The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Horsing trying to walk off

2K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  lori3223 
#1 ·
Hey everyone I hope someone can give me some insight into this problem I am having with my horse.

I have a gelding who is 8 yrs old and I've only had him for about two months now. When we first got him we could put a saddle on him and he would stand there until we got up in the saddle. We didn't ride him for about three weeks and then when I went to get on him as I slung my right leg over he jumped a little and of course that knocked me off balance and I fell off. Well I got back on him (with someone holding him of course) and he did fine. Rode him the following weekend and he did fine but someone had to hold him so he wouldn't take off. Well today my husband went to get on him by himself and the horse took off and my husband fell off.

Now my question is this. Is it possible that the people we bought him from had possibly sedated him with one of those 30 sedatives just to sell him? If not what can we do to stop him from doing this?
 
#2 ·
a sedative is possible, but its more likely that he is in a new environment, with new people, horses, food and surroundings, and had a bad day. When he jumped(could you have accidently kicked him when you got on? Does your saddle fit?) for the first time he may have learned that jumping around will get his rider off, so he tried it again and succeded. if you have his head pulled around when you get on he cant run off. also be very careful your saddle isnt pinching and you are not accidentally kicking him.
 
#3 ·
Unfortunately what is most likely happening, is you have been slowly un-training him without realizing it. Have any other behaviors popped up like pulling his feet back when you are cleaning them, walking in front of you on the lead or grass diving? All these are signs of disrespect. Easy enough to fix with a little ground work and well worth the time.
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the replies. He does fine when being led and doesn't grass dive with anyone who leads him. I'm hoping it's just something that we are just gonna have to work on for a while til he gets it. He is fine once you're on him it's just getting up there that is the issue right now. I'm gonna try a different saddle pad on him tomorrow and see if that helps. He is a very high withered horse so it could be the saddle also.
 
#6 ·
I think 2 months is more than enough time to no longer be generally spooky at the new place.

When you're getting on, are you holding on to the reins and mane as you mount up? He definitely should not be moving - as you well know. When he moves, circle him around and ask him again to stand nicely while you mount up. When you mount up, consider not slipping your foot into the stirrup before swinging over your other leg. It leaves you very vulnerable if he moves. However, if your seat and balance aren't strong, sitting there without stirrups won't help either, so be careful!
 
#7 ·
@Dancing Arabian

No I don't think he had his reins and mane in his hands. The reins were around the saddle horn but not tightly around it. He (my husband) can't really remember what happened. So he's going to work with him tomorrow in the round pen. We will see how it goes. Wish us luck!!
 
#8 ·
[
I think 2 months is more than enough time to no longer be generally spooky at the new place.

/QUOTE]

I didn't see the "2" bit:oops: He should be settled in by now. However, often horses can be a little more challenging when left for weeks. They might be a bit more "testy" or reactive their first ride after a break. Unfortnately most horses are smart and pick up on mistakes, so if you repeat an error they may find a way to take advantage, which it sounds like may be the case here.
 
#9 ·
@ BlueSpark

I think you are right. The more I think on it he has had a change of attitude in the last few days and I believe it's because we haven't been working with him enough and he would rather be left alone. Hopefully we will be able to turn him around though.

Thanks for your replies. :)
 
#11 ·
Think we have found out part of the problem. My husband talked to the man we bought him from today and apparently he has had this issue for a long time. He worked with him and thought he had broken him from it but since he has been with us he has picked it back up. At least we now know that it's not completely something that we've done to make him start doing it. We just have to break him from doing it ourselves. Thanks for all the tips. We will take and use all of the suggestions.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top