George has been in touch – he’s having the small problem of his horse walking backwards:
“Good day Al
I have recently bought a horse.
I am having a bit of trouble with him, maybe you could help.
The horse is in good condition, the only thing I need to do is to get his hooves done soon. Having trouble finding a person to do that for me.
Anyway back to the point, when I walk up to him in the field holding the halter, while he is among other horses he doesn’t come close to me or let me get close to him.
Horse walking backwards problem
When I do eventually get him and put the halter on I do give him a treat. I then do the normal thing, lead him back to the stables, clean his hooves brush him down and give him a bit of love and affection.
Now the problem when after I saddle him up and everything, and I want to mount him, he always starts to walk backwards and puts his ears backwards, before I can put a foot on the stirips.
Now when I get on him and want to ride he doesn’t move, the only thing he does is turn to his left all the time just in circles. He has tried 2 times to buck me off (unsuccessfully).
Oh he is +- 7 years old and he has been gelded.
Horse walking backwards
I have tried everything I know, I have tried to ride him bareback, I have tried changing his mouth piece, I have tried riding him only with the halter, I’ve tried walking him with the saddle on before I ride.
PLEASE HELP ME, GIVE ME SOMETHING.
I know it doesn’t happen overnight, but I’m kind of losing faith…..
Kind regards
George”
Who can help George with his horse walking backwards? Please leave a comment below if can.
Horse walking backwards
Now a few tips:
“Making a twitch if you ever need one:
Purchase rubber dog play ring (aprox 4-5 inches wide – cost about £5), loop through a short length of rope.
Easy to slip the ring on your wrist whilst holding the nose to place on the loop, twist your wrist in either direction to tighten loop.
You can then place the rubber ring on the side of the head collar between the buckle and strap, which will hold it in place. Ideal for using on your own when clipping etc. Loosen from headcollar side and unwind to release.
Christine”
And lastly, here’s something to take your mind off George’s horse walking backwards problem and made me laugh out loud. Apols if you’ve seen it before:
Best
First thing this horse may be sore Secondly Are you sure this horse is broken in
These are the first two things that came to mind.
You do not need a nose twitch— you have a horse that is disrespectful
And ground work with lungeing and round pen sending, with multiple
changes in direction are critical. He is in the reactionary part of his brain
when he is behaving as you describe. He needs to move his feet on YOUR
TERMS. Period. Round pen work, lungeing, and Backing him will get
him into the thinking side of his brain and he will begin to respect you
and see you as the alpha of the herd. Halter him and just walk with him
as well. Stop, turn left, turn right, back up, zig zag- randomly – with
the intention to connect on a deeper level and respect will follow
I so agree Hope. I do believe this is what is going on with my husbands gelding. I believe that ground work is 100% of riding. Anyone who thinks they can get on a horse without the ground work is asking for trouble. Obviously we don’t know if this horse has been broken so…. I can say that my hubby’s gelding has definitely lost respect and that’s where I come in. It’s round pen time!!! I hope there are no problems physically George and it’s all a matter of gaining your horses’ repsect and some round pen time! God Bless
I agree with this way of gaining respect and teaching your horse that you are the Alpha of the herd. This should be done with any and every new horse. After doing this, then you need to start your horse off from the beginning – as I suspect he is not broken in – but is trying to do his best – as if he isn’t broken in he has done well to only have bucked a couple of times. As others have said, you need to do a lot of ground work without the saddle and then with the saddle. If you can do some long reining, with the saddle if you don’t have a roller, so he knows to walk forward in the saddle etc. It is a big job, but done well, with kindness and respect – but with you as the alpha, he is likely to turn out to be a very good horse.
Dear George’s Owner,
I highly suggest ground work with George to build your relationship and trust. There are several methods out there, but I really like Clinton Anderson. He goes step by step and teaches you how to get respect from your horse. Have you considered that George may have never been ridden before? You may have to sack him first to get him used to weight on his back. When our horse was just going under saddle, we spent lots of time leaning over her back, petting her all over, and just getting her used to standing by the mounting block until she was asked to move. Good luck with George, and remember consistency is what he needs most but keep it fun!
Kathy
How much ground work have you done so far and what methods? Stop the treats ASAP. Don’t lose hope. Walk away, take a break even for a day. Your horses mental wellness is dependent upon your determination. The communication between the two of you is missing right now.
Oh my…seems you have your hands full….but, I am sure you have had him checked out nose to toes by a good vet. Right? Next a really, really good farrier!
Now…..accupuncture did wonders for my horse after I eliminated all other possibilities. But it needs to be done regularly…never once and done. Obvious to me, he has an issue with saddle/being ridden etc.
Just keep working with him, but I think you need lots more ground work with him. Leave the riding for much later.
Have you checked for injuries in his back? What’s his history with riding? Maybe he has some negative associations with being ridden. Best of luck
Hi, George. It sounds like he needs some ground work. He does not see you as the “herd leader.” I would work with lunging him, or preferably, a round pen. You need to make him move his feet and control his direction. Square up on him, look him directly in the eye and make him walk, trot, canter one way then step into his path and make him change direction and go back the other way. You will need to look for signs of recognition that he is beginning to listen to you such as, lip licking, eye on you, head turned toward you slightly, ear on you and lowering his head. When you see a few of these signs, you immediately release the pressure(stop making him move). Drop your gaze to his shoulder, turn at a angle away from him and invite him to come to you by taking a step or few backward. There’s much more to it than that, but it’s just basic horse-whisperer stuff. I think if you do this for a while, he will be fine. He just needs some retraining is all, and all good training begins on the ground by establishing trust, leadership and respect. This looked like a good link for more info: http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/roundpen1.shtml. You can also Google “join-up.” Here’s a video demonstration by Monty Roberts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dx91mH2voo. I think if you work with him like this, you should see drastic improvement. This technique should take care of all of his issues. Good luck!
Oops, forgot something. That should have read COMMUNICATION,trust, leadership and respect.
Have his back checked out.
I would suggest a vet check the horse for.tooth or back injuries it appears he may be having some discomfort with the tack..failing that have a trainer put.a few hours on Something simple good be bothering ..Good Luck and happy trails ..
Hi George,
It’s important that you rule out physical pain before you think about training techniques etc. it sounds like he is associating the saddle and being ridden with pain and so is avoiding both. Bareback riding is not the answer if he has back pain. Is there a good equine body worker or qualified chiropractor near you who can come and examine and treat your horse? Has the saddle been checked by a saddle fitter?
Best wishes,
Emma Simmons, UK.
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Hi~sounds like your horse doesn’t respect you. 🙁 Do you know how to do groundwork? I would suggest looking at Chris Cox’s method of ground work and get your horse hustling and get to directing his feet & energy on the ground to gain his respect. Chris also has some suggestions on how to catch a horse that is difficult to catch in the pasture. http://www.chris-cox.com/ is Chris Cox’ website. Also, Clinton Anderson is very good and has some great DVDs on ground work and gaining respect on the ground. https://www.downunderhorsemanship.com is Clinton Anderson’s website.
Hi George. Has anyone else tried to ride him?
Do you know anything about his past experiences/owners/etc?
😀
Back to basics George, long rein in straight lines for 2 – 3 weeks, lunge line walk, trot, canter, stand make sure he knows what you are saying 2-3 weeks, lunge in tack only 2-3 weeks. Work on the lunge line with a friend on the other end while you get on board. Teach him the whole mounting thing all over again. Minimum 20 on and offs at a time. Lots of praise etc etc,
Good Luck
Deb UK
Did you ride him before you bought him? Did someone else ride him for you before you bought him? If you answered yes to either of those questions than I have learned ground work does wonders. You being the one to do it. If you answered no to those questions having him physically gone over is a good idea while also doing the ground work. He is diffenently being disrespectful to you and this needs to stop.
Good Luck, Nancy
Hey George… I agree with the other Kathy! Try the Clinton Anderson stuff! It is like magic! I had the same trouble with my new horse, A 4 yo Friesian/Dutch Warmblood. He was walking off, backing off, moving sideways, anything to keep me from mounting him. I got him all tacked up, tied his reins up out of the way, attached the lungeline to his bridle and took him to the mounting block. Started to do approach and retreat mounting. Everytime he stood still I got off and rubbed him. If he moved, I sent him out and did some canter circles with him. He got it really quick. Also good to mount up and then get back off without doing any riding. Good Luck!! 😛
I’m a Clinton Anderson fan. Lots of groundwork builds respect an confidence. Move their feet! If ur impatient after some groundwork dalley him off another rideable pony. Or just have some other riders ride up a to him stand still awhile an normally when they ride off your stubborn pony will follow don’t force him but spin the shit outta of him contine riding with others. Eventually u will b able to ride solo in time b patient brother an carefull spurs help too if u are an experienced rider
As someone who spent 9 weeks on a walker from a broken pelvis via bucking horse incident – ALWAYS eliminate pain issues first. My incident was the result of poor saddle fit, and scar tissue at the horse’s withers. This progressively became worse, as helpful people all around the barn told me how I had to show him who was boss, and how disrespectful he was…. He wasn’t disrespectful. He was trying to tell me he was in pain. Check his back, check his teeth, get him see by an equine chiropractor. Eliminate all pain possibilities first. If it does turn out to be respect, do ground work until the relationship shifts into him looking to you for guidance. Good luck.
I agree with all the suggestions that your horse needs go back to ground work basics. Even top show horses benefit from these exercises. I also recommend finding a good trainer, even for just a few sessions to get you going down a good path. An experienced trainer might also spot something hard to see, like a horse that needs a chiropractic adjustment.
It sounds like he hasn’t learned ground respect. You need to start from stepone and work up. Be patient with him and start slow. Work with him in a round pen. Use the join up method. You can find videos about on line. Hope it helps.
Sounds like he is sore
George it sound as if you may have an unbroken horse.
but even if he just lacks respect for You.
it is definitely Time to get the lunge line, and a Stock whip (no you DO NOT whip the horse).
And get to work on ground work.
rebuild respect and make him realize that riding is easier than a workout.
and NEVER LET HIM OFF when he hasn”t performed.
He Must “Do The Do” that you set for him before you let him relax, NEVER feed him a treat from your hand either, Just like an Employee you cannot get Too chummy with the horse or he will take advantage, just like an Employee would, the stock whip is for noise and possibly for rubbing a plastic sack around him.
Definitely a vet check to start with. If your horse has been taught to be ridden then I would suggest delving deeper into his history. Ring up his previous owners and ask if he has ever had any bad experiences.
Most importantly, build up trust. Try join up so he sees you as the leader and will obey you. Join up multiple times if necessary if he doesn’t obey the first time.
Hope this helps.
I would not put a twitch on him… he is only going to associate negative things with you by doing that. I ride dressage and I have had success using clicker training in conjunction with training with a coach/teacher. Clicker is a bit slower (because it breaks tasks down into smaller parts that the horse can get) and works on a reward system which many people don’t believe in but it does work. Try the book “the click that teachers” or “clicker training for your horse” by Alexandra Kurland. They are excellent.
Good luck
Janet in Calgary
I would agree with all those who say get him checked out but then do groundwork using Monty Robert’s dually halter- it is amazing. My TB just refused to walk whilst being led, or just pulled out of my hands, whizzed about and charged back to the field- but working with the halter changes it. Do Join-Up, round penning if you can but I didn’t have one and had to use the field- and don’t give up hope. Mine took ages but now he is soft and affectionate and a real joy in my life. Don’t use a twitch you will just make him afraid and lose trust. You don’t need violence- watch Monty Roberts and get that halter. Changed my relationship completely with my boy.
Highly recommend a good chiropractor. I have an old girl who was turned out by her previous owners about 10 years ago because she would buck. Got my chiro to check her out and it’s a wonder the poor girl could walk let alone be expected to tolerate a saddle and rider pushing down on her. All good now, she’s so much happier and no problems. Just working on the same trust issues…..humans have caused unintentional pain to her for a long time. 🙁 lovely to see you’re trying with yours…..good luck.
my boulder holder would be too big xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
he is soar, scared,unsure, afraid,he is not sure how to hold a rider, remove all bits, just use a rope halter, play games (ground work, spend time with him out in the pasture & in his stall, out in the pasture watching him graze sit on the ground weight for him to come to you slowly move your hand let him smell your hand then let him keep grazing he will keep coming and watching you
What was he like when you rode him before you bought him? Was he ridden by someone knowledgeable or perhaps not well treated?
Are you trying to mount from the ground and not using a mounting block?
Could you be pulling the saddle across his back and hurting him when you mount?
Is your saddle pad and saddle fitting him?
Lots of good advice here. Your horse is telling you loud and clear that he is unhappy about something.
Also remember moving a horse to a new place is very stressful for a herd animal. It takes them some time to settle down.
The more hands on stuff you do with him, and the more ground work you do the more he will be a co-operative and attentive ride because he will have learned to be focused on you and trust you.
Best of luck!
Suella
i think he is just having a lend of you..his just got a mind of his own….if he thinks he can put it over you…..and still get a treat…. then that`s what he will do…my horse was like that at first…so i would only give him his treat after he did what i wanted….they are smarter then most people i no.lol
I have seen them in lace so the horse can see. The size was probably XXXL 67DD
Most of the comments above are worth considering. These can be done in some priority fashion. It’s unknown how needful of attention his hooves are and likely the best place to start. By saddling/riding him, it could be painful in the hoof or hooves. Do some light measure of training in the round pen and see how he handles foot work. Do not ride him until you can be sure he’s comfortable and sound. At some point in this process, you may find why he prefers the left turn without riding him. To me, this would be the way to find what needs fixing. In the meantime, continue building the relationship one on one as well. Watch his responses as you approach and talk to him softly. Just continue to build as time moves on. Perhaps you might inquire of his background to help you know his habits good or bad and how he was handled. Be patient with him as you two are still new to one another.
Also, it is not known whether or not you acquired George shod or unshod. My suggestion is to remove the shoes if shod and leave them off. The hooves then will need retraining as well, especially if he’s been shod a good while. A farrier will recommend some kind of shoeing but, an experienced barefoot trimmer will do right for that horse and if you’re patient, you two will do great together even under saddle.
You need to get his hooves done, and also chiropractic to check his back, and round pen work lungeing, then I feel he will be a happy boy!!!
It seems to me that this horse is in pain, maybe from his back, maybe from his feet. It may be something very subtle. Why did the last people sell him? Did you actually see them riding him? If so, did he behave like that with them? The most important thing is your relationship with the horse. What have you actually done to make him want to be with you? I would agree that you need lots of ground work before you even start to try to ride him, including just spending time with him without asking anything of him. The last thing you need is to use a twitch to inflict pain and possibly damage to him which will teach him to hate humans even more than he apparently does already. You can learn that there can be a great deal more enjoyment from being with a horse before you ever begin to ride it.
THANK YOU for the funny picture AL! 😀
Hi George,
Everybody’s got it all covered…
Not sure if you had him vetted out, but check the physical symptoms and causes #1.
The ground manners next. Ground training after. It sounds like you know him well enough to know when to quit on a good note and not blow his mind.
I think, before you consider again the saddling, include driving from the ground. Maybe to increase flexibility and balance out the “only going left” thing. I don’t know. Just my two cents’ worth.
Blessings for taking him in and on, and best of luck!
Sonya
I wouldnt even consider riding him until he has a thorough MOT. Have him vetted, back checked, teeth done, eyes checked, speak with The World Horse Trust they use good vets and farriers have lots of experience. Find your nearest Natural Horsemanship Instructor and start from the basics again. Dont rush anything. He obviously isnt happy.
Hi George – lots of advice for you to contemplate. Perhaps get an equine physiotherapist to take a look at his back and then get the saddle checked out. If these are OK, find yourself a good flatwork/dressage instructor.
Good luck
Susan
Ground work for George.He wants to back,so back him up,until he don’t want to back up.Work on lateral flexion on the ground,get the neck soft and disengagement of hind quarters. When you get on board and he circles, get that neck turned in and disengage hind quaters,and work him in tight circles, figure ehights and change direction so working both sides.Cause your idea to become his idea,but understand his first…..he wants to back up,back him up and make it hard work,same with the circling issue.Make the unwanted behaviour difficult and the wanted easy.Reward the slightest try by just giving him a break.He will soon learn.Other than that seek some professional advice, as if he wants to buck or rear could be dangerous. Disengagement takes the power away so they can’t physically do it(normally).Obviously eliminate possibly pain,or I’ll fitting saddle ect for reason to buck ect.Good luck
Twitch is defiantly out of the question … Find out if his problem is mental, emotional or physical … But please don’t twitch him …
Hi George, I agree with many of the previous comments.
First you need to have him vet checked in case he is sore, though I think this is unlikely. I think he is just lacking in effective training.
Second, you need to do lots of ground work, constantly causing him to move his feet and lots of changes of direction. This helps him know you are the boss.
Finally when you have his respect you can start to ride him.
Watch some video’s of good horsemen like Clinton Anderson.
Good luck.
I am with many on this…I would get his teeth and feet checked out, sounds like bad habits if not physical malady….
My horse and others at the stables have severe ‘blanket-burns’ from their blanketsm, these are round marks on their chests with the hair rubbed off from the chaffing. We apply coconut oil & other various lotions to no avail. Has anyone experienced this yet? Have now put two patches of sheeps wool were it chaffs but how to make the hair grow back?
Anyone help please? SA.Winter!
Sounds like he needs his back done to me, all the signs indicate that it’s a pain issue
Dear George – some very sound advice on here regarding a vet check, sore back and ground work.
Another avenue to explore re his behaviour when mounting is this. I had a horse similar behaviour when I used to retrain abused horses. Floss used to do the same thing re backing up and laying her ears back. After investigation, found that the previous owner used to use the reins to help haul her up on the saddle, and held her so tight Floss would back up to try and relieve the pressure on her mouth.
It was a risky move on my part but I decided to mount her with the reins loose, and while getting up, she would move backwards but finding no resistance, would stop. A week of this she realised I wasn’t going to haul on her mouth and stood still every time as long as I had the reins loose when mounting her.
Along with the above suggestions, try mounting him with loose reins, but start slowly with just putting your foot in the stirrup and balancing on that stirrup and wait until he stops then get off. Repeat until he doesn’t move then fully mount, expecting the same reaction. Repeat until he no longer moves. This will take time over a few days, or even weeks depending on his state of mind. Please though, if possible, do this in a small yard/corral, and leave the reins loose! If you want, tie a rope around the base of his neck so you have a secure hold rather than accidently jagging his mouth.
I hope this helps.
Cheers, Kathy.
Hurting the horse will not help! He probably has been abused already to act this way. You want respect, so you have to be firm in a respectful way too. It goes both ways!
Hi I think that you should try to get him in to a small pen and do joun up with him until he comes in to you then put the halter on him I know that works with my horses.
i thought that was a funny pic. with the bra on his eyes as a fly mask