Scared youngster

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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Took my youngster to be broken in at the yard I work at. Previously he was longreining in tack at home and generally chilled about everything.
It all went horribly pear shaped, I don't know what went wrong but he panicked for no reason anyone could see in his roller and managed to freak out to such an extent he got his hind legs caught over a metal bar. No horse has ever managed this at that yard before. He is pretty banged up and scarred and sad. It took 4 hours to take the roller off, wearing full protective clothing and with him screaming round his stable and falling over, it was a full on panic attack.
I bought him home and he is back in the field and slowly healing but he has got much more neurotic. He has always been horizontal.
The vet is happy to do a full work up on him but suggested first that he had a month off (he now has) and then I just put something on his back, a numnah or similar. What I actually did was got him a fly rug today as he is really hating them. He used to be fine about rugs, to the extent I have never put a headcollar on him but just chuck it on and off in the field.
Today, thinking it might not be so easy I tied him up and gave him a haynet. My OH stood at his head while I put the rug on. He was OK, but was poised to panic, but I took it slowly and he was OK. Not relaxed, but quiet.
He is only 3 and there is no rush but I need to rebuild what we had before. I am thinking daily putting stuff on him but not trying anything roller or saddleish until he is totally chilled about the first bit.
The YO (a friend of mine) came to look at his impressive scar collection yesterday and he was really scared of her...wierd! In his head, she must have caused whatever it was that frightened him. I was there and know she didn't do anything, he was tied up eating a haynet at the time.
Any suggestions for trust rebuilding? He frightenedme as much as me him.
 
What a sad tale, poor youngster and poor you! The only advice I can think of is to go right back to the beginning with him. As regards with anything on his back, start with the lightest thing possible, a silky type scarf on and off his back. Repetition is the key. Don't tie him up for this, let him move around if he wants to, keep it on when he moves about, take it off when he stops, pressure off. Move on to a soft rope on and around his back, gently does it and if you can keep up a rhythm with it, horses appreciate rhythm. Lots of short sessions and always end on a good note. You can work from there up to a light saddlecloth, and then a roller. Hope this helps...
 
Sorry to hear about your accident. Personally I'd also start from scratch again. Don't put too much pressure on getting things on his back, Id just spend time with him, grooming all over his body until he's comfortable. Then when he's settled build up things on his back slowly, always from the shoulder and let them sniff it first. If I'm on my own I like to hold the leadrope in my left hand and numnah/rug in right so if they want to move you can pull them on a circle rather than getting caught between them and the wall. Good luck with it and I hope he returns to his usual self.
 
Thank you both. It was so awful - especially as I really feel I have failed him, we have got such a bond and he lets me do anything, but the look in his eye when I was trying to get the roller off...

I just went and took his fly rug off, loose in the field, and he was fine, didn't turn a hair. I will certainly do the cloth thing, maybe a tea towel. We will get there, my poor boy.
 
I can empathise with you here! I 'backed' my youngster earlier this year - had sat on him back in Oct as a 3 yo but intention was to get him started properly this year. All was going ok, he was hacking out and being very good really.

However, it went wrong when he chucked me off twice in a week when I took him to a couple of ridden shows just for an outing really (he'd done a few in hand things as a 2 and 3 yo with me). I was out of action for 3 weeks after the 2nd chucking.

Got instructor to ride him for me in a session and he was OK but she said he's not 100% happy, he's uncomfortable somewhere. I had a wide saddle for him as know he's wide so thought was that. Easy to fix surely (?!) anyway, a couple of days after I tried his saddle on without any padding etc to check fit. well, he flipped!

After this he just appeared terrified of everything, didn't want a rug on, didn't want anyone touching his back etc etc. Took him to instructor a few weeks after to try some more saddles. well, tried one and he went beserk. Ok having it put on and done up but when asked to move he just flipped again.

We have since had his back checked (he was very sore and physio believes saddle is still not wide enough and is pinching his spine). In the time between,he just had this look of fear a lot and, to be honest I was a bit nervy handling him in case he just threw a wobbly! However, being handled more, having a pad etc put on him, me lean across him etc. He has lost that 'look' of mistrust and has chilled out again. We are yet to try some more saddles on but we will get there!

What I am saying is, give it time, just be calm with him but don't pussy foot around him either. I was shocked mine took it so badly as he comes across as quite bolshy and confident but in reality I think he's more sensitive than I gave him credit for so I am backing off and will start from scratch again.
 
you can tell the schools are breaking up...


keep perservering OP...you just need to regain his confidence by going right back to basics...good luck :)
 
ladyt25 - that is it exactly, that lack of trust when I have had him his whole life and he has always let me do anything with him. Glad to hear yours is coming right again, it gives me hope.
 
I have had him since he was 15mths so felt I knew him pretty well. He is quite confident (or comes across that way) and, although reactive he is trusting of humans and wants to be with them. Hence it was not nice to see he had this different look in his eyes and seemed wary of me. I thought I had really messed up (even though it seems a pain reaction which we have hopefully now resolved). However, he is back to ‘normal’ now but I appreciate that he is more of a sensitive soul than I thought so will bear that in mind going forwards.
Don’t worry with yours, it will come back, he’s just had a scare.
 
Oh no, poor wee soul.

Take things very slowly, do lots of groundwork to get his confidence back up and I'm sure he'll start to trust again.

One thing I'd definitely do and that is to make sure you always have a headcollar and lead rope on in the field while changing rugs, if you don't and he gets a fright, takes off with the rug partially done up then it really could cause him problems, mentally and physically
 
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