My friend has a saddle-shy horse. She got kicked when she tryed to saddle her so the weighted saddle factor is ruled out. I've tried to get her use to my weight by sitting on her back but I keep getting thrown. What should I do?
2006-07-01 05:27:45 · 8 answers · asked by Autumn 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
How can i break her in myself?
2006-07-01 05:36:38 · update #1
first of all get her to trust YOU. Take a string and make circles around her far out and then get closer in as she relaxes. She will spook at first but keep doing it and dont take it away just back off a little. Once you get her to let you go all around her with that ( on her back , neck, legs, face, stomach) move on to using an old sheet. do the same thing with that, make her walk with it on her back for a while after that. Then use a trash bag (it makes more noise and looks scarier) do the same thing. Then move on to a saddle pad (use a fluffy one so it doesn't hurt. Let her sniff it chew on it any thing she wants as long as shes comfortable. swing it around like you did everything else and put it one her back. Then bring the saddle into the picture. Put it on her sstall door for about a week and let her get used to it just being there. Then hold it next to her let her examin it but dont push her . Curiosity killed the horse so to speak. Let her come to it,and she will after time. then put it on her back after she accepts it and no sooner. It will take alot of time and patients if you dont have thoae two things let someone else do it. you wont ever be able to force her to let you put on a saddle you have to ask. Also when you do get the saddle on let her soak for a few days (taking the saddle off of course and putting it back on the next day) only for a few hours each day before even thinking about doing anything else. Also before putting weight on her lunge her in circles at a walk, trot, and canter to get her used to the way it feels again. (if the stirrups hitting her is freaking her out for the first little bit tie them up to the saddle horn then incorporate them back in.
2006-07-01 18:22:02 · answer #1 · answered by ruff_n_readycowgirl 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would try a horse Chiropractor(yes there is such a thing) to check her back to make sure nothing is wrong. If she checks out OK then saddle her up (I would use an old saddle) and turn her out in a round pen. Let her wear the saddle all day. I would do that for several days. She will get used to wearing it. Also you can check out John Lyons on the webb. He is good.
2006-07-01 15:56:30 · answer #2 · answered by H M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mostly you have to keep working with her. Even if a bad experience happened to the horse you still need to get her to trust you- completely. Horses can really sense frustration, so always stay calm around her if possible. If she's scared having things on her back then just take it one step at a time. Put lighter things on her back, then grain bags, then eventually a saddle. She'll have to reach a point where she allows you to lead her and ride her with the saddle on. Hope that helps.
2006-07-01 12:43:34 · answer #3 · answered by drewb 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the horse is saddle-shy, there is a good reason for it. First, get a vet to examine the horse and eliminate the possibility that the horse has an injury which is causing it to be saddle-shy.
Next, get a professional trainer. Horses, like humans, are not born with fears, just instincts. They learn fear through time and experience. It's likely your horse learned to be saddle-shy through bad experience. A professional trainer will be able to help you and your horse overcome his fear of saddles.
2006-07-01 15:16:01 · answer #4 · answered by mortiicia3 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
how old is this horse?and have either one of you done ground work with it?this is very important to start a young horse. you need to get in a round pen and just let the horse run around and around for about 30min to an hour to get it tired so when it is snubb it to a good post or a tree and put the saddle on him or her and run in the round pin sum more just do that everyday and the horse well start to stand still. how long has your friend had this horse?I have raised all my horses from babys and thy all ride know I have never had this problum so I cant realy help becouse I do ground work with mine everyday and thay just stand there. I train and break all mine so. Just make sure you spend alot if time with this horse and do your ground work. Can either one of you ride it bare back> if so then you dont need a saddle. But you also need to flag or bag the horse wot these term means is to desencetize the horse from fast moving motions and he will stand for noise and things flying around him But make sure never to hit or slap the horse with and thing becouse he will spoke and you will have to start over. you will need to do this with a bed sheet or a flag of sum sort or a trash bag any thing that will fly around you can put plastick bags in your round pin tie them to the top of it so that he can see them but not touch um and just lung line him in there for a while you need to make sure to do this every day so he knows that you are not trying to hurt him.
2006-07-01 13:54:16 · answer #5 · answered by rainbowyates 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been riding horses most of my life and things like that are hard to deal with but keep on trying to get on her. Take small steps; like instead of getting on your self try setting a small bag of sand or something like that on her back to get her used to light weight things. Then once she is used to light things go on to heavier things. When the heavy things reach your weight and she is used to it try getting on your self. then when she is used to you try putting the saddle on. Now remember this my take a long time to do so just be patient. I hope I helped you. E-mail me and tell me if you like my answer.
2006-07-01 13:05:30 · answer #6 · answered by mrvree 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to a different farm and get a different horse.
2006-07-01 12:30:57 · answer #7 · answered by Missy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like your going to get someone to break her.
2006-07-01 12:33:09 · answer #8 · answered by Ron~N 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋