[myhorsethunder6]

So heres the story. The beginning of last summer i started working with a 4 year old quarter horse gelding, completly untrained, named Spirit. He learned fast and was easy to work with and soon enough i was riding him at the walk in and out of the roundpen. He was very sweet on the ground, always watched your space, put his head down, and he was pretty solid about not spooking. He had been started with a sidepoll but we wanted to switch him to a bit, so we spent about a week working with him and the bit since he didnt take to it well, he would toss him head around whenever i asked him to stop or back. Then i went back to just sitting on him and asking him to flex his head. This was all over the winter.

Then the beginning of this summer, we had continued working with him and we took him out to our new outdoor arena. I worked him on the ground first then i just got on and off of him for a while since i didnt have anyone to hold him for me. And when i was sitting on him the last time he started to take a step forward and i put light pressure on the bit to make him stand still and he went all out bucking. There were 2 people watching and they said that it was bad bucking not just the norm. I didnt last very long and after i got back up, i decided i would just lay on him again once or twice so we wouldnt just end like that. But again, when he calmed down enough for me to lay on him, he started bucking again.

So for most of this summer, we started from the beginning with him. We re-did all his groundwork, he is now a pro at lunging and open lunging. We got him re-used to the saddle and bridle and did a lot of bit training on the ground. And about a week and a half ago we started getting on him again. Since then i have been having someone lead me around while i ask him to go and turn and stop. He was doing AWESOME and we thought we would almost be ready to move out on a lunge line. But yesterday, we were walking and i felt him tense up and start to jig and i had about 10 seconds to tell the person holding him to get out of the way before he exploded and i managed to stick it until he slammed on his breaks and bucked at the same time. We caught him, and calmed him down, and i layed on him once or twice but he was still antsy. Then when i walked away someone else was laying on him after we commented that he could get hurt and he shouldnt get on (this is his horse so we cant tell him absolutly no) So he layed on him and Spirit freaked again. There were 3 people watching that time, excluding me, and everyone said from there point of view, Spirit had just went into panic mode. He didnt have his ears back like he was mad or anything and he didnt seem to be in pain, he was just panicing. And we don't know why or what set him off.

Now the owners say he is dangerous and he is untrainable. I dont believe that, but i will not get on this horse again because i dont have the skills to handle his level of bucking. But i was wondering what your guys' opinion on this was? What would you do? What do you think might be causing it?

Sorry this is sooo long!! But i would really appreciate any replys!!

Britt

[JumpingCrazie]

Good luck with this, I don't believe any one horse in untrainable. Maybe a surrounding object or another horse spooked him?

[Lopinslow]

personally, i wouldn't deal with a horse like this, but maybe that's just me.

if it's the BIT he has an issue with, have you tried lightly tying him around so he gets used to light pressure on the bit? done some long-lining and ground driving?

If it's just the weight issue, I would see about putting some sand bags or other sort of weight and securing it VERY well, then letting him just get it out of his system in a SAFE area.

[Bruce Wiley]

Fairly common for horses thats just starting out or only having a handful of rides, where sometimes they feel trapped, thinking they should rid themselves of the tack or it's rider aboard.
This could become dangerous and its about being smart, preventive in this case, where horses cay give the impression they are calming down purely on words spoken.
I say it won't specially on a consistent bases.
The unwanted thought of the horse is still their memory to render it"s big surpise.
I do know some folks would go on and do it themselves and if the person is seriously hurt in the process. Valueable time is lost, where the horse has the chance to revert back with him learning the behavior on how to rid himself of a rider.

*According to your thread, you and other have laid on this horse's back and have sit which has caused the horse to repeat his reactions and all of this stem from his last memory.

This situation may call for getting an experience horse indivdual, which could correct the horse's reactions, also put on some quality rides.
Again, I feel this belong and is more suitable for an experienced, competent horse indivdual for this type of work.
It shouldn't cost alot, because it won't take very longand it should cost alot!

Try to gain some horse training knowledge from that person and best of luck.

I hope this insight helps.

[myhorsethunder6]

Thank you everyone!
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have this horse go to a trainer, but he is not my horse, and also i, and the owner, do not have the money needed. I think i am going to continue working with this horse by re-doing our ground work and maybe taking him on some trail walks and getting him used to different situations.I want to make it clear that I WILL NOT GET ON THIS HORSE AGAIN so it doesnt come up that its not safe for me to ride him. I may try ground driving and some different excersizes with the bit. And maybe when he is calmed down again and ready to handle someone getting back up there, i will call in a trainer to do a couple of rides on him instead of sending him somewhere. Then i will be able to watch and hopefully learn something. Calling someone in should be more affordable for us.
Thanks again! Anymore input on this would be appreciated also!

Britt

[caity and billy]

its at this time where i wish i was a rodeo star and not give a **** about getting thrown off, ah the confidence they have!!
That way u could ride out the bucks until he goes, "ah well i tried, that didnt work"

if you could get a trainer thatd be the best thing.

[spurjangleokie]

pony him along with another "Broke Horse" and take his behind on a long trail ride, over the hills, through the trees, to Grandmothers house we go, LOL. Seriously try it.

[hicklovr]

I have a similar story my two year old QH fillie that i just started training, has been great with ground work, and shes absolutely fine to work with. I've had her for a while now, and we used to go out on rides that were really nice -- walking, trotting, and cantering...

HOWEVEERRR this past week i took her out and it was the usual ride we would go on, and she was nice and warmed up. I asked her to go into canter and she stopped. so i asked her to go on and walk and we started trotting and again i asked for canter and she started to buck - her ears were back and she just wanted me off her back... After she successfully manged to get me off her back i looked at her feet, felt her legs and checked her tack - everything was fine and the tack fits great. the bit is perfect for her and it doesnt bother her mouth at all, she has no back problems or any injurys at all, and the only thing i give her before a ride out is a little sugar cube....that wouldnt be the reason for her to freak out on me would it??

the only problem with me and my girl Fancy is that at my new house i dont have a round pen or any enclosed area other than her pasture that i could get on her and ride out this problem... Ive been bucked off several times now and im getting scared of being hurt, im almost not looking forward to our rides now because i dont want to get on and get hurt and i hate saying that!!!

[meljean]

A lot of times, you will have a young/green horse that will do things like this, after several times of being ridden. They have gotten over their initial fear of unknown, and have gotten comfortable enough to try themselves.

And it could be a pain issue somewhere? Only gives problems under weight, sprung rib, cracked bone, etc.

And this horse could just be tougher. And may be harder to get along with and train for that reason. Did not mention how bred, but some bloodlines in some breeds are hotter/harder to deal with.

What kind of feed is he getting? Maybe change it, and see if helps.

One thing you shouldn't do it to try to keep riding him. A broken bone is no fun.

[seaecho]

You don't mention the kind of bit you were using. I'm sure you know a mild bit should be used on a green horse. French link snaffle seems to be very agreeable to a lot of horses. If you are using a curb bit, or something else harsher than a French link, its possible the horse is objecting to the pain that is caused him when you put pressure on the reins. And this in turn panics him.