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Horse Behavior and Training

Bolts with rider

By:
bahila73
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

5 yr.old Arabian gelding, Egyptian-Spanish cross had saddle come loose and wound-up underneath before we could get him stopped. I have worked beyond the saddling issues with great care and much time, however it`s another story with a rider on his back. He is very quick and strong and does tight uncontrolled spins until the rider is off. His personality is loving and kind and is easily trained. Since that time I have desensitizing with Pecos Bill {mannequin rider}. Same result but over time I now can control him with less frantic behavior. He gave me a slow walk yesterday, but still nervous. I have been breeding and training Arabian horses for over 20 yrs and have never encountered this type of reaction. People make mistakes, and I sure made a huge mistake with this horse {not checking the cinch before the wreck. I am open for any suggestions. This wreck was human caused and my hope is that we can put a fix on the bolting tendency. This horse is very solid in his round pen training, both in-hand and at liberty He is always saddle at liberty and doesn`t move during the tacking-up time. He also knows his position in our herdThank you Monty and friends

JoHewittVINTA
Please upload your photo 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi. Welcome to the Uni - I'm assuming lack of accreditations (rosettes) means, perhaps, you are new to it. Do you have a copy of From My Hands To Yours? If not, I'd invest, it's invaluable. I'm currently breaking in a late gelded (6 years) father of 3 with the help of Stan, who doesn't ride & started off frightend of horses. Humphrey is a cob pony, very kind nature but now 7 years old so we have a challenge! Humphrey is girthy ( cinchy ) so we are working bare back. Your fella is likely to be much more forward going than Humphrey because of his Arabian breed. Not that Humphrey doesn't have his moments. Perhaps you need to put more time in using two long lines with Pecos Bill, to build confidence & using just a Dually head collar - so much kinder when youngsters make mistakes. Stan rode Humphrey in my friends school today, together with Joyce on a mare called Rowan. It was just walk work but soooo much better than in the field with Miss Moley ( Humphreys 17 month old filly daughter ) butting in & charging about. Still bare back & in the Dually but great improvement in both pony & human students! The seemingly impossible just takes time. Cheers, Jo.

panam357
Please upload your photo

Hi, My fjord does the same thing. He had a saddle come loose and slide under him. He went thru two wire fences. Now he is very spooky and bolt and dumps the riders.
I am interested in any comments that are for bahila73

bahila73
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Thank you both for your comments. The Arab gelding {Santana} has been in long lines for 3 weeks and is doing well. `Able to take him out of the round pen {thru the gate}, thru another gate and into different pastures while under the control of the long lines. I haven`t put the long lines on him while Pecos Bill is sitting in the saddle because his "cup of worry" is still overflowing. I wanted to stay closer to him because he looks to me for the safe place while the dummy is on his back {12` lead line} I have managed to empty part of that worry out, but feel that I am a long distance away from an {extinction burst} happening. He is getting better each day..

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

Hi, it sounds as if you are doing all the right things. You've recognised what happened was 'human induced', you're taking al safety precautions using longlines, dummy rider, taking it one step at a time to where Santana is able to learn but not get too frightened.
:
panam - I suggest you follow the same path and just take it steady; if it takes 6 weeks, 6 months, or 6 years, it doesn't matter, all that matters is what your horse needs not what we want :-)

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi bahila73 and panam357,
Did you do some Join-Ups with your horse?
What kind of desensitizing did you do with him, after the unlucky turn of the saddle? Did you do some "plastic on a stick"-work under the belly and between the legs? There are some demons now living in that erea, help the horse face his demons and be there for him as his securitynet. Let him know that you're not afraid of his fears, stay safe and take your time. Work incrementally, small steps like you describe, and let him gain confidence again. Watch your own breathing when working with him, deep diafragmental breathing will help him synchronize with you.
Let us know how you're doing,
Miriam

bahila73
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Hi Miriam and thank you so-ooo very much for your insightful suggestion on the deep breathing approach and my possible anticipation for a potential moment of a frenzied movement. He is fine with all of the desensitizing of the plastic sacks and mops. However, I have not desensitized him with Pecos Bill on his back for fear of flooding him with too much to worry about. That might be the next step, though. I am getting ready for another session in just a few moments. I`ll let you know about the todays episode. My thanks again for your insight. Bud

bahila73
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Hello my friends. I am happy to report that Santana had a great session yesterday with Pecos Bill on his back. He gave me a nicely controlled, soft walk. as I kept my breathing constant and outwardly obvious. Thanks Miriam ,for that wonderful suggestion, as sometimes, we get caught-up with the drama that is taking place and for- get to breath. With this victory, I was able to achieve a trot, under control, a whoa, a back-up, and a leg yield, both away and coming towards me. This told me that his attention was on me as a trainer and not on the mannequin and self preservation. I`ll not use the long lines today until I am convinced that the demons that swirl around Pecos Bill being stuck on his back have decided to go somewhere else. I will post the next outing with Santana

Mel - Ramsgate UK
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Really well done Bahila and nice going Santana :D

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi Bahila,
How wonderful, great progress!
Isn't it strange, that we trend to stop breathing when things get exciting... just the opposite of what would help. Good breathing is crucial in whatever situation, Monty is even capable to lower his heartrate by breathing properly, diaphragmatic breathing lowers your pulserate.
Keep the good work going!
Miriam

bahila73
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Hello Panam357. I had a thought that this might help you with your Fiord. My Santana is built much like the Fiords in that he is round with very little wither as his neck come right out his back. I believe that this is a problem with saddling unless you continually check the cinch for tightness. I learned this the hard way {after the wreck} and now make a point of gradually tightening the cinch to the extreme. I have had no-further issues since, with the saddle. I would keep trying to get the saddle on his back with no rider to re- build his confidence with that procedure. `Hope that helps. Bud

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