Hi Danielle,
What you didn't mention is: what spooked your horse and might he be most afraid of someone falling off?
Did you do Join-up with him? Do you have a Duallyhalter?
If that is the case I would start desensitizing him, with whatever you can find that won't break when it falls and doesn't hurt your horse when it touches him.
Take a plastic watering can, or something similar, tie a rope to it and touch him with it.
Then let it slide from the saddle in such a way that he can see it, can react to it and you can help him overcome his fear for something falling off and be safe.
When he relaxes, take it away. Soon he'll stand still when you play with it.
Touch his flanks, legs etc with it.
When he's OK with that, then follow the "Mountingblock-lesson" on this Uni.
Hope this makes sense and helps.
Miriam

Definatly watch the mounting block lessons on the Uni and see if they help. One thing that helped with my horse was to just stand next to her, on the mounting block. I didn't do anything but stroke her back and brush her, braid her mane, etc. Try just chilling with your horse with you being a bit "taller", and she should get used to it.

Don't get on until she is standing still while you are above her.

A truck was coming towards them fairly fast, which has never spooked him before but she is thinking a rock or something might have hit him. I did do join up with him when I bought him last winter. You could not get anywhere near him. I am sure he was 'abused' per say as they had to rope him to catch him. They basically saddle broke him to do work on the ranch and that was it. I can stand on the mounting block and pet him, pat all over his body and he will stand still without any signs of problem. Its only when my foot goes in that stirrup and pressure is added. That's when you can visually see his rear tense up. No doubt in my mind he got a big fright when she fell. As for desensitizing, does anyone have any tips on what to use, when to use it and when to take it away? I think I need to start with this guy right from scratch now because he hasn't had the proper ground training he should have. I watched all the Uni's on mounting but there isn't much for mounting on a horse that is afraid.

Hi Danielle, there is a lesson on mounting a horse that flies away when you put your leg in the stirrup in Fix-up DVD. Hope this helps.
Regards

Thanks! I just spent a couple of hours with him to see if his old fears were still there when I first worked with him. Ie- jumping, fast movement, anything touching off him and he didnt react to any of it, which leads me to believe he really just got a scare from that one incident. Im going to purchase the dvd and see wht we can do about that.

Hi Danielle, could he have some discomfort under the saddle.? Does he react while putting on saddle & tightening girth? Horse chiro or Bowen therapy may assist also to rule out any back / muscle problems which could have been result of spook & fall of your friend.

Hi Danielle - check out some of Monty's de-sensitising videos. Timing is so important as soon as your horse stands still anc accepts the object then take it away. Keep your movements and body language slow and gentle and talk to your horse the whole time. It may also be helpful to have an assistant help you by holding your horse near the mounting block with the dually as you attempt to mount. If he moves then your assistant should immediately correct him with the dually. It is important that our horses learn to stand still for us whenever we are handling them and essential for mounting so watch Monty's standing still video. The dually is really great for teaching horses to stand still - quick correction and whoo as soon as they move - they quickly learn not to move but you need to be consistent and re-train in necessary. Good luck with it.
A truck coming fast towards a horse is scary for any horse. My Nicky is totally bomb proof on the roads - has even allowed fire engines with sirens to fly past her no problem.. I have always felt safe riding her near traffic on busy roads yet yesterday we were caught on the wrong side of a busy road with little room to move and a big dump truck pulling a second carriage behind it came roaring down on us at a very fast speed. Very stupid of me to put us both in so much danger. We both got a huge fright and I thought we were both dead as the truck was going far too fast and far too close to us. I am riding her out again to-day but I expect her to be fearful of trucks to-day so I will be very careful - I will be scared too which of course doesn't help so I will be breathing lots and singing or talking to her constantly! I am guessing that it will now take me some time until she is again my very safe bomb proof road horse.