Trotting issues with horse

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Jasmine2023

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So I have had Charlie for around 3 months now and he is quite young, 5 years old, but has supposed to have been professionally backed. I am having issues in the trot with him. The first time I tried to trot on him he suddenly took off quite fast and I couldn't get him to stop and I fell off badly bruising the bottom of my back which caused me to need to take time off from riding. One of the more experienced girls at the yard got on him and managed a good trot on him so I thought I must have done something wrong. Well I tried to trot again on him yesterday in my lesson and he did the exact same thing again with me. Luckily I had my reins shorter this time and managed to get him to stop. I asked the RI if I had done anything wrong to which she said no and that he looked as if he didn't know what to do but he does, or should know. She suggested some groundwork with him but I am not sure. I can trot by the way and did so on my previous horse and on the riding school horse. I am not perfect by any means but I can do it. He also felt very bouncy nearly bouncing me out of the saddle! Any advice please.
 
Are you riding with a neck strap? Holding a neck strap may help you stay with the movement if he shoots forward. It maybe upsetting him if your getting left behind the movement and landing a little heavy.

Are you going straight into a rising trot or are you sitting for a few strides before you rise to get the rhythm? Maybe start by asking him to jog a few strides and them back to walk to get you confidence up first.

Have you spoken to the previous owner or the pro that backed the pony initially? A few sessions with the person who backed your pony may help you and pony. Or if that isn't practical (I'm not sure if you bought pony local to you) then maybe speak with someone local who breaks and schools. Ask them to come and ride your pony and then teach you to ride the pony. After a few sessions you should have worked out where all the buttons are.
 
Doesn't sound like you are very balanced, when you say that he nearly bounced you off (in trot?). Some horses are naturally bouncier than others and with more strength and balance from you, that'll be okay. He's young and inexperienced, would explain why he would react like that if you were unbalanced.

I'd recommend having someone experienced and balanced out to ride the horse, to give him positive experiences of being ridden in trot and canter. An experienced rider could also safely get the horse used to imbalanced riders, when it's ready. Sounds like you need to practice more, exercise outside of the horse world too (especially core). If possible, ride other horses of a similar but older kind as your own. Take lessons with your horse and focus on the basics, perhaps only walk for some time.
 
I think that as a novice rider it's never a particularly good mix to get a young, newly broken horse. In an ideal world you'd be looking for a saintly schoolmaster that can help with confidence and to improve one's riding.

The horses education is just starting, and I suspect it's not going to be easy going for either of you for a time. However if you can keep riding other horses and have an experienced rider on your horse for the next 6 months you may form a great partnership.
 
Professionally backed could be 2 weeks training if not then ridden away

It sounds like your lack of balance is worrying him, with the added scare of you having fallen off, I’d go so far as to say this is potentially not a good match from the information given.

I would get a pro on to properly assess the horse before deciding on next steps
 
Polos Mum said:
Lots of lessons, groundwork for him and trotting on other horses for you as well as him being ridden by experienced others - just for a little while until you both get stronger and more used to it.

Being professionally backed does not necessarily mean he can be ridden easily by anyone.
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I have moved yards recently so no longer have anyone else to ride him.
dorsetladette said:
Are you riding with a neck strap? Holding a neck strap may help you stay with the movement if he shoots forward. It maybe upsetting him if your getting left behind the movement and landing a little heavy.

Are you going straight into a rising trot or are you sitting for a few strides before you rise to get the rhythm? Maybe start by asking him to jog a few strides and them back to walk to get you confidence up first.

Have you spoken to the previous owner or the pro that backed the pony initially? A few sessions with the person who backed your pony may help you and pony. Or if that isn't practical (I'm not sure if you bought pony local to you) then maybe speak with someone local who breaks and schools. Ask them to come and ride your pony and then teach you to ride the pony. After a few sessions you should have worked out where all the buttons are.
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I don't have a neck strap but intend to get one. I was trying a sitting trot actually but previously it was a rising trot and I can't remember whether I went straight into the trot or not to be honest. He came from Ireland so not able to speak to the person who backed him. We are liveried at a riding school where they did school horses but they don't do that anymore.
deicinmerlyn said:
Regular lessons including lunge lessons. Perhaps your instructor could ride the horse once a week aswell.
A just backed horse needs regular consistent confident riding otherwise you’re stocking up problems for you and the horse in the future.
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They won't get on horses they don't know anymore, not since having children, they say it's too dangerous.
ester said:
Professionally backed could be 2 weeks training if not then ridden away

It sounds like your lack of balance is worrying him, with the added scare of you having fallen off, I’d go so far as to say this is potentially not a good match from the information given.

I would get a pro on to properly assess the horse before deciding on next steps
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As I said in my first post a professional rider did ride him after my fall and had no issues with him. She did say he was quite bouncy though. Unfortunately if it doesn't work out with him I will have to give up riding as I am too old to start out again it took long enough to find him and he seemed a good match with advice from a previous RI I know. Having previously being mis sold a horse I said then that this next horse would have to be the last sadly. We started hacking out a few weeks ago and that has gone okay after his initial nervousness with his new surroundings. Other than this trotting issue he is a lovely gentle boy who has excellent manners with everything.
 
Jasmine2023 said:
I have moved yards recently so no longer have anyone else to ride him.

I don't have a neck strap but intend to get one. I was trying a sitting trot actually but previously it was a rising trot and I can't remember whether I went straight into the trot or not to be honest. He came from Ireland so not able to speak to the person who backed him. We are liveried at a riding school where they did school horses but they don't do that anymore.

They won't get on horses they don't know anymore, not since having children, they say it's too dangerous.

As I said in my first post a professional rider did ride him after my fall and had no issues with him. She did say he was quite bouncy though. Unfortunately if it doesn't work out with him I will have to give up riding as I am too old to start out again it took long enough to find him and he seemed a good match with advice from a previous RI I know. Having previously being mis sold a horse I said then that this next horse would have to be the last sadly. We started hacking out a few weeks ago and that has gone okay after his initial nervousness with his new surroundings. Other than this trotting issue he is a lovely gentle boy who has excellent manners with everything.
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Even if there isn't someone at your yard, there are professionals who will ride him for you to continue his education, they will come to your yard. Not cheap (nothing quality with horses ever is!) but worth the investment for a relationship that might last you 15 years !

Newly over from Ireland, in one yard, then a yard move - it's all very unsettling for a 5 y/o who might have been dragged in from the field 5 months ago for the first time !!

Given the new information above - I would even consider sending him away for further brining on, if you can find someone reputable locally.
 
Please don’t take this the wrong way but how much riding experience do you have? A just backed and ridden away 5 year old is a completely different kettle of fish than a riding school horse or even your last owned horse, which I assume was older and more experienced.

I suspect he’s panicking a bit when you trot him because he’s trying to balance himself AND you. And you may not be as balanced a rider as he requires at his age.

As others have suggested either send him away to get more schooling under his belt. Or get a good professional rider to ride him for you as much as you can afford. You can do groundwork. Lunging, long reining etc. this will also help your horse get confidence in you. Good luck.
 
He does sounds a real good sort and it would be a pity to give up on such a genuine youngster because he has shown a little nervousness at an unbalanced nervous rider bobbing about on his back. I second either getting a really good and experienced instructor to come to you and ride him a few times, as others have said they can also train him to be more accepting of a wobbly rider. Or send him away, it would be money well spent to end up with a really nice partner. But please research any trainers thoroughly before doing either.
 
Jasmine2023 said:
I have moved yards recently so no longer have anyone else to ride him.

I don't have a neck strap but intend to get one. I was trying a sitting trot actually but previously it was a rising trot and I can't remember whether I went straight into the trot or not to be honest. He came from Ireland so not able to speak to the person who backed him. We are liveried at a riding school where they did school horses but they don't do that anymore.

They won't get on horses they don't know anymore, not since having children, they say it's too dangerous.

As I said in my first post a professional rider did ride him after my fall and had no issues with him. She did say he was quite bouncy though. Unfortunately if it doesn't work out with him I will have to give up riding as I am too old to start out again it took long enough to find him and he seemed a good match with advice from a previous RI I know. Having previously being mis sold a horse I said then that this next horse would have to be the last sadly. We started hacking out a few weeks ago and that has gone okay after his initial nervousness with his new surroundings. Other than this trotting issue he is a lovely gentle boy who has excellent manners with everything.
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You said one of the more experienced girls on the yard, not that they were a professional and capable of analysing where horses are with their training and their ability to cope with a less balanced rider.
 
If your instructor considers your horse too dangerous to get on- given they do know him and have seen the behaviour that does worry me, and you have very little information on what his history and training is, as said above he could just have pulled from a field, backed quickly by sticky people and sent over.

I would find someone to either at your yard or elsewhere to ride him away properly in wtc and then teach you on him.
 
Money spent on having professional help now with assessing and schooling him won't be wasted. Then either they can give you lessons on him or help you sell him depending on how things turn out.
If they do not think he will turn out to be suitable for some reason please don't think you are too old for another horse. There are many of us on here buying horses while drawing our pensions.
 
You would be much better with a quiet, older horse, one with steady paces, and who does not do a big trot

One thats been round the the block, knows the job is to keep his rider safe

Who understands the aids even from a novice, is very calm with a sensible nature

Trying to train a horse as a novice is like the blind leading the blind, you need to be able to lead with a novice horse, be confident and able to deal with the wobbles, and sit through them

A minimum of 12 years old horse, 5 years old is a baby horse

There are horse solid as a rock from young, but even they need actual schooling to finish them off
 
is he shooting off but staying in trot? i think you really need to work on staying with him and letting him get going a little bit, before asking him to slow down. if he’s green and just backed he’s probably not used to different “gears” in trot, and you’ll only confuse him by sending him forward and then stopping him again. obviously if he’s shooting off like a rocket that’s a bit different😂
 
Polos Mum said:
Even if there isn't someone at your yard, there are professionals who will ride him for you to continue his education, they will come to your yard. Not cheap (nothing quality with horses ever is!) but worth the investment for a relationship that might last you 15 years !

Newly over from Ireland, in one yard, then a yard move - it's all very unsettling for a 5 y/o who might have been dragged in from the field 5 months ago for the first time !!

Given the new information above - I would even consider sending him away for further brining on, if you can find someone reputable locally.
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Yes I understand regarding the moves all though he did seem to take it all in his stride and has been very settled. Whilst over there the owner did have a lady riding him for her as she is in bad health so he hasn't been out of work as such.
Parrotperson said:
Please don’t take this the wrong way but how much riding experience do you have? A just backed and ridden away 5 year old is a completely different kettle of fish than a riding school horse or even your last owned horse, which I assume was older and more experienced.

I suspect he’s panicking a bit when you trot him because he’s trying to balance himself AND you. And you may not be as balanced a rider as he requires at his age.

As others have suggested either send him away to get more schooling under his belt. Or get a good professional rider to ride him for you as much as you can afford. You can do groundwork. Lunging, long reining etc. this will also help your horse get confidence in you. Good luck.
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I started learning a couple of years ago but have had breaks for one reason or another. I will admit my balance is not the greatest so yes I can understand he may be worried in certain situations. We seem to do well with all other school work in the arena but it's nothing too complicated. It's just the trotting which isn't going well. I can hack out with him alone.
ester said:
If your instructor considers your horse too dangerous to get on- given they do know him and have seen the behaviour that does worry me, and you have very little information on what his history and training is, as said above he could just have pulled from a field, backed quickly by sticky people and sent over.

I would find someone to either at your yard or elsewhere to ride him away properly in wtc and then teach you on him.
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I don't think they consider he's dangerous, if I thought that believe me I wouldn't get on him.
tristars said:
You would be much better with a quiet, older horse, one with steady paces, and who does not do a big trot

One thats been round the the block, knows the job is to keep his rider safe

Who understands the aids even from a novice, is very calm with a sensible nature

Trying to train a horse as a novice is like the blind leading the blind, you need to be able to lead with a novice horse, be confident and able to deal with the wobbles, and sit through them

A minimum of 12 years old horse, 5 years old is a baby horse

There are horse solid as a rock from young, but even they need actual schooling to finish them off
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0h believe me I looked for that kind of horse but had no luck finding one. Something about Charlie jumped out at me and he was the one I ended up going for being told by a friend who is an RI that he would be fine for me.

I spent a lot of money on him and raided my savings. I don't have the money left to send him away for more schooling or get a professional rider in. So a bit stuck really.
 
dottylottie said:
is he shooting off but staying in trot? i think you really need to work on staying with him and letting him get going a little bit, before asking him to slow down. if he’s green and just backed he’s probably not used to different “gears” in trot, and you’ll only confuse him by sending him forward and then stopping him again. obviously if he’s shooting off like a rocket that’s a bit different😂
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He shoots off and definitely not in trot. As he can trot with an experienced rider it's obvious something about me is bothering him.
 
Oh heck. I’m not sure after the Ozzy issue that a 5yo just backed youngster was a good idea. So difficult if you trust your instructor but they give you advice like that as a novice.

Lots of good advice here, but youngsters need a capable, balanced, experienced (or under direct supervision of someone experienced) rider.
 
You know the issue is with you, not the horse, so you need to upskill yourself. Go back to lessons on the lunge on an established horse until your seat is more secure. In the meantime, it sounds like you can enjoy him in walk anyway so I would aim to get someone experienced to school him once or twice a week so that by the time you are ready for him he is also more educated and able to tolerate your lack of balance.
 
Is it just in the school? Could you stick to hacking for a bit if that's fine to get used the eachother, save up some money for lessons and then get back to schooling?

You are a bit stuck if you have noone to help so you just have to do what you can. Maybe lunge and groundwork if you feel confident with that in the school.

There are rarely any magic answers with horses unfortunately, just time and work
 
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