Getting on a green broke horse...?

Question

Awhile ago I asked a question regarding my difficult gelding, and a bad training situation, if anyone remembers.... but anyway, it is the same horse.

I have a 3 yr old gelding in training for 3 months, the trainer did nothing they said they would and my horse was acting unpredictible, and I was scared of him. Well I have taken him home now, and have started to work with him my self. Within a couple of days of being at home he is like a new horse. I am no longer scared of him, and am working on getting him broke out. The first few times I got on him with no problem, did a little riding and he was great. The other day he would not let me get on him. He will run sideways, backwards, forwards, he will run over whoever is holding him for me. As soon as I get my leg halfway over his back, he bolts. I dont put my feet in the stirups to get on because I dont want him to bolt while I have one foot in, so I use a mounting block (he is short, I am tall, I can easily get on)

He has good ground manners, he does showmanship perfectly, he knows how to stand, so its not an issue of not knowing he is supposed to stand, it is just an issue of him being a brat. I believe the trainer was very harsh with him because if I put a chain under his nose he will freak out, which he never did before. I was trying a method where I would try and get on, with someone holding him still with a lunge line on, and as soon as he would try and bolt we would send him out on the lunge line and lunge him for a while, then stop him, try agian, and if he bolted i would lunge him. It took me 2 hrs to get on him, with about an hour and a half of lunging him. I finally got on him (it wasn't graceful), walked him halfway around the arena, made a big fuss over him, and called it a day.
Any one have any suggestions to make getting on him easier and safer?

It's not like is just dances a little when I am trying to get on, I mean he bolts forward, or sideways at full speed everytime I even attempt to get on. I know that I need to work on getting on, then off over and over agian, but I cant really do this if it takes 2 hours just to get on my horse (while he is still bolting). I need a way to make him stand while I am getting on so that the person holding him is safe from being ran over, and so that I am safe from him bolting when I am halfway on. It's not really a thing he will grow out of, it is just bad behavior...

sorry this is so long, just wanted to add that this isn't the first horse I have broken out, I am experianced with horses and training. This horse is very high strung and difficult to work with.

Answer 1

This is pretty normal. When I train someone else's horse they are always shocked that the horse doesn't buck the first time. I always tell them that the first few rides aren't the problem. It's the fourth and fifth ride when the horse decides it doesn't like the way things are going. That is when the real "breaking" part comes in.
There are a lot of things you can do to remedy this.
1. Ground work. I know the horse knows what to do from the ground, but you need to reinforce those lessons. Especially turning, backing, and yielding to pressure.
2. Mount from the fence. If you are working in a round pen, lead the horse along the sides of the round pen and periodically stop and climb up on the side of the pen. Eventually the horse will get used to you climbing up on the side of the round pen. Then, while you are holding on to the pen, you can work on swinging your leg over the horse. The best part is, if the horse bucks or takes off, you are still on the fence. Eventually you will get to a point where you can sit back on the horse. Then where you can get your feet in the stirrups and turn the horse toward the center of the pen.
3. Mount from the fence for a few more times - I find it is safer than a mounting block. Then transition to a mounting block if you want.
4. Expect the same little setback when you start asking for a trot.
Just remember to wear a helmet.
This may not solve the problem but I hope it helps!

Answer 2

I was kind of wondering how that whole thing turned out for you. I don't think most of your answerers understand the real question here, or what happened before. He has got to be having a flashback of something that happened sometime in his life, probably at the trainers. Did you ever get a straight answer on why they quit working him there? Kicking Bear has some good ideas, as always, but I think the horse has a fear issue. Does he have a happy place (NOT the crossties, unless you have a death wish!) where he might stand for you? I have been working with a young horse that had mounting issues from the beginning. His happy place is standing at the round pen gate, with his head over the gate looking out. Once we found this out we were able to mount him pretty easily (and he's the tall one in this relationship!) Maybe since he bolts you should try keeping his head turned to the rail (if it is a safe pen), instead of away like Kicking Bear does - only you know the horse well enough to know which likely will work best.

I know this is pretty unorthodox, but have you tried training him to mount from the right side? Since horses pretty much have two different brains, he might accept this. Since you are plenty tall, I'd try it...stranger things have happened! Eventually you'd be able to go back to the left side and transfer all the info over.
Good luck, and I am glad your horse is home!

Answer 3

I don't know where you live and if I did I could recommend a good trainer to you. Sorry for this.

Yet, from the description you've written here, the first trainer did a lot of damage to your horse. What puzzles me is you claim to be experienced and yet you sent your horse to someone you must not have ever know before? Why didn't you check on this horse at least once a week to see how he was doing? From the sounds of things I would recommend start from scratch and go very slowly. Ground work as if he was a baby. You have to unteach him the damage the trainer did. Since the horse bolts when you try to mount him I would say that trainer roughed him up at this point. Find a mounting block and have someone help. Lead him up to the block and just put on foot in the stirrup then back off. Do this for as long as it takes. Once he understands this isn't going to hurt or scare him, then try leaning a little of your weight on the saddle. Pet him, speak softly to him. Reward him for good behavior. Don't ever punish him when he bolts or freaks out. Just go back to the beginning point of the lesson and start over. Don't push your horse either. Make the lessons at 15 mins. Give him a break by doing something you know he understands and enjoys. Praise, reward and patience is your best teacher. Good luck. I hope you can fix this horse.

Answer 4

Don't get me wrong, I'm not an expert horse trainer or anything, but I would keep doing the lunging exercise, as time consuming as it is. The lungework you do with him when he misbehaves teaches him to be a more calm, stable animal.

I know it takes a long time, but lunging him in this manner will not only teach him respect, but it will tire him out enough that you can continue more safely with your lesson on mounting. Try to work with him early in the day, so that you don't feel rushed.

Also, for questions like these I think you should purchase some videos on training a green horse. There are many horse trainers out there who sell videos on these kinds of stages in a green horse's development. Try Clinton Anderson, Craig Cameron, or Monty Roberts. Or, if you're into "natural horsemanship," Pat Parelli.

Answer 5

Well, first, if he is high strung...what type and how much feed/hay is he on? How much turnout does he get? He needs to be on a low carb/starch pellet and as much hay as he can eat. He also needs LOTS of turnout or to live outside 24/7. If he is on sweet feed, the sugars in the feed are probably making him hig as a kite. Sugar(starch/carbs), not protein, is what makes many horses "hot." Also, are his teeth, back, neck, saddle fit, etc okay? With questionable training, he may be sore somewhere or maybe his saddle doesn't fit or his teeth need floating. At his age, they lose teeth that could bother him if it doesn't completely detach.

The horse needs to learn to stand still while being mounted. I liked a lot of kicking bear's suggestions and would definitely use those. I also would lunge or free lunge for just a few minutes to get the edge off him and get his mind focused before even trying to mount. He is still young, so don't lunge excessively as it is hard on their joints. I have also seen a lot of horses successfully taught to be mounted by tying them up short to a post(usually in a round pen), so they can't go anywhere...can't rear, buck or take off...and the rider mounts and dismounts until the horse just stands there calmly. I know many racehorse trainers back their horses the first few times in a stall(only if you have really high ceilings) because the horse really can't go anywhere. Also, he should be handled by a very skilled ground person with a stud chain OVER the nose to discourage him from taking off while you are trying to mount. And when he tries to take off I would give him a couple good jerks, say WHOA and make sure he doesn't get away. The chain should not be under the chin, as that can make many horses rear or turn to other undesirable behaviors. Also, I don't think I would be sending him out to lunge if he bolts from under you...that is almost reinforcing his behavior that when he misbehaves(bolts), you get off and he just goes around in circles. Under no circumstances should he be running a ground handler over...that means he does not have great ground manners as he is not respecting the person's space. He needs to learn WHOA and respect. Even if my horses spook, they don't spook onto me!

I would really suggest you find a good, reputable trainer to work with you as the horse is going to get into some nasty habits if this keeps going on and he realizes he can get his rider off by bolting. A professional trainer will probably have lots of ideas and may have something most people wouldn't think of doing that will actually work. Good luck.

Answer 6

Hi; I have a horse like this, if it is like mine he is thinking that you are getting on and wanting to move right away. Have someone hold the horse and get on and off a million times until he is no longer moving with the person standing there. Great, now do it with out the person and continue. If the horse moves get on and do not let him move in any direction. Unfortunatly the best way to wark this out it to keep doing it and treating him when he stands until you ask him to move.

Remember 3 is young, he is a baby, he'll grow out of it.

Answer 7

there's a thousand different answers from more ground work to teaching the word WOA! and mean it. For a horse that wouldn't stand still no how, I learned by turning the head to the right, I was pulling the horse under me thus getting on easier but a horse should and must stand still when you get on and if this is a problem you need to stop everything else and work on this first until you get the action you want. there are many ways to teach a horse to stand still while you get on and off as well. From there, you should teach your horse how to groung rein.good luck

Answer 8

I think the problem here is confidence. If you are nervous or scared he will sense it and it can make him jumpy or onrey. I had the exact same problem with my horse and picking up his feet until I just relaxed. Something may also be making him a "hot" ride such as too much grain or too much rich food. Hope that helps a bit : )

Answer 9

I think SKITTLES above should NEVER go to the Kentucky Derby----she says horses legs aren't developed enough to ride until they are 4 YEARS OLD, yet they sure do seem to be an awful lot of frisky little 3 year olds running in the derby year after year and they sure seem to be RIDDEN rather then not...........some horses are just more stubborn then others.... just like with kids, you have to be consistant with him....and I GUESS you have to be a bit more stubborn then HE is...

Answer 10

I think you may want to do a bit more groundwork with him. I personally think that horses legs arent developed enough for riding until they are four, but as long as you are mostly just walking, maybe a bit of trotting, he should be fine. So I would be working with him more before you ride, even if its just lunging.