Unbreakable

Would it be possible for someone to come out to you to work with him on his own ground? It sounds as though you have a good relationship on the ground with him, and perhaps he would feel more secure if he had his "mummy" on hand while he was learning. Feel free to ignore if that is a completely idiotic / useless suggestion!
 
Hey Amy, I remember you doing bits with him last year
smile.gif
I would be inclined to bring him home and give him winter off. And try again next year, he's still only young so there's no rush.
Some horses are just late to mature.
Im sure he'll be fine chick
laugh.gif

xx
 
Good advice to go and see other trainers in action before deciding where to send him next time. I would suggest caution before strapping a dummy on him. It can work, but it employs flooding and for some horses that can be extremely traumatic and counter-productive.
 
[ QUOTE ]

What do you mean by coldbacked?

They had got him to the stage where you could get on him ok (though he did panic the once as the saddle slipped) and could walk him around for a little while and then his frame of mind would just switch as though he suddenly realised what was going on then he would go off on a bucking fit until the rider was off. The thing that bothered the man who was doing him was the fact he was kicking out as the rider as he was falling to and thats when he thought was best to give up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Cold-backed is almost always a signal of either back pain - or in a youngster - the fact he hasn't FULLY accepted the saddle (or the girth.)

To illustrate the problem you face when backing: I breed between 10 and 15 foals a year - and have at least another 4-5 born here - or coming here at a few days old.

When I lead a foal, from the 2nd or third time, I place my right hand on the saddle area while leading. 9 out of 10 foals buck like stink! Most stop after a couple of days - I had one continue to buck for more than 3 weeks!! It is a perfectly natural, instinctive reaction: to a horse, something landing on their back means something is about to kill them!! 'Predator on back' reaction has been bred into horses over 10's of thousands of years (those who failed to get rid of the predator on their back, got eaten - so didn't breed!!)

It is quite common for a horse to accept a rider lying across the saddle - and even walking a few strides - before panicking and bucking like stink - PARTICULARLY if they are being led (which they usually are at that stage!) Because they're being led, they can't run - so the flight or fight instinct is triggered. We have two tried and tested responses to this - you have to pick the one that suits THAT horse.

One is to send the horse straight out onto the lunge the second the rider has his stirrups. Rider hangs onto the neck strap and just sits there - until the horse outruns its fear and says to himself: "Well he's still there, but he's not hurting me - I'll slow down."

The other is for the horse NOT to be led (the leader can take the horse's focus OFF the rider - so suddenly the horse is being led and there's SOMETHING on his back - AAAGGGHHHH!) With two this year, my rider just laid across the saddle and steered them around - in walk - on a small circle. Once horse was relaxed and happy, he got himself upright (talking non-stop to horse) so that although he had 'disappeared' from the horse's rear view, it KNEW it was him up there and didn't react to an unknown 'thing' on his back.

Backing a horse is all about getting inside the individual horse's head, deciding which approach will suit that horse best, and then ensuring that each tiny step forward is established before the next step is taken. Otherwise, you end up on the floor with a frightened horse on top of you!

And of COURSE any horse with an ounce of sense will kick the 'predator' it has dislodged from its back!! The predator is probably heading for his belly - intent on disembowelling him! Sorry, but your bloke has NO understanding of the fear reaction in a young horse. He must have had some damn EASY horses to back - or he'd be dead by now!

Horses have been domesticated for about 10 minutes in evolutionary terms! Survival tactics are 2nd nature - being ridden has to be taught!
 
Absolutely JG, great post.
I really do think that some time off, a saddle check etc then a new trainer. Trainers can be so different, even down to their emotional attitude which a horse can relate to.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Good advice to go and see other trainers in action before deciding where to send him next time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Five weeks later, i thought it was time for an update to this thread.
grin.gif


Amys_Babies took that advice and came to Shropshire - and the "unbreakable horse" was quickly delivered. My view was that he needed the bad memories replaced with good ones sooner rather than later!

Absolutely all credit to Amys_Babies - she loves this horse and wanted the best for him - and she's been the sort of owner all good trainers like! (And all horses like even better as she puts them first!)

My opinion of the so-called trainer who branded this nice little horse 'dangerous' and 'unbreakable' would probably get me into serious trouble with HHO Admin if I gave it - so I won't! Suffice to say he is neither!!

This was him today - 3rd day ridden off the lunge.
buddy-2a.jpg


and

buddy-2b.jpg


He hasn't put a foot wrong!! In fact my part-time groom, who is a successful show pony producer, has been drooling over him as a potential 15hh show hunter for her 12 year old!!

Former trainer had promised owner he would get pony's teeth checked before he started - he didn't!! Wolf teeth and hooks meant a bit in his mouth wasn't the greatest experience!! We also had our McTimoney chiropractor to him before he was sat on - needed some work at the poll and saddle area. I was VERY glad he is so well-mannered to handle as Chiropractor was 2 weeks off giving birth - perched on a box beside a supposedly 'dangerous' horse wasn't perhaps the best place for her to be!
grin.gif


So why did former professional trainer have trouble
confused.gif
Maybe he thought a little horse like this was 'easy' and went too fast - and was then arrogant (and stupid) enough to blame the horse for his own failings. And I suspect his understanding of the psychology of horses is basic, at best! Whatever, it's a shame he frightened the little chap and took his Mum's money for doing bu**er all!!

By next week he'll be hacking out, and then he'll go home to his Mum where I'm sure he'll continue to be a good boy and reward her for her faith in him with many years of fun!

The moral of this story: check out who you're sending your youngsters to VERY carefully indeed! There are some useless cowboys out there!
 
Hi Janet

I still cant believe what a great job you have done with him!

Am so glad i listened to your advice and did take him to you.

Still havent seen that man who orginally attempted to break him, i think he may have quite a bit of explaining to do when i do see him.

Hes looking so calm and relaxed in pics!
smile.gif
 
This is such a wonderful story, so glad it had a happy ending. He's a really gorgeous little horse. Amys_Babies, i think you may need to get him back sharpish though, before he vanishes into Show Hunter land !!!
 
[ QUOTE ]


I still cant believe what a great job you have done with him!

Am so glad i listened to your advice and did take him to you.

Still havent seen that man who orginally attempted to break him, i think he may have quite a bit of explaining to do when i do see him.

Hes looking so calm and relaxed in pics!
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Well - TBH - it's O. who has done all the work (I was just smart enough to hire him - and hang onto him for 4 years!
grin.gif
) I don't tend to ride breakers these days - except the odd one of my own - and certainly not breakers with 'previous'!! But in fact I COULD have done him quite safely! There's not a nasty bone in his body!

As for previous 'trainer', TBH - I wouldn't waste your breath! No doubt he'll say: "Oh - but he WILL explode in due course!" or something equally stupid! Of course he hasn't cantered off the lunge yet - he MIGHT explode then - but I somehow doubt it!

He's a nice pony - and I'm sure he'll reward you for your faith in him!
 
Well done all concerned! Happy horse is the outcome and happy owner too! Agree with JG , a bad trainer will push the horse beyond its boundaries, creating problems. A good trainer will get inside the horses head and go at their pace. You do get some very easy horses to back, and then there are those who are more difficult which can be from a number of factors including breeding.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top