How would you help this horse?

[NuttyMare]

This thread is entirely out of interest, but I saw an advert for a horse the other day that had a deep-rooted fear of having someone on board, having been attempted to be broken but no one has managed to stay on him. Hes not a nasty horse but he is very nervous, has been abused in the past but has a nice home where hes had whisperers come and work with him etc. If this was your horse, how would you approach trying to get on board?

[shandy84]

I wouldn't try and get on board for a long time, it may take months or years, if someone has messed him up that bad he may take a long time to come round.

I would want to know if the fear also related to having a saddle on, roller on or something bareback. Then I may have an inkling as to what caused his problems. I honestly think I would end up just making friends and getting a bond and routine set in for about 6 months at least then i wouuld judge how we were getting on and if appropriate may start walking out in hand, basically I would restart him from scratch but he would need t have a strong bond established over time before you could even consider work

[sam_pring]

it would depend what his temperment was on the ground, my step mum broke in a sec d that was such a sweetheart on the ground but when they tried to back him he galloped off and got the rider off etc.

the vet did some tests and diagnosed a disease whcih means the horse cant control itself and can be really dangerous, the horses usually have to be put down because they can end up falling on people and horses in the field. i cant remember what its called, if anyone knows the name let me no!

so anyway the point is i would get things checked out by the vet.

[nix]

Having worked with an Arab with similar problems (anyone remember Cedric from about three years back, who I advertised for loan on the forum for his owners after I restarted him?), I'd first say to have him thoroughly vet and physio checked. Cedric's problems were pain-related and consequently anticipation of pain, he had an operation to remove cysts in both stifles, then work under sedation by a physio for severe back pain. He'd had almost eighteen months off before I rebacked/restarted him at age six.

He was incredibly nervous of having a rider on board, never having been ridden pain-free and it didn't help that a well-meaning instructor pulled him over before his owners called in vets, physios etc. I spent a lot of time doing groundwork and gaining his trust, gentle lunging and rope circling to build up his muscle before even considering sitting on his back. I borrowed a Fitform saddle, under advice from the physio, because of his shape and previous problems I wanted to make sure he was completely comfortable (unfortunately the SBS/Fhoenix weren't available then).

Just the backing itself took several weeks as I wanted Cedric to be mentally comfortable every step of the way, breaking it down into the tiniest steps - from him being comfortable with me standing higher than him on a block in the school, then him allowing me to reach over to stroke the opposite side of his neck and so on. I probably took a little longer as I didn't always have someone standing with him to help settle and reassure him. When I did finally sit on him for a minute it was a complete non-event, Cedric was confident and pleased to accept a hug and treat before I got off. When he went out on loan to continue his education he was established in walk and trot, now three years later he is going from strength to strength ... even doing some jumping! :)

Working with this sort of horse can be incredibly rewarding but if you are contemplating it make sure it is something that is treatable, as with Cedric. Although his problems were lengthy and caused him a lot of discomfort, both physical and mental, they weren't insurmountable. I found, to my cost with another horse, that not every condition is treatable enough that the horse is safely rideable.

Finally, do bear in mind that a "cheap" problem horse usually works out incredibly expensive in the long run ;).

[Jacquie]

the vet did some tests and diagnosed a disease whcih means the horse cant control itself and can be really dangerous, the horses usually have to be put down because they can end up falling on people and horses in the field. i cant remember what its called, if anyone knows the name let me no!
From the description you give it sounds like it could possibly be encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness).

[nix]

@sam_pring The other diagnosis that came to mind with the symptoms you describe was Wobblers Syndrome, aka Spondololithesis or Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy (CSM), but that's probably because I've had a little experience of it :o.

[NuttyMare]

Thankyou everyone :) Any more?

[katefarmer]

I'd start by trying to establish whether the anxiety is about the rider, about things on (or rather OVER) his back, or people in general.

Is the problem only when someone tries to get on, or when anything at all goes on the back (saddle, rugs etc)? Check out the blind spots over the back - this is a very common source of problems, and can usually be fixed with groundwork and preparation exercises dealing, focussing on those dealing specifically with the blind spots.

If the problem only occurs when the rider gets on and not with saddling etc. it could be the horse is feeling under attack (from a "predator") when the rider gets on. In this case, desensitising the saddle area and sides would be important, and plenty of working from above to get the horse used to and comfortable with someone at rider height.

If the problem is with people in general, the starting point would be working on getting the horse's trust and confidence.

A similar overall approach would apply in all cases (I'd still use the full groundwork and preparation programme) - but the emphasis would be different according to where the horse seems to be having the greatest difficulty.

In any event, I'd spend a lot of time working from above, putting one foot in a stirrup and taking it out again, leaning over the back and stroking etc. before thinking about getting on - but this would come after tackling the root of the problem.

Cheers

Kate
www.harmony-project.net

[Esther.D]

We have been in this situation with Pablo and four years on he is still not rideable (his is remembered pain as well) however he has improved beyond all recognition in his behaviour and attitude to people. We have worked very slowly with him and he will just about accept leaning over his saddle but is still very nervous and we have now discovered that he panicks in an arena so that is another thing to work on. I think he will ride in the end but it may be years and we have got Stephen another horse in the meantime. Although he has been very rewarding it has also been extremely stressful and I would never choose to take on another horse with issues like this (we didn't know when we got him).