seen by a vet? A pony in pain will react to anything. Might be worth getting him checked out.

 

[SO1]

I would agree he needs an equine friend who he can take the lead from and get confidence from.

He is in a new home, young and on his own, he needs another horse or pony who is calm and who he can follow who can help show him the world is not a scary place.

 

[asmp]

Before I even read the replies I was going to suggest he needs a wingman so echo all of the above.

 

[JackFrost]

You MUST get him an equine companion or put him in a herd. Keeping him without is setting you both up to fail. He really needs to go out with another horse, not on his own.
When walking out with him I would go at his head and not long rein - he needs confidence and security from having you beside him. I would build up doing things within his comfort zone, maybe only 50 yards out of the gate or not even that. Being reactive is kind of ok, it's how he deals with it that matters - I find some horses want to be allowed to stop and process things themselves, others need their handler to take charge. I would do a LOT of boring walking out, and let him stop to graze and relax periodically. You say that if you dont have long lines on he will disappear - which tells you that he doesnt yet see you as his safe place and leader, there are ground work exercises that can help create a better bond.

TBH I find his background worrying - either there is some veterinary issue or he is just a very nervous personality which a few natives are. If it's this, I would figure out what he is actually suited to, might just be the predictability of being in a school, he may never be the type for hacking or the challenges of going out to do agility.

 

[splashgirl45]

As others have said an equine friend is needed. My mare was on individual turnout and was always ready to spook at anything, when we moved she had to go in with another horse and it really changed her for the better, she was always going to be lively but she stopped the spooking mostly so I think she was living on her nerves when she was on her own in the field

 

[Burnttoast]

He needs a friend just from a welfare point of view but you may find that he becomes very attached to a companion, as he sounds pretty insecure, which will make your life more complicated. But to be honest given that he's been tricky to start on other occasions and in other situations I would be looking at pain.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Hmm. He's a failed breaker and he's wired a lot of the time?

Whilst getting an equine wingman in is a must if you keep him even non ridden, it would not be at all surprising if it transpires that pain is at the root of all his issues.

You need to keep yourself safe. Is he happy enough being a pasture ornament, or is he unreliable to handle? You can catch him and groom him, pick his feet out ok etc?

 

[sbloom]

Pain, discomfort, confusion. Yes he needs company but it pretty much always comes down to that when a horse has that sort of past and is clearly in "fight, flight, freeze, fawn".

 

[maya2008]

What you are talking about here isn’t unusual in a horse/pony who is starting to go out alone (with no other horse) hacking. Even those who’ve been backed a year here still spook sometimes in front or on their own. It’s best to do the initial work with a calm equine friend who can provide support, then slowly wean them off it.

In terms of the previous backing issues, I hope you had a full vetting and have full disclosure of what exactly went wrong before. I have taken on some failed projects and it’s always better to know what to expect so you don’t get hurt!!

 

[Gloi]

If he's been a failed breaker several times already and you already are carrying injuries I don't think it's a good idea for you to try and bring him on as a riding pony. Yes, get him with a companion and yes, get the vet to look for problems and keep him as a paddock pet but don't get yourself injured by him.

 

[Boulty]

From what you say it sounds like your current situation perhaps is not ideal for bringing on a nervous several times backing failure whilst recovering from major surgery. Being realistic with yourself what skills are you bringing to the table that the people who have previously tried to back this horse didn’t have and what about your situation do you think means you will succeed where they didn’t? (I know I’m not skilled enough to take anything like that on even with a good support system & I’ve had enough bumps in the road with my fairly uncomplicated but rather backwards youngsters)

It does sound like your chances of success may be improved by moving the pony to somewhere where he has access to equine company & you have access to better support & facilities.

Personally I’d also want a full vet workup on this horse before proceeding to check that he isn’t in pain somewhere as his behaviour both previously and right now suggests that he might be. (Having had an over reactive pony who it turned out the more explosive part of that was down to pain it was amazing the difference identifying and sorting this, plus other changes, made to this horse. He was still spooky (Welsh!) but no longer felt or acted like an unexploded bomb!)