Backing Up Problem Help Please!!

HUS_WP_lovr · 02-23-2008, 06:16 AM

Hey guys,
I was hoping you could help me with a problem i am having with Felix.
He usually backs up fine. I stop him and put leg pressure and lift up my reins a bit and he will back fairly willingly and fairly straight. Lately though after five or so steps he just stops and braces on me and wont back at all. I try to break his head to the side and jiggle each rein seperately. I dont brace on the reins I rather keep them moving so we dont just sit there and let him "take a break" and he dosent get "numb" to it.
So, when I back him up now he goes all crooked and his feet get all splayed out and it feels like he is going to fall over.
Well, yesterday, he got very dangerous and fell over and down onto the ground. He landed on my foot and my neck was twisted up. I am very sore this morning as you can imagine.
He was not colicing as when I tied him in his stall and let him go in the pasture he did not try to lay down or anything.
He also is physically able to do it as he does it usually okay. I think it was just his way of getting out of it instead of running or rearing or even bucking, he just falls over to get me off of him. He dosent lay down either he more falls down like a fainting goat that juwst got scared.
He also will back on the ground straight and will with pressure from the halter.

So any suggestions, he is getting dangerous and I want to nip this in the butt.

Thanks in advance

HUS_WP_lovr · 02-23-2008, 07:15 AM

bumpity bump

wpisawesome · 02-23-2008, 10:36 AM

When I'm(my trainer friend/H & P leader uses this method) teaching backing , if a horse braces I slide my hand down on one of the reins and bend his head around then when he softens do a turn on the forhand then when you feel like he's soft give with the rein and pull with the other rein(so you're just releasing some so you can put even pressure on the reins). Then with your feet bump with one then the other to create some energy. This helps because they are already moving so you just direct them backwards. Just do small steps and work your way up. I have no idea if that made sense!LOL!

I'm glad you're okay , but I bet your sore.

HUS_WP_lovr · 02-23-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpisawesome

When I'm teaching backing , if a horse braces I slide my hand down on one of the reins and bend his head around then when he softens do a turn on the forhand then when you feel like he's soft give with the rein and pull with the other rein. Then with your feet bump with one then the other to create some energy. This helps because they are already moving so you just direct them backwards. just do small steps and work your way up. I have no idea if that made sense!LOL!

I'm glad you're okay , but I bet your sore.

Thanks

....

Yes I am very soar my neck is killing me and my foot hurts!

wpisawesome · 02-23-2008, 10:47 AM

Also if he's ignoring your legs you can tap/kick his shoulders to say hey get back! and you can sit down and back alittle.

Hope you start loosening up some! You'll probably be sore for awhile. Good luck and let me know how it goes!

mammamia · 02-23-2008, 10:52 AM

You may also want to start on the ground again, this way you won't get hurt... Hope you are feeling better soon....

HUS_WP_lovr · 02-23-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamia

You may also want to start on the ground again, this way you won't get hurt... Hope you are feeling better soon....

Thanks

He does it fine on the ground and I do it often when i practice showmanship.

I recently stopped using spurs with him do you think putting some little english spurs back on might help to show him i mean business?

wpisawesome · 02-23-2008, 02:46 PM

It kinda depends on how he responds to spurs. Is he sensitive to them? If he's okay with them you could use them.

HUS_WP_lovr · 02-23-2008, 04:29 PM

I used to usad them all of the time but I found i didnt really need them. he will ride in them but doesnt need them for basic rail work. It is nice to have them though for pivoting and backing so I think i will just use little eng. ones.
Thanks for your help.

Oh and tonight I took him and made him back up on the ground. he was smooth, and did not dawdle and it was straight so its definately not lack of ability.

wpisawesome · 02-23-2008, 04:31 PM

Let us know how he does under saddle, I'm glad he does it on the ground so you know he doesn't have any health/ability problems.

02-23-2008, 10:36 AM	#3
wpisawesome Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,111 Images: 11 Blog Entries: 1	When I'm(my trainer friend/H & P leader uses this method) teaching backing , if a horse braces I slide my hand down on one of the reins and bend his head around then when he softens do a turn on the forhand then when you feel like he's soft give with the rein and pull with the other rein(so you're just releasing some so you can put even pressure on the reins). Then with your feet bump with one then the other to create some energy. This helps because they are already moving so you just direct them backwards. Just do small steps and work your way up. I have no idea if that made sense!LOL! I'm glad you're okay , but I bet your sore. Last edited by wpisawesome; 02-23-2008 at 03:30 PM.

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02-23-2008, 10:47 AM	#5
wpisawesome Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,111 Images: 11 Blog Entries: 1	Also if he's ignoring your legs you can tap/kick his shoulders to say hey get back! and you can sit down and back alittle. Hope you start loosening up some! You'll probably be sore for awhile. Good luck and let me know how it goes!

02-23-2008, 10:52 AM	#6
mammamia Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 101	You may also want to start on the ground again, this way you won't get hurt... Hope you are feeling better soon....

02-23-2008, 02:46 PM	#8
wpisawesome Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,111 Images: 11 Blog Entries: 1	It kinda depends on how he responds to spurs. Is he sensitive to them? If he's okay with them you could use them.

02-23-2008, 04:31 PM	#10
wpisawesome Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,111 Images: 11 Blog Entries: 1	Let us know how he does under saddle, I'm glad he does it on the ground so you know he doesn't have any health/ability problems.