Rearing when tacking up

[Feeney]

Hi guys,

Have recently taken on loan a 18 year old gelding which I had previously been sharing for the past few months. He has settled into my yard absolutely fine, however, he has recently started to play up when tacking him up. The first few times in his new home he was fine, then for no apparent reason (isn't lame, and has been checked for back pain etc) has started to back away from his tie post and rearing up every time I try to tack him. I am at the point now where I dread tacking him and I sure he must pick up on my negativeness. Once tacked up (I persevere) he is as good as gold out and does as I ask, which is why I don't think it is because of a pain issue. He has never had this problem before. Have a couple of people (his owner is one) who are willing to help me and see if we can get to the bottom of it, but if anyone has any ideas/advice as to why he would suddenly start doing this, and how to get him to go back to being 'normal' when tacking, it would be great! I don't want to give up on him as he is such a lovely horse in all other ways!

 

[Wagtail]

At what point in the tacking up procedure does he rear? Is it bridling? Placing the saddle on his back? Girthing?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would go further down the route of investigating a pain issue.


I have a super horse who has changed shape several times since I got her and is on her 3rd saddle in less than 4 yrs. Each time she has told me that the saddle isn't comfortable at the point of mounting but when I didn't hear what she was saying, she has worked as well as usual for me.

The horse is telling you something, either about the tack, the tacking up process, or about where he is tied.

 

[joulsey]

The horse is telling you something, either about the tack, the tacking up process, or about where he is tied.

May sound strange, but have you tried tacking him up somewhere else?

 

[cptrayes]

For me that's a horse telling you it doesn't want to be ridden. I would be trying to find out why. I don't tie my horses to tack them up, and if they routinely walked away when I bring their tack I would be looking for a problem.

 

[RockinRudolph]

Years ago I knew a horse who could be quite nasty when being tacked up (this was always in the stable so I don't know what she was like if tied up to tack) - we later discovered that she had problems with her eyesight, so her reaction was probably due to worry/stress rather than anything else. I suppose if you can't see too well and you get a saddle plonked on your back, you ain't going to be too happy!
Other than that I agree that it sounds like a pain reaction.

 

[Honey08]

For me that's a horse telling you it doesn't want to be ridden. I would be trying to find out why. I don't tie my horses to tack them up, and if they routinely walked away when I bring their tack I would be looking for a problem.

Yes, I agree with this too.

It could be how you're tacking up or how you're riding the horse, or it could be a tack issue or it could be pain.

 

[Feeney]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your replies.

He has been checked over the weekend, and we are happy there isn't a pain issue, though his owner has now given me a better saddle to use instead. We think he is just trying it on because he can as is fine every other way.

At the moment I am tacking up on the other side of the gate to his field, and when that was causing issues, I tried doing it in his field (after suggestions to do so) which isn't ideal obviously and hasn't solved anything, and ideally I want to get away from doing it here as I want him to associate his field with being free and his time off. Could this be the problem? Obviously on his old yard there was a specific area for tacking up etc and he stood fine up there for me to tack him. I do have a proper area for tacking up etc at my yard, outside the stable, but I haven't taken him up there yet (has only been on loan to me for three weeks) as didn't want to overwhelm him too quickly, and wanted to let him settle in. My concern is, if he does rear and play up there, it is quite built up (mind you so was his old yard) so don't want to cause any damage to him, or other things. Maybe I should begin to slowly introduce him to the area, groom etc and just spend time with him there until he is comfortable with the surroundings and after a while try tacking there?

I really want to overcome this issue as he is a diamond pretty much every other way and it is such a shame that this is happening

 

[thewonderhorse]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your replies.

He has been checked over the weekend, and we are happy there isn't a pain issue, though his owner has now given me a better saddle to use instead. We think he is just trying it on because he can as is fine every other way.

At the moment I am tacking up on the other side of the gate to his field, and when that was causing issues, I tried doing it in his field (after suggestions to do so) which isn't ideal obviously and hasn't solved anything, and ideally I want to get away from doing it here as I want him to associate his field with being free and his time off. Could this be the problem? Obviously on his old yard there was a specific area for tacking up etc and he stood fine up there for me to tack him. I do have a proper area for tacking up etc at my yard, outside the stable, but I haven't taken him up there yet (has only been on loan to me for three weeks) as didn't want to overwhelm him too quickly, and wanted to let him settle in. My concern is, if he does rear and play up there, it is quite built up (mind you so was his old yard) so don't want to cause any damage to him, or other things. Maybe I should begin to slowly introduce him to the area, groom etc and just spend time with him there until he is comfortable with the surroundings and after a while try tacking there?

I really want to overcome this issue as he is a diamond pretty much every other way and it is such a shame that this is happening

Hi OP. Who was he checked by? - a vet, a physio??

It rings alarm bells to me that you say the owner has given you a 'better' saddle??

This still rings bells of a pain reaction to me.

 

[Dry Rot]

Can you repeatedly tack up, then untack, tack up again, etc. and try to diagnose which part of the process sets him off? That might give a clue. Take your time, do it very slowly, and watch for body language (eye movement, ears, etc)..

An animal wanting to escape a situation, for example, will often glance in the direction it is planning/wants to go or at the thing it finds disturbing. Evasive action is seldom instantaneous without some warning, however brief.

 

[Sukistokes2]

What does a "better" saddle mean?

Has the saddle been checked and fitted to the horse. How would you feel if the horse was in pain and decided to show you that while being ridden, rather then when being tacked. Would you be able to handle that. This horse is being honest with you telling you there is "something" wrong. They rarely, if ever "take the piss" that is just us humans not listening to our horses. Don't let him get to the point when he decides shout at you.

 

[thewonderhorse]

What does a "better" saddle mean?

Has the saddle been checked and fitted to the horse. How would you feel if the horse was in pain and decided to show you that while being ridden, rather then when being tacked. Would you be able to handle that. This horse is being honest with you telling you there is "something" wrong. They rarely, if ever "take the piss" that is just us humans not listening to our horses. Don't let him get to the point when he decides shout at you.

This, absolutely!

 

[Wagtail]

Hi Guys,

He has been checked over the weekend, and we are happy there isn't a pain issue, though his owner has now given me a better saddle to use instead. We think he is just trying it on because he can as is fine every other way.

Checked over the weekend? So obviously not by a vet then?

And your friend has given you a 'better saddle'? Has this been correctly fitted to him over the weekend too?

At the moment I am tacking up on the other side of the gate to his field, and when that was causing issues, I tried doing it in his field (after suggestions to do so) which isn't ideal obviously and hasn't solved anything, and ideally I want to get away from doing it here as I want him to associate his field with being free and his time off. Could this be the problem? Obviously on his old yard there was a specific area for tacking up etc and he stood fine up there for me to tack him. I do have a proper area for tacking up etc at my yard, outside the stable, but I haven't taken him up there yet (has only been on loan to me for three weeks) as didn't want to overwhelm him too quickly, and wanted to let him settle in. My concern is, if he does rear and play up there, it is quite built up (mind you so was his old yard) so don't want to cause any damage to him, or other things. Maybe I should begin to slowly introduce him to the area, groom etc and just spend time with him there until he is comfortable with the surroundings and after a while try tacking there? I really want to overcome this issue as he is a diamond pretty much every other way and it is such a shame that this is happening

I don't think it is a 'behavioural issue'.

Reading between the lines, and correct me if I'm wrong, you used to share this horse and have now taken him on a full loan. Owner gave you an inferior saddle, perhaps not wanting to part with a quality one. Horse was fine the first few times as is not expecting pain. Then horse susses out that this saddle hurts him and so starts trying to tell you in any way he can. But when you persist and don't listen, being a stoic and kind natured horse, he behaves and doesn't deck you. He bears the pain until the next time you try to put that saddle on him, when he tries to tell you again...

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Checked over the weekend? So obviously not by a vet then?

And your friend has given you a 'better saddle'? Has this been correctly fitted to him over the weekend too?




I don't think it is a 'behavioural issue'.

Reading between the lines, and correct me if I'm wrong, you used to share this horse and have now taken him on a full loan. Owner gave you an inferior saddle, perhaps not wanting to part with a quality one. Horse was fine the first few times as is not expecting pain. Then horse susses out that this saddle hurts him and so starts trying to tell you in any way he can. But when you persist and don't listen, being a stoic and kind natured horse, he behaves and doesn't deck you. He bears the pain until

But unfortunately OP isn't listening!

This horse is trying extremely hard to tell you that there is a problem, fgs, find someone who knows a bit more than the horse's owner to check the horse properly and find out what the problem is. By now you probably need a vet, whilst if you had taken notice at the beginning a saddler might have been the only professional you needed.

 

[Fides]

Checked over the weekend? So obviously not by a vet then?

And your friend has given you a 'better saddle'? Has this been correctly fitted to him over the weekend too?



I don't think it is a 'behavioural issue'.

Reading between the lines, and correct me if I'm wrong, you used to share this horse and have now taken him on a full loan. Owner gave you an inferior saddle, perhaps not wanting to part with a quality one. Horse was fine the first few times as is not expecting pain. Then horse susses out that this saddle hurts him and so starts trying to tell you in any way he can. But when you persist and don't listen, being a stoic and kind natured horse, he behaves and doesn't deck you. He bears the pain until the next time you try to put that saddle on him, when he tries to tell you again...

I think this hits the nail on the head

 

[slumdog]

Echo everyone else.

Horse is also 18, at that age I doubt he'd suddenly start to act up when being tacked up unless there was a problem. My guess would be saddle, back or possibly teeth.

 

[Wagtail]

Sadly, it looks like the OP has not been back to check this thread since yesterday morning.