HELP uncintrollable pony that accosiates tack and being ridden with pain

[miltonsmommy]

i ride and sortof loan a 13.2 newforest. however his owner does not hav a clue what she is doing. he has been wearing a saddle that is too wide for him for years sinse hes had it it has been pressing across his back, lying across his withers and pinching his shoulders. he has put up with this for years and now associates tack with pain and in accordance being ridden with pain. i am temporarily using a front riser pad, this has made the situation better but still not satisfactory. the biggest problem is we cant leave him off, becasue he is badly behaved anyway (another fault due to his brain dead owner :mad:) andother problem is that between me and his owner we have no money. this pony has great potential and needs tlc. im desperate to show him that being ridden is fun bt dnt knw how. if any1 can help please please do im in a state of desparation and dont know how to save this poor pony:confused:

[Sammii]

Pony needs saddler and chiropractor NOW.

He is not associating the saddle with pain...he is FEELING the pain. It needs to be sorted out before you even contemplate riding him again.

[Bobbin]

Perhaps refering to his owner as 'braindead' isn't a good idea. I'd boot you off my pony if you refered to me that way.

To the question, you can't really sort the behaviour out untill the tack is sorted.

[Sammii]

And to add: I'd never ride a pony when the situation is not 'satisfactory'.

[lor]

I think you need to take your 'friend' to one side and tell her she is being cruel, that it is like making someone walk for miles in the wrong size shoes,or carry a heavy bag with the handle cutting in to your hand, and if she doesnt wise up you will have nothing more to do with her and her pony, In the hope that it will shock her into realizing what she is doing.

Its hard telling people what they dont want to hear, but ultimatley it will be for the pony's own good.

I have got to the stage in life where i will say what is necessary and dont worry about whether people like me or not. I dont envy you, but you either do whats best for the pony or you dont.
X

[miltonsmommy]

thanks lor. i apreciate that. im soo low bout the whole situation. i duno what to do cos his owner thinks shes in the right. i love this pony sooo much and i know if i stnad up to her shell have a tantrum and then he has no one on his side

[Bobbin]

Then you walk away. We've all had to do it. If you have tried to tell her his tack doesn't fit and she either thinks you are wrong or can't afford to sort it out then what more can you do.

[miltonsmommy]

thanks for everything. i gess ** all right, it just kills me to let go of this pony esecially when i know his owner will just put someone else on him. thanks agen

[Pauline W]

try riding him bareback for a while, if he's well behaved then the owner may be able to see that the tack is causing his problems.

[miltonsmommy]

i wud love to but it not really an option as i dont hav anywhere safe to ride him just incase he was naughty. i feel guilty because all of these people are telling me to give up on him and i really cant. i know i shud listen bt the last thing i will do is give up on him. he needs to be able to trust someone and so far iv been the only person in his life that really care how he feels.

[CER1389]

Do any of your (or the owners) friends ahve horses? Do any of them have a horse of a similar size? Maybe one of them can bring their saddles down and you could try some? If the owner can see the new saddle helping his behaviour then she may understand that it is a saddle issue.

Or some saddle shops/saddle companys will let you fit a saddle and get it on trial for a few weeks to make sure it is perfect. You may have to leave a deposit (which is returnable) but then you could have a few weeks to try the saddle and work out how to raise the money.

However I would not ride this pony until the tack is sorted.

If you cannot help or change the situation then just walk away. There is nothing more you can do.

[Wally]

One of my best driving horses had been terrified in the misguided attempts by his old owners to "break" him to harness.

He would run away at the sight of harness, break out into a sweat and shake!

The only thing that got him out of his fear was consistent, persistent work with him that never changed.

It's no good you doing your very best, if someone else is not singing from the same hymn sheet. You need united joined up thinking on this one, and unless you have the 100% backing and support from the owner I'm afraid you'll be on a hiding to nothing.