Nellewash
New User
Firstly sorry for the essay- I have a very specific problem and circumstances as the horse I ride isn't mine however, he's got so much potential (and of course I've fallen totally in love with him) I'm hanging on in there until she lets my buy him.
I'm riding a 17.2 ID x TB gelding 6 years old. Broken at 5 his owner had an operation then got pregnant so hasn't ridden him and also hasn't ridden for 5 years, I doubt she ever will properly ride him. I am the only person to have ridden him since breaking, I'm pretty competent and sensible- having had my own horse (sadly put down at a ripe old age) for 12 years and working at a riding stables as a teen (proving to parents I was serious about having a horse) and helping break riding school ponies.
I ride properly from my seat which is why this lovely big lad can be ridden in his training snaffle bit with no problem, he has been taught not to pull when out cantering on rides to hack front, middle and back. To be respectful in the stable and on the ground. However....
I hacked him down to a local dressage event early to avoid crowds and he reared up and was totally overwhelmed by the other horses despite there not being many people around so I hacked home sharpish. Subsequently on a hack a few ponies broke out next to us and followed us down a lane, he freaked out and reared over on me resulting in torn ligaments in my Knee (only because I dived right so I didn't end up underneath him).
He was bred by the woman who owns him, he was weaned for 6 months then put back with mum and one other pony (supposedly for her daughters to ride however this has happened 4 times in 9 months but that's a whole other story). He was taken to a livery yard after breaking for use of the ménage and turned out in a field with about 10 horses in however, the owner didn't want to pay to keep him there and took him out before the herd had accepted him and I think because he was taken away at that stage and only ever lived with mum in a very secluded field he has no ability to socialise or handle being near other horses.
Teeth, saddle, back, legs all checked no reason for him to be uncomfortable at all.
So what can I do to help with his fear, my riding instructor suggested sending him to a behavioural specialist however, the owner will not be able pay to do this having a newborn baby. I would pay if he was mine - but his owner won't agree to part with him yet and really I'm not going to pay for someone else's horse to be sorted out.
Sorry for the length but I want to give the whole picture, I've never had a rearer before (mine was a bolter).
Please no one say whack him over the head with a crop or similar he's not doing it to be naughty he's just totally panicked and in escape mode. I know to turn him in circles which I was doing at the time however he ripped his head out of my hands and went straight up, he's very big and strong, I think a 17stone man would have trouble keeping him on all 4's and again I want to tackle the cause not the symptom.
Any help massively appreciated.
I'm riding a 17.2 ID x TB gelding 6 years old. Broken at 5 his owner had an operation then got pregnant so hasn't ridden him and also hasn't ridden for 5 years, I doubt she ever will properly ride him. I am the only person to have ridden him since breaking, I'm pretty competent and sensible- having had my own horse (sadly put down at a ripe old age) for 12 years and working at a riding stables as a teen (proving to parents I was serious about having a horse) and helping break riding school ponies.
I ride properly from my seat which is why this lovely big lad can be ridden in his training snaffle bit with no problem, he has been taught not to pull when out cantering on rides to hack front, middle and back. To be respectful in the stable and on the ground. However....
I hacked him down to a local dressage event early to avoid crowds and he reared up and was totally overwhelmed by the other horses despite there not being many people around so I hacked home sharpish. Subsequently on a hack a few ponies broke out next to us and followed us down a lane, he freaked out and reared over on me resulting in torn ligaments in my Knee (only because I dived right so I didn't end up underneath him).
He was bred by the woman who owns him, he was weaned for 6 months then put back with mum and one other pony (supposedly for her daughters to ride however this has happened 4 times in 9 months but that's a whole other story). He was taken to a livery yard after breaking for use of the ménage and turned out in a field with about 10 horses in however, the owner didn't want to pay to keep him there and took him out before the herd had accepted him and I think because he was taken away at that stage and only ever lived with mum in a very secluded field he has no ability to socialise or handle being near other horses.
Teeth, saddle, back, legs all checked no reason for him to be uncomfortable at all.
So what can I do to help with his fear, my riding instructor suggested sending him to a behavioural specialist however, the owner will not be able pay to do this having a newborn baby. I would pay if he was mine - but his owner won't agree to part with him yet and really I'm not going to pay for someone else's horse to be sorted out.
Sorry for the length but I want to give the whole picture, I've never had a rearer before (mine was a bolter).
Please no one say whack him over the head with a crop or similar he's not doing it to be naughty he's just totally panicked and in escape mode. I know to turn him in circles which I was doing at the time however he ripped his head out of my hands and went straight up, he's very big and strong, I think a 17stone man would have trouble keeping him on all 4's and again I want to tackle the cause not the symptom.
Any help massively appreciated.