Help please!!!!!!

[ejk6@msn.com]

I did buy the pony that grazes when being ridden as it did not seem to be a huge problem and possibly one that I could sort out.
Since owning him it has become a huge problem but not my only one. I tried a flash but this sent him crazy with frustration. Previous owners had apparently tried grass reins which made him buck and rear.
I have been in the school with him a few times as it would seem that as a recovering nervous rider he had figured out that I am not boss. Last time I got on him in the school he instantly bucked bronco style hard and high and i came right off. It turns out that he did this to the person who owned him before his last owner, and as a small nervous child he got the better of her and she was so scared of him that she sold him.
I tried lots of horses before i bought him and did not rush my decision. His last owner was a determined rider and she did seem to sort him out but i am afraid that he is going back to his old ways, infact i am just afraid full stop at the moment.

Help please!!!!

[lor]

You poor thing. There is nothing worse than losing your confidence.
There are several things you could do to try to get on top (ha) of the situation.
I would keep a po like that out 24/7 and no hard feed., i would begin with how you handle him on the ground. Get yourself a good book like 'Perfect Manners' by Kelly Marks and educate yourself in the ways of intelligent horsemanship. You will be amazed at how handling a horse or pony in a certain/consistant way on the ground will improve his/her attitude when you are onboard. It doesnt envolve smacking/shouting. Just firmness with clear consistant signal. Once you have achieved the first steps of this you will already feel more confident in handling your po. You really do need him/her to know you are the dominant one.
If you have a RA near you, contact one for help. You can look on the Intelligent horsemanship website and they will tell you your nearest RA

http://www.kellymarks.co.uk/?gclid=CI-kqayAhI0CFRYcEAodsHUmhA

A few lessons with the right person (with the right attitude) will sort the problem. They will even be helpful with things like what to do when your po is going to have a naughty moment, how to anticipate it and what to do to avoid it. It really is all about believing in yourself and if you learn some new stuff that you have faith in it will work.
Good luck, would be interested to hear how things go

[xxxkristinaxxx]

Poor you! If i was in your shoes i would take things back to basics with him first on the ground making sure he respects you, and then get a good riding instructor to give you a few lessons until you feel more confident.
It may take a while to get him behaving but it will be worth it.

[Bay Mare]

Poor you :(

A few things to look at:

Tack - saddle fit, bridle fit and bit (fit and whether there are any sharp edges)

Teeth

Back

Diet


I would 2nd getting an RA to help you. Groundwork/clicker training can work wonders for horses who have never had the BASIC basics taught to them. A lot of people see the basics as the riding basics and ignore the handling stuff.


Good luck. It's definitely worth getting everything checked out, someone to do some ground work with you and a good instructor.

Whereabouts are you (area, not exactly) as we might be able to recommend someone who can help?

[ejk6@msn.com]

thanks for this. I am in Leicestershire.
He bucked me off infront of the saddler as I had a second hand saddle re flocked to fit. As it was instant I asumed it was the saddle but info from others at the yard suggest that this is how he can be.
On the ground he is an angel on the whole. until the big buck it was really just the grazing that was the problem. That was annoying the bucking is scary as I don't bonce like I used to
What is an RA?
Thanks

[Est]

I agree with Bay Mare, this could be a problem stemming from several fronts.

It's worth getting a good physical therapist to check his body over (I live near you, so will PM the phone number of the excellent lady I use), and an EDT (ditto) to check his teeth. As much turnout as possible and a high fibre diet would be ideal.

There could well be a behavioural aspect to this too. I got an RA (Recommended Associate) out last year to help with my horse. If you want to read more about the kind of stuff they can work through with you, here (http://www.freewebs.com/elicampane/mylessonsthera.htm) is a link to my RA visit blog :) Your closest RA would be Linda Ruffle (Swadlincote, Derbys 0780 3084451) but I used Debbie Glennan (Newark, Notts 01623 860850 / 07789 724243) because Linda wasn't available at the time.

Don't feel despairing just yet, there's a lot of things you can try to sort this out :)

[lor]

thanks for this. I am in Leicestershire.
He bucked me off infront of the saddler as I had a second hand saddle re flocked to fit. As it was instant I asumed it was the saddle but info from others at the yard suggest that this is how he can be.
On the ground he is an angel on the whole. until the big buck it was really just the grazing that was the problem. That was annoying the bucking is scary as I don't bonce like I used to
What is an RA?
Thanks


He may well appear well mannered to you on the ground, but, forgive me for suggesting this, he may be totally dominant over you, without you realizing it.
An RA is a Recommended Associate (of the Intelligent Horsemanship Society)Think Monty Roberts/Kelly Marks.

I agree with Baymare, get everything checked first, he may be uncomfortable somewhere. Then, once you know its not physical, you can work on the mental attitude.

You may think this advise is 'heavy', if, as you say, you are mainly worried about the eating when ridden, but the whole idea of having a well mannered polite horse who respects you is a package.

I didnt know much about IHS previously and have learnt a lot, and it had made a world of difference in every aspect of owning/handling/riding horses and ponies.

[nicolaj]

Second Est, I used Linda Ruffle last year with my previous horse and she was very good. I felt a bit silly calling her but she was really nice and helpful. The session I had with her really helped us both.

Second what others have said about the physical side of things as well as diet/turnout.

Good luck.!

[ejk6@msn.com]

thanks everyone
I took your advice and decided that my pony was taking the p*** on the ground as well as when riding. I went to the yard determined to be boss and it really helped! My pony seemed quite surprised but it worked for us. I rode a couple of times since posting my message and getting the replies. He once tried to buck me off in the school again but I got determined and moved him forward, he seemed to understand that i meant what i was asking for, Out on a mini hack he scooted across the road in trot but I stayed on and kept going. I will keep in mind the RA but am going to go through Kelly Marks book first and see if i can do some work with the support of my yard mates.
Still nerous but have decided to call myself 'recovering' from now on!

[rubysmum]

remember the mantra - riding a fun hobby - not a short route to insanity - you sound much more focussed - keep up the good work:)

[ejk6@msn.com]

I just want to say thanks to everyone for their advice and help. My pony is much more well behaved since I decided that I was going to be the one in charge!! My confidence has also grown due to having some very nice, supportive people to hack out with and talk to at my yard. I would like to say a really big thanks to Rubysmum who it turns out is the owner of the big and scary looking Ruby at my yard. This lady has been particularly fantastic in nursing me through my recovering rider stages and my little 14 hand pony seems quite happy to be friends with her 17hand beast!!!!

[c2b]

riding a fun hobby - not a short route to insanity

Are you sure about that? :D Could have sworn you got that wrong :D:D

Oh no....sorry my mistake I was insane BEFORE I got a horse.

Apologies ejk after the kind of day I have had today insanity seems like a pleasant option :D no fun around today seems to have left me. Yes I know I am waffling like an old biddy on drugs it's way past my bedtime.