Youngster bad reaction to roller

[Amymeemoo]

I tried a roller on my boy yesterday and he was absolutely fine with me putting it on and doing it up but as soon as I moved him he went mental I had him on the lunge so I let him calm down and once he settled he walked lovely in hand with lots of licking and chewing a bit of in hand grazing in it. I came out this afternoon and thought we would give it another go and he freaked out, wouldn’t let me get it any where near him with it, jumping all over the place. He is normally very chilled about everything and never had a reaction like it from him before, any ideas or tips on things to try with him thank you

 

[AmyMay]

Is that the first time he’d ever had one on?

 

[Gloi]

Did you tighten it up the first time he had it on?

 

[Amymeemoo]

Yes first time, it was done up but only loose which didn’t bother him at all he was very relaxed and calm about it all, it was just when I asked him to go forward. am new to youngsters and will get professional help but he had taken everything else so well up to now I thought he would be fine with it

 

[Hallo2012]

go back to an elastic surcingle that moves with him better.

then roller on and hold in place whilst he walks a small circle round you and build up to girthing up.

if it persists as an issue then ulcer scope or back check or both.

 

[hock]

Has he warm a rug before? Never had one react like that!

 

[Amymeemoo]

Has he warm a rug before? Never had one react like that!

Yeah he took to the rug absolutely fine no bother at all, he has had a saddle on a couple of times but not done up and not reacted to that

 

[ycbm]

I have had one react this way to any girth. It didn't matter what I did, he would not stop bucking. Eventually, I started to girth him with his head pointed into a solid wall, and then he accepted it,.

Strangely, he was never a problem with the saddle or to ride, just the strap under his belly, until one day he just stopped and never bucked again.
.

 

[TPO]

Use a stable bandage as a roller/surcingle in the stable. You can hold the ends to manually tighten and release it. You can move him around thr stable while holding the bandage too.

If you haven't already I'd spend a lot of time desensitising to things around legs; touching, flapping and wrapping. All good practice for girthing up and releasing girth and long reining or should anything break and dangle.

Lots of "sacking out" with small items thst gradually get bigger.

Once the horse in comfortable moving with a stable bandage, thst can be tied off eventually in a release knot, go back to the beginning and redo with a surcingle then back again with a roller.

Richard Maxwells book Training the Young Horse is a good resource

 

[Amymeemoo]

Use a stable bandage as a roller/surcingle in the stable. You can hold the ends to manually tighten and release it. You can move him around thr stable while holding the bandage too.

If you haven't already I'd spend a lot of time desensitising to things around legs; touching, flapping and wrapping. All good practice for girthing up and releasing girth and long reining or should anything break and dangle.

Lots of "sacking out" with small items thst gradually get bigger.

Once the horse in comfortable moving with a stable bandage, thst can be tied off eventually in a release knot, go back to the beginning and redo with a surcingle then back again with a roller.

Richard Maxwells book Training the Young Horse is a good resource

Thank you, really helpful!! I will definitely give this a try, And build him back up to it

 

[bonny]

Turn him out in it ?

 

[riversideeu]

Oh please do not turn him out in it. Someone I knew nearly lost their horse turning it out wearing something it was scared of. It was terrified and galloped blind through fences trying to get away from it.

 

[ycbm]

Turn him out in it ?

Didn't work with mine. He broke out of a stable wearing it by taking the door off its hinges, and spent hours in the field until I could catch him. Luckily it's a big field and he came to no harm.
.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I always start with one of those elastic rollers which are light and swing nicely under the belly to grab hold of to do up.

I let them sniff it or place it over a gate they're tied next to allow them to investigate it.f
I begin by folding it in half and start with just placing it over their back, with or without a thin simple numnah. Then unfold and let them get used to seeing it dangling at their sides. Sometimes I walk them about with it, any panic I can just slide it off.

i then extend it to it's longest and begin gently but with purpose holding up the loose end and pulling it up as if it's being done up, then release and let it go baggy. Repeat until the youngster ignores.

You can then start doing it up, tight enough so it's not a hazard but not girth tight. Then lead youngster round in a tight circle on each rein a couple of times to guage reaction and allow it to feel the stretching behind its elbows etc.

I'd then pop it on supervised every day until totally non event. Then progress above steps with a lungeing roller. Ideally with a nice polypad or similar underneath it.

This has been a method that's helped me over the years, so taking the roller introduction back to the very basics will hopefully work well for you. I once broke a youngster that I think was cranked up too tight too soon, it took a few sessions to get it over it.

Maybe yours is a bad memory? Or check thoroughly for any skin lesions, girth gall type things that make it kick off when moving due to irritation?.

 

[Amymeemoo]

I always start with one of those elastic rollers which are light and swing nicely under the belly to grab hold of to do up.

I let them sniff it or place it over a gate they're tied next to allow them to investigate it.f
I begin by folding it in half and start with just placing it over their back, with or without a thin simple numnah. Then unfold and let them get used to seeing it dangling at their sides. Sometimes I walk them about with it, any panic I can just slide it off.

i then extend it to it's longest and begin gently but with purpose holding up the loose end and pulling it up as if it's being done up, then release and let it go baggy. Repeat until the youngster ignores.

You can then start doing it up, tight enough so it's not a hazard but not girth tight. Then lead youngster round in a tight circle on each rein a couple of times to guage reaction and allow it to feel the stretching behind its elbows etc.

I'd then pop it on supervised every day until totally non event. Then progress above steps with a lungeing roller. Ideally with a nice polypad or similar underneath it.

This has been a method that's helped me over the years, so taking the roller introduction back to the very basics will hopefully work well for you. I once broke a youngster that I think was cranked up too tight too soon, it took a few sessions to get it over it.

Maybe yours is a bad memory? Or check thoroughly for any skin lesions, girth gall type things that make it kick off when moving due to irritation?.

Thank you, I will try that. I’m not in any rush to do anything with him and want to make sure he is done properly and he is comfortable at everything I do. I will give this a go

 

[SEL]

I've known one turn himself inside out - young welshie and he threw himself on the floor in a paddy. Wasn't expected because he'd been well handled, rugs etc.

It was put on slowly in the arena next time round and he humped his back a bit then got over it.

 

[Amymeemoo]

I've known one turn himself inside out - young welshie and he threw himself on the floor in a paddy. Wasn't expected because he'd been well handled, rugs etc.

It was put on slowly in the arena next time round and he humped his back a bit then got over it.

That’s what he is a Welsh d and same he has been so good with everything I just assumed it wouldn’t bother him. hopefully we can get him over it

 

[SEL]

That’s what he is a Welsh d and same he has been so good with everything I just assumed it wouldn’t bother him. hopefully we can get him over it

This one went onto to be a cracking pony. He did tend to have the odd paddy at various stages but allowed to think things over and then he'd be fine.

I'm sure yours will be too - they're a sensitive breed!

 

[Jellymoon]

The tail bandage idea sounds really sensible, never had to try it myself as not had such a reaction, but that’s what I would do. And in a stable rather than outside on a lunge. Just hold it round him for a minute with lots of praise, then take it off and do a bit more the next day.

 

[Lyle]

I start mine (mostly Welsh D's) with the saddle on first, never had one buck (so far).
I use a 16ft lead rope (not lunge rope) that I put over the horse's back, pick up under the belly and gently apply pressure. By using the lead rope I can easily keep the horse's head tipped towards me so if they move they will just go in a circle. Don't release the pressure until they stop moving their feet.
Then onto saddling, LOTS of approach and retreat, desensitising to the saddle pad and saddle. Build up to being able to chuck them on like the horse is an old school pony. Then girth up so it's snug, but definitely not tight. Lots of rubbing, moving stirrups, patting the saddle. Do girth up again. Then, instead of asking the horse to move forward, I ask them to move by yielding the hind quarters. I'm getting them used to moving, but they are moving in a controlled fashion. Then, it's off onto he circle, trot and canter and lots of changes of direction.
What's your plan, is it to back him yourself? Or are you planning on having him backed by a pro? Because if you are planning on having him backed by a pro I'd simply get him good at being a nice person to handle and let the pro start everything how they need it to be done.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Turning out a horse with something on it that it's scared of is bad idea.

I would try a tail bandage first and go slowly building up the pressure.

 

[Amymeemoo]

I start mine (mostly Welsh D's) with the saddle on first, never had one buck (so far).
I use a 16ft lead rope (not lunge rope) that I put over the horse's back, pick up under the belly and gently apply pressure. By using the lead rope I can easily keep the horse's head tipped towards me so if they move they will just go in a circle. Don't release the pressure until they sto
Then onto saddling, LOTS of approach and retreat, desensitising to the saddle pad and saddle. Build up to being able to chuck them on like the horse is an old school pony. Then girth up so it's snug, but definitely not tight. Lots of rubbing, moving stirrups, patting the saddle. Do girth up again. Then, instead of asking the horse to move forward, I ask them to move by yielding the hind quarters. I'm getting them used to moving, but they are moving in a controlled fashion. Then, it's off onto he circle, trot and canter and lots of changes of direction.
What's your plan, is it to back him yourself? Or are you planning on having him backed by a pro? Because if you are planning on having him backed by a pro I'd simply get him good at being

I tried a roller on my boy yesterday and he was absolutely fine with me putting it on and doing it up but as soon as I moved him he went mental I had him on the lunge so I let him calm down and once he settled he walked lovely in hand with lots of licking and chewing a bit of in hand grazing in it. I came out this afternoon and thought we would give it another go and he freaked out, wouldn’t let me get it any where near him with it, jumping all over the place. He is normally very chilled about everything and never had a reaction like it from him before, any ideas or tips on things to try with him thank you

little update, I turned him out this morning and he is spooking and jumping and every little thing, he has never acted like this in the 2 years Iv had him. won’t let me catch him and when I think about it he was acting up the day before I tried the roller, wondering maybe if there is more to it than just the roller, he is turning 3 in a couple of weeks and the spring grass is coming

 

[bouncing_ball]

That sounds plausible. Or a combination of both. Maybe he’s a bit bloated with grass sugar and more reactive to girth?