[endurgirl]

Okay, there is an Arab that a friend bought a little over a year ago. He would run out from under you (semi bolt) when mounting. I ride him in endurance rides and that is when he is the worst, I guess all of the excitement. One ride he reared and bucked so bad before the start that I just got off and didn't ride him, so I brought him to my house to work some kinks out and we worked thru them, and the last endurance ride he stood stark still. He hasn't bolted since then during mounting and I went out this past Tuesday and climbed on him several times to make sure he wouldn't bolt for the man's son for today's ride.

Well I just heard from him and the horse went crazy and fell on top of his son TWICE. I don't know much else to do. I think it is just the environment and excitement of the ride that sets him off.

HELLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!

[cutter123]

eeek! I don't like those kind of horses that will fall on top of someone! Are you sure the guy didn't accidently pull him over on top of him? Was it when he was trying to get on? Perhaps the guy is bad at mounting and pulls him off balance. How old is the son?
It does sound like the horse isn't taking the pressure of the endurance ride environment very well. He might be a bit fried and need either some time off or a new, less stressful job.

[MissCriss]

Wow . Sounds like this horse needs to go to a specialized professional, because this horse doesn't JUST have a training issue, he has a SAFETY issue as well. He is DANGEROUS if he falling on top of people.

I agree with cutter123. This guy's brain might be a little fried, and a change of scenery might do him some good. That way he will have a chance to just chill out and gather his bearings.

But yes, he definitely needs someone specialized in dealing with horses like that.

Have you checked to see if it has anything to do with:

1. What the horse is being fed.
2. The tack
3. How the owners are handling and riding the horse
4. If the horse gets adequate turn out
5. If it is has anything to do with his muscles, teeth, spine, bone, or ligaments. Basically, anything medical.
6. Check to see if there is something outside his stall that is causing him to become anxious.

It may just be that he doesn't get adequate mental and physical stimulation. Athletic horses tend to be the ones that need a lot of extra activity. There is a horse at the barn that is a nutbag if he doesn't get a few hours of turn everyday, a toy in his stall, and riding five times a week for at least forty minutes.

[rageandglory]

from what i understand of Arabians, the above posts are quite creditable.

[windblown]

Also, since the horse was fine for you recently, I would try to observe this person mounting (on another horse preferably at this point). I am guessing there is something that is triggering this response. The person made unintentionally be kicking him in the side, hanging too long on the saddle, hitting his croup, etc., and spooking the horse.

And with an Arabian endurance horse, I wholeheartedly echo the statement of him maybe needing a change of scenery or a change of career. Arabs are smart and get bored

[endurgirl]

Originally Posted by cutter123

eeek! I don't like those kind of horses that will fall on top of someone! Are you sure the guy didn't accidently pull him over on top of him? Was it when he was trying to get on? Perhaps the guy is bad at mounting and pulls him off balance. How old is the son?
It does sound like the horse isn't taking the pressure of the endurance ride environment very well. He might be a bit fried and need either some time off or a new, less stressful job.

I think this horse was "cowboyed" and started by some idiots. At home he is very gentle, will walk up to you in the pasture, etc. As for the guy, he's an experienced endurance rider. I do know that this horse will react if you are nervous getting on. I recommended to the owner that someone hold this horse while he got on. Don't know if that happened or not, I was not there.

I think his brain was fried before he came to us, now just to unfry it. BTW, he had never been in an endurance ride until we got him and he's only been in 4.

[endurgirl]

Originally Posted by MissCriss

Wow . Sounds like this horse needs to go to a specialized professional, because this horse doesn't JUST have a training issue, he has a SAFETY issue as well. He is DANGEROUS if he falling on top of people.

I agree with cutter123. This guy's brain might be a little fried, and a change of scenery might do him some good. That way he will have a chance to just chill out and gather his bearings.

But yes, he definitely needs someone specialized in dealing with horses like that.

Have you checked to see if it has anything to do with:

1. What the horse is being fed.
Endurance Gold by FRM. I think it is being switched to TC 10% Performance.

2. The tack
But he's fine at home. And I haven't seen any rub or no-sweat marks.

3. How the owners are handling and riding the horse
He's good at home, they are gentle with him.
4. If the horse gets adequate turn out
He stays in pasture 24-7

5. If it is has anything to do with his muscles, teeth, spine, bone, or ligaments. Basically, anything medical.

6. Check to see if there is something outside his stall that is causing him to become anxious.

It may just be that he doesn't get adequate mental and physical stimulation. Athletic horses tend to be the ones that need a lot of extra activity. There is a horse at the barn that is a nutbag if he doesn't get a few hours of turn everyday, a toy in his stall, and riding five times a week for at least forty minutes.

Also, the owner said that the second time he reared and fell with him was when they went out on the second loop. He had to pass by the horse trailer and the horse didn't want to leave it. He's NEVER acted barn or trailer sour. I'm at a loss.

[endurgirl]

Originally Posted by windblown

Also, since the horse was fine for you recently, I would try to observe this person mounting (on another horse preferably at this point). I am guessing there is something that is triggering this response. The person made unintentionally be kicking him in the side, hanging too long on the saddle, hitting his croup, etc., and spooking the horse.

And with an Arabian endurance horse, I wholeheartedly echo the statement of him maybe needing a change of scenery or a change of career. Arabs are smart and get bored

The guy had been riding him for the past few weekends and he'd do okay mounting. He might move a little bit. I just know that the owner is frustrated and the son and horse has a bit of road rash.

[Jenje!]

It sounds like he's just very over-stimulated to me. Have you thought about taking him to a ride or two and just bringing him along, ponying him? I'm not sure how feasible that is because I have no idea how much money goes into each ride.

Is it possible that his saddle fits juuust a little off and is digging into his back when he's mounted? Are you/they mounting from the ground, or from a mounting block? My first thought was that maybe the saddle pulling is just enough to set him off on top of being over-stimulated by the excitement of the ride.

I'm sure you've thought of this stuff, just throwin' it out there...

[endurgirl]

Originally Posted by Jenje!

It sounds like he's just very over-stimulated to me. Have you thought about taking him to a ride or two and just bringing him along, ponying him? I'm not sure how feasible that is because I have no idea how much money goes into each ride.

Is it possible that his saddle fits juuust a little off and is digging into his back when he's mounted? Are you/they mounting from the ground, or from a mounting block? My first thought was that maybe the saddle pulling is just enough to set him off on top of being over-stimulated by the excitement of the ride.

I'm sure you've thought of this stuff, just throwin' it out there...

Thanks for throwing it, I'll catch it anytime

I don't know about the ponying thing. I can't think of another horse that the man has that would allow ponying. He's the low man on the todem pole, so the others would kick him more than likely

He is mounted from the ground. He has a huge issue with someone being high over his head. Like sitting on top of the round pen fence will scare him to death, so when someone is on a mounting block he freaks out. Soooo, mounting from the ground is "safer"