trouble getting on - very green 8 year old (v long-Sorry)

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lexibell

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Hello

Posting this on behalf of a friend;

She has taken on a 8 year old which was sent to our yard as a schooling livery but owner decided to sell, friend has been looking and was really taken with the mare. when the Mare orignally came to the yard our understanding was she had been backed, then turned away as a broodmare. so was a big project, too much for previous owner. my YO had been doing lots of lunging, long reining etc, getting her used to the tack again, handling all the usual stuff.
Now when my friend bought her she went back through the passport and spoke to all previous owners right back to breeder, it seems that she was professionally back at 3/4 and then sold on as a riding horse, new owner due to there own circumstances used her as a broodmare, they then sold her on to be brought back into work and brought on to a nervous lady (excellent idea) and this seems to be where the trouble started with mounting her, this lady was lacking in confidence, had no support or help and struggled to actually get on! apparently once on shes fiesty but fun ride. I suspect that horse worked out if it buggered around she wouldnt be able to get on and would go home. this lady then gave in completley and after a couple of months decided to sell, she couldnt do this privately as potential buyers couldnt get on to try her, so stuck her in Melton sales. this is where last owner (also a novice, with physical health problems) bought her, but also struggled, (again - excellent idea!) hence sending her on to schooling livery.

So from what we can gather no one has been on her since about last March. as YO and new friend have been doing soo much ground work they tried a coupld of times last week to get on, even with 2 people holding her it was impossible.

So back and teeth have also been checked, we cant find that anything has 'happened' to her over the years. Basically just wondering if any one has any ideas?? it doesnt seem to be the physical weight on her back or the touching of her etc, it seems to be that moment when you jump, even having the rider practically lifted on didnt make a difference.she doesnt rear or buck, she just spins, but she is a very headstrong mare and I dont think anyone has a chance of holding her when she goes, she really means it.....so any ideas???
 
Sounds mad, but I would get her in a corner of the school, facing the fence with someone stood at her shoulder so she cant spin into the school, and get on her without taking a contact on the reins. I have known mares flip out as soon as a contact is taken on the reins (someone holding them for example) but be fine with a loose rein contact... Maybe also worth someone being at her head feeding her polo's, nuts, etc to distract her the first few times...
 
I would say there is underlying issues...which is why she was backed then sent away as a brood mare.
 
My friend had one just like this, sounds strange but she would stand perfectly still right in the middle of the school!!

But if you tried to get on her near the fencing or a corner she went mad, we never found out why she was like this.

Good luck hope your friend sorts her out.
 
at my last yard there was a mare just the same.If you managed to get half way up she would take off broncing until she dropped you.It turned out she did have a back problem which once treated turned her into a basically nice mare.She had to be restarted as she was instantly nervous of anyone placing a foot in the stirrup. They did lots of groundwork with her,spent time grooming her from a portable mounting block so the horse accepted having someone high up above her from both sides and made a point of patting her and leaning over her without actually getting on board. She gradually became more relaxed about it.When the time came for a rider they used a dummy initially because of the broncing.She accepted it fine and accepted the rider fine.She is now back to being a normal horse.
 
Hi R2R, she was sold as a riding horse, but the new owners said they had a change of circumstance personally and decided to put her into foal, weather they are not telling us something I dont know, but why would they lie? there have been 2 more owners since so its not like my firend will be asking them for the money back.

Also if underlying issues, why is she OK when you do eventually get on?

Sorry if Im being daft, just trying to figure it all out to try and help my friend
 
I would get the vet out and ask for an all-round health check with particular emphasis on the back, teeth and a trot up to check for soundness. If she gets the all clear then this is a behavioural issue and it will take patience and time to solve.

Personally I would try taking it in small steps and break-down the mounting process. Start with something she is willing to do, e.g. walk up to the mounting block, do this and reward her. Repeat often, then try asking her to stand, reward and repeat, and progress gradually putting a foot in the stirrup (and removing it), etc. I would try with someone next to her feeding her rather than trying to hold her because if she has had a bad experience and is panicking, trying to hold her may make things worse. If the whole process is too dangerous to do with a rider, try a dummy.

Depending on your friend's experience she may want to get a professional (someone who specialises in rehabillitating horses) to get over this problem and teach her how to do so as well.
 
My horse was ok to get on via a leg up but not but the mounting block or from the ground so not as bad as this mare but would still rear or go backwards when you tried.

I found he really doesn't like being held so I barely touch the reins and stood him with one side next to the wall which helps without him being trapped, ask someone to feed her which should distract a little. And don'y faff just get on as quick as poss.

Now I can get on from the floor on my own anywhere, after getting impatient one day and throwing myself on while he bunny hopped, he never does that now. I can get on from mounting block as long as someone distracts him but not on my own.

It's a common problem with young horses so I think with patience It will come right.

The best of luck.
 
I think the advice is good. Definitely get her used to having someone above her - i.e. standing on a bale, mounting block, etc. while grooming. I think the back check up is also good, and SADDLE. What happens when the rider's weight comes down into the saddle, is anything pressing uncomfortably.

If she tenses up, puts head up, etc, I think you are looking at something hurting at sometime. Then even if it doesn't hurt anymore you have got that anticipation.

As to whether people lie - well sometimes they "forget" things and miss out some vital information.

I might suggest clicker training if you know how to do it, but if you haven't maybe it isn't a good horse to start on.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would get the vet out and ask for an all-round health check with particular emphasis on the back, teeth and a trot up to check for soundness. If she gets the all clear then this is a behavioural issue and it will take patience and time to solve.

Personally I would try taking it in small steps and break-down the mounting process. Start with something she is willing to do, e.g. walk up to the mounting block, do this and reward her. Repeat often, then try asking her to stand, reward and repeat, and progress gradually putting a foot in the stirrup (and removing it), etc. I would try with someone next to her feeding her rather than trying to hold her because if she has had a bad experience and is panicking, trying to hold her may make things worse. If the whole process is too dangerous to do with a rider, try a dummy.

Depending on your friend's experience she may want to get a professional (someone who specialises in rehabillitating horses) to get over this problem and teach her how to do so as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Baaa! baaaaaa! What she said!
 
Trying to think outside the box (so to speak) but have you tried mounting from the other side? This might just give you the upper hand if she isn’t sure what you are doing.

Just a thought.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would get the vet out and ask for an all-round health check with particular emphasis on the back, teeth and a trot up to check for soundness. If she gets the all clear then this is a behavioural issue and it will take patience and time to solve.

Personally I would try taking it in small steps and break-down the mounting process. Start with something she is willing to do, e.g. walk up to the mounting block, do this and reward her. Repeat often, then try asking her to stand, reward and repeat, and progress gradually putting a foot in the stirrup (and removing it), etc. I would try with someone next to her feeding her rather than trying to hold her because if she has had a bad experience and is panicking, trying to hold her may make things worse. If the whole process is too dangerous to do with a rider, try a dummy.

Depending on your friend's experience she may want to get a professional (someone who specialises in rehabillitating horses) to get over this problem and teach her how to do so as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Baaa! baaaaaa! What she said!

[/ QUOTE ]

BAAAAAA!!
tongue.gif
I was about to say something along these lines, too. And ,as someone else said above, using a portable mounting block in the middle of the school may help aswell. Starting with having her just standing calmly next to it, if she moves away you can put it back next to her again(instead of keep turning her in circles next to the block.) You would need one person to hold horse and one to move block. Work through all of the processes leading up to mounting in the same way every time and obviously a big thing is just taking as much time as the horse needs to get used to it - don't be in a hurry to get on.
 
We had a horse that was frightened of the mounting block as someone had slipped while getting on and accidentally kicked him in the belly.
We had to sort it because I was riding him side saddle and he wasn't dead keen on a leg up either!
Move the block away from the wall - don't be tempted to trap her in as she might panic and really hurt her rider.
Get a person that she really likes to hold the front end - you might have to have a few days with this person bribing her with polos etc while you just stand on the block and then progress to leaning over her before you try to mount.
Once you're on, insist that she stands, even if you have to circle round and come back to the block before halting, and then make a huge fuss of her - the block needs to become a nice place.
You can progress to the helper standing by and not holding her and then just somewhere nearby.
It might help to lunge her and get her quite tired and relaxed each time you do this - and once she's stood quietly to be mounted, get off and put her away, so she sees being mounted as the prelude to a reward.
 
I've had success with clicker training for mounting issues - but they weren't as severe as this.

It could be useful, but if your friend isn't familiar with the concept, it would be best for her to get one of the many books on the subject and start with some simple exercises. Then the horse gets a chance to grasp the idea, before progressing to using it to solve a problem.

I'm no "fluffy bunny" by any means - but I've seen some really positive results using this method.
 
Assuming everything is fine physically I'd get someone like Grant Bazin involved. He's worked with several horses that we know over the years with good results, including one who had an extreme reaction to mounting and who is now as good as gold. He's in Northants too which I why I thought of him.
 
Thanks all, good suggestions I will print them all and forward them on to her, I know she will appreciate all of your input.

ISH Mad - I was actualyl thinking of calling Grant last night, Ive never seen him in action but have heard that hes pretty damn good
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x
 
Have had probs with my 10yr mare not standing next to mounting block. Have had her teeth checked and they were sharp so that was obviously a problem. I find she stands for me if I don't take a contact on the reins. Perhaps you could put a neck strap on her so you have something to hold as you mount. My mare is getting better, she too has had time out being a broodmare but I think it's an anticipation thing with her, she is very sensitive. Just needs time and patience and she'll realise that there's no big deal about me getting on. Trouble is when you get a horse that's had a few homes you never truly know what's happened to them in the past. We are schooling my mare in a Dually halter to stand next to the mounting block, perhaps that may be an option for your horse. Good luck.
 
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