I sympathise, this has clearly come as a shock but let's back track a bit
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Horses never do anything for no reason - he is trying really hard to tell you something. Please forgive me for being direct but I am finding it difficult to accept that it is not physical. My reasons ? (1) This horse was an athlete, he hasn't worked for a year, now he is asked to work - I know how I feel if I haven't moved around for a day and then suddenly have to do physical work never mind a year! :-)
(2) He is ok walking around and ok having tack on and walking with tack on but you get on and bang - major problem, pretty good indicator of pain;
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I have a couple of questions please that would help to build a bigger picture. These are not criticisms or challenges, I am genuinely asking to try and understand what has happened (1)What made you decide to stay on him? (2) What do you feel the consequences would have been if you had got off? (3) What was your thinking process when you decided to move from bitless to bit as a way to resolve this (4) When did you last have his back checked? (5) Have you or he changed weight by any considerable amount (6) How did he hurt his leg? (7) Have you inspected the saddle in great detail underneath to make sure nothing is pressing into him when you sit on the saddle? (8) how would he react if he was standing still and you 'leaned' on his saddle/applied pressure - what reaction does he make. Gosh, that was such an interrogation I'm sorry but it is important.

Sorry to be blunt, but I don't think you should have been so surprised by this. You took an entire year off from riding him, then jump back on and expect him to remember everything and behave perfectly. Horses change over time; they can forget things that they should know if they don't have to use that information in a long time, just like people. For future reference, its probably a good idea to bring your horses back to the level they were *slowly* if they've been off work for an extended period of time.
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Start from the beginning. Do Join-Up with him in a small paddock or arena if possible, so that you have both his respect and trust. Try double lunge-lining him with a saddle on for a couple days so he remembers the feeling of the saddle and how to respond to rein cues.
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Don't be tempted get stronger bits or equipment, that will not solve the problem. Don't keep changing tack back and forth either; stay consistent, keep the same equipment so he doesn't become more confused.
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Only ride him for a very short time at first; build up the length of time until you get to the point you were at before. I wouldn't stop him from moving every time he throws a fit- he could take that as a reward. Try and keep him walking until he calms down a little, then stop and reward him for being good.
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Give him the same cues each time, don't change the way you ask him to do things. If you are consistent, he will relearn what's expected of him and feel more confident in you as a leader.
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Teaching him an emergency stop (one rein stop) from the ground could help keep you safe while on his back; I think there are some good youtube videos showing how to do this, maybe by Stacy Westfall or something.
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Don't worry; you'll get him back to normal :) Just stay calm and consistent, work with him a little every day if you can. Good luck, I hope everything goes well :) (again, sorry if I seemed blunt, especially at the beginning)

Answers to Vicci's questions:

1: What made me decide to stay on him? First ride I stayed on him for about eight minutes. Only got off when he gave me a relaxed moment--wanted to end on a good note. To jump off immediately-- right after or during his'fit'(for lack of a better word) would have been a reward IMO.

2. Used soft, flexible rubber mullen bit instead of bitless for second ride because the bitless offers no safety/control/ability to correct when a horse is that wild. He pushed right through the bitless-- shifted it (Dr. Cook bitless do shift easily)-- easily got his head down to buck, etc.

4. Checked his back before saddling. No pain.

5. His weight is the same as always (normal/healthy) and mine is too. I weigh 122 lbs.

6. He got a nasty abscess cluster in RF that lasted for over two weeks-- weight bearing opposite left foot got laminitis-- very, very slight coffin bone rotation that is now stable -- 100% sound.

7. Saddle/pad/girth is same as usual-- my racing 'exercise' saddle that he has always preferred.

I too agree that horses never do anything for no reason. But all was well (as far as I could tell) when I got on him after his time off. I didn't ask him to 'work'-- just asked him to walk--was hoping for a short, lazy hack around the farm. Second ride same thing-- no fuss, no muss and BANG! Airs above the ground right off the bat!

To gslmay: I wasn't terribly surprised, but...I wasn't expecting such an overt explosion from a seasoned, older horse who used to enjoy being ridden. He was always my go-to horse when I wanted to hack out alone and have a wonderful ride.

On both rides I did wait until he calmed down and then rewarded-- stopped him and stood still because it really was the only way he could get his 'mind' back. The we walked on. The bit I used-- as I described to vicci-- was about as kind a bit as one could use: a flexible rubber mullen. I am planning to stick with that until I can go back to the bitless. Unfortunately he hasn't been driven (double lunge line) since he was a two year old-- he's 16 now. Even lunging him with one line (not my favorite method) wasn't especially easy in open space which is all I have. I fear I will have a loose horse if I double line. I wish I had the $$ to construct a round pen. Haven't needed one in 20 years! and now I do!

Anyway-- thank you both for your replies! Keep them coming-- and I take no offense to bluntness. All good questions and suggestions!

What I am going to try tomorrow is to take him out in company. Perhaps he just needs the security of a trail buddy again, until he gets back to his old self. Will let you know how that works.

BTW: My new OTTB Dragon (from my other post) is doing great. Hacks like a pro-- and is loving his much deserved off-track new life on the farm.

Ah I hadn't made the connection, of course you are Dragon's owner lol . Wow, I wish I weighed 122 pounds ;-)
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Hmm, it's a bit of a puzzler this isn't it? It's a great idea to see how he is with another horse present but I feel there is something else going on as the response is so explosive....I will give it some more thought...in the meantime I'm sure others will have ideas too.

Hi katselasdan and all,

Very interesting thread! What comes up to me is, he used to be an athlete, but after a year I guess there's not much muscle-substance left and maybe not much of muscle-memory. Going from Join-up to longlining seems the path to choose, even if it shows to be difficult right now. Try to fence off some corner of a field with whatever looks safe enough. His fit does make me think of backproblems too, what's his age? Around 13, 14 I guess. Weightbaring is not good right now in his opinion anyway...
I used to ride a mare that hurt a tail-vertebra in the field, she had big problems until it was set and everything was fine again, so look for signs of asymmetry in stance and muscles.
Keep us posted!
Miriam

After thinking and rethinking this 'puzzler' something else has come to mind: Since my horses pretty much live outside 24/7 in their big pastures and deluxe run-in sheds, there are weeks on end when no one comes inside the barn, especially in winter. I don't ride much in winter because there is often too much snow or it's just too cold, frozen ground etc. My puzzler-- after weeks and weeks of being totally outside and loving it, at one point decided he didn't want to get caught and come in the barn. He turned rather feral-- wanted to avoid human contact as much as possible (turned his butt to me, ran off) unless food or treats were involved. During those feral times I did use 'join-up' psychology on him-- sending him away, round and round the pasture (exhausting for me!! ) until he pretty much got tired of that and would join-up. He has since remembered that and I had no problems catching him-- happy boy once again--and then he had the months off due to abscess/laminitis so being in the barn for rest and recovery was agreeable to him.

My point is: this horse does have a 'streak' if you will-- and can be willful. He is also the dominant horse-- is turned out with Dragon who is utterly submissive to him. Ergo: MAYBE he is showing me a new willful feral side that has to do with riding. He just doesn't want to be ridden now-- just like he didn't want to be caught and handled. Ride me? NO WAY!

So....if taking him out in company doesn't work, a back to basics (saddling/riding) round pen join-up is obviously the way to go. I'll just have to build one-- even makeshift as Miriam suggested. I rechecked him carefully for any physical issues and can't find anything that would suggest he's in pain anywhere or is incapable of bearing my 122 lbs. He's a strong, stout boy-- looks like a quarter horse-- with good muscle tone, free movement, etc. I really believe he's either being a brat--or--emotionally just needs the confidence/pleasure of company.

The saga will continue!

SUCCESS !!!!! But not in the way I thought possible. My 'go out in company' rider couldn't make it today. Grrrr! And I had just tacked up my problem boy. So....I took him for a walk on foot-- under tack-- and he was quiet and willing so I decided to get on-- crazy I know! But he walked right off happy as a clam and took himself for a nice walk around the barn area and yard-- on a loose rein-- me with a positive attitude like the explosion was NOT going to happen-- and voila! He was good as gold. Very short ride (on purpose, didn't want to push the envelope) lots of pats and praises and love love love-- and back to the barn we went.

I guess (????) his previous explosiveness just took too much energy on his part! LOL! Life is much more fun and less stressful when you just stroll along like in the good old days!

Go figure.... But wow am I happy!

Be careful and safe, no matter what Kate, I too, rode, trusting my mate... and BAM out of nowhere, bucked so hard and high, I went off, broke 3 ribs. Now have a vest. His 'feral', 'wild' and dominant side will rear it's head again, he is a horse. After reading all the threads, I highly recommend a few good join-ups. More ground work, no spoiling... and watch for the little things he pushes... the signs will be there. Otherwise, sounds like you are doing everything right.

All the best of luck and health to you.

Having read through all of this, I'm thinking your horse might just have a mental reaction, rather than physical (as in pain), to being back under saddle.
He's been used to a routine of leisure and suddenly everything is changing for him and with horses not being big fans of change, but still loving to get out and about a bit, maybe he can't handle all the confusing emotions?
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I know plenty of horses, angels in disguise in general, who will appear to be possessed when starting back up after a longer rest until they have a handle on the situation again.
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Since he has settled down already for you, I am hoping this is just the case. That said, if they get away with their antics, they could get some very bad ideas... ;)

So glad he's being good for you! :) Hope everything continues smoothly.

Kicki -- a 'mental reaction- angel in disguise' does fit this scenario. I agree. Change blew his mind. If I had been more in tune with that side of him-- before riding him-- I could have helped him avoid such a mental meltdown.

The takeaway from all of this is: Always have access to a round pen!

A couple of join-up sessions with an easing into the saddle and then mounting-up, would have worked wonders on his willful yet fragile constitution.

If I am indeed over the hump with him, consistency and confidence building is in order.

I wish I had posted "IDEAS FOR STARTING BACK HORSE AFTER A YEAR OFF" before I attempted to ride him. You guys would have reminded me to start pretty much from square one and join-up first.

Thank you for all the posts! What a wonderful group you are!

I am really pleased for you and I admire your self awareness, reflection and willingness to share it with us. I'm sure we are all a bit wiser thanks to your insight. Keep us updated, I'm looking forward to hearing more about your herd :-)

If you don't have the equipment to set up a round pen or the finances, try some poles in the ground with just soft orange plastic snow fencing, of course let him get used to seeing that for a bit before trying join-up inside.

Easy to put up and easy to take down and inexpensive. Just a thought.

Sorry not been around guys, have a bout of not being too well and everything apart from essentials has to stop at those times.

Katselasdan - You're horse was trying to tell you something, which you listened to eventually.
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"""I took him for a walk on foot."""
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One of the biggest things I've found when bringing your horse back into work after letting them go wild for long periods, is no riding relationship. That little thing you did with taking him for a walk on foot first, talking to him and relaxing with him before you got on was what 'he' needed.
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Spend a week with him on foot first, inhand, 1 hour walks encourage him to relax and get his head down. The walking will be good for both of you, then see how he is when you ask to get on him.
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The horses get angry and throw temper tantrums because 'we fail' to listen to what they are trying to say to us and it frustrates them. We demand what we want of them and expect them to comply just because that's what is always done.
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I want you to think about the communication of a horse with another horse. When it wants the other horses hay, does it go in full blast head down and ears pinned back, or are there other signs from that horse before that? (Rhetorical)
I hope you are aware that there are many more signals before that point to first ask the other horse to go away, the first begins with the eyes and turning of the head to its object, followed by a series of signals that only if the other horse does not listen does the head drop and ears go back.
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It should be the same with our riding and listening to our horse. They are more than willing to let us get on their backs and go out for a ride, but when the routine hasn't been there for a year or more, how we ask them is most important. Notice I say we ask them, not tell them. Using incremental steps we ask by using a routine, groom, tack up, in hand walk one day, lunge the next day, in hand walk the following day, then when you see the fitness levels increase, stand at the mounting block and wait for them to relax before getting on. When on, let them get reused to your weight at stand, then get off. Get on again and you'll feel them relax quicker. When they're relaxed at stand, then walk, when relaxed and lifting their backs at walk, trot, when head down and relaxed in trot, canter. Don't ask for collection let them feel happy and relaxed to be with you on their backs. When all this is achieved, then start to 'ask' for more things.
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This is waiting for the horse. If you do that you won't have the temper tantrums.
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Horses do not get angry and throw temper tantrums for no reason, they are quiet peaceful creatures. If they get angry and throw temper tantrums with us, then we have to look at what we are communicating to the horse.

IDEAS FOR STARTING BACK HORSE AFTER A YEAR OFF is a good idea, I've started a new thread for people to put their ideas in there.

Remember there search feature on the pages of the Uni, if you're not sure first do a search it may bring up the answers you need.

Mel
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It's all about the horse!