Comments on: Horse walking backwards – who can help George?

By: chloe

chloe — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 21:17:33 +0000

i thought that was a funny pic. with the bra on his eyes as a fly mask

By: lakota

lakota — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 03:48:27 +0000

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.

By: Rolande

Rolande — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 17:52:11 +0000

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!

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:01:01 +0000

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.

By: Wendy Lucas

Wendy Lucas — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:12:43 +0000

Sounds like he needs his back done to me, all the signs indicate that it’s a pain issue

By: Annette Smit

Annette Smit — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:28:20 +0000

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!

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 14:28:16 +0000

I am with many on this…I would get his teeth and feet checked out, sounds like bad habits if not physical malady….

By: Robyn Reed

Robyn Reed — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:10:33 +0000

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.

By: Cheryl Ripley

Cheryl Ripley — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 10:51:59 +0000

Twitch is defiantly out of the question … Find out if his problem is mental, emotional or physical … But please don’t twitch him …

By: Patricia Preston

Patricia Preston — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 09:41:57 +0000

In reply to Hope.

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.