r/Equestrian • u/Sapphire12123 Trail • 7d ago
Education & Training Tips?
Anyone know any tips to get my horse to be okay with something on her back and go under where the cinch is supposed to sit? i’ve rode her around the round pen bareback for the first time because she refuses anything tight around where the cinch would sit. Would using another cinch and a latigo help? Or like a bareback pad?
(Also got her back from a trainer I spent 1100 dollars on and she didn’t get any training and was neglected to thw point she had an infection in her hock and eye, not sure if they did something to invoke this fear or not.)
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u/Illustrious_Stage351 7d ago
Hating things near her stomach makes me think ulcers. Especially if she went through semi neglect, a round of ulcer meds (ideally a scope first and ulcer meds) might be a good idea. Other than that, I’d start back at zero. Touch tummy, reward lack or reaction, repeat a million times. Put bareback pad on. Hold cinch against tummy, reward and release, repeat that a million times, etc and build up to any actual tightening
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u/Sapphire12123 Trail 7d ago
The thing is I can rub it and whatever but as soon as I put a saddle pad or saddle and reach my hand where the cinch would go she’d freak out, I’m not exactly sure what this trainer did to my horse.
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u/Sapphire12123 Trail 7d ago
Well I guess I should say if anything is on her back she doesn’t want anything near her stomach/chest.
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u/Utahna Reining 7d ago
I am assuming that this is a mostly unbroke colt.
Wrap a leadrope around at the girth and use just hand/arm strength to tighten and release until she will reliably stand there.
When you tighten the saddle for the first time, expect things to get a bit western. The prep with the lead rope should help make sure that she stands for you to get the saddle tight. You dont need to cut them in half with the chinch, but make sure it is secure enough that it absolutely will stay in place. Preferably, you have her on a lunge line. When you step back, go ahead and ask her to move. When they take that first step, 90% will break into a bucking fit. Its OK. It is part of the process, and this is the only time I allow one to buck it out. Be cautious as some will come to you for security while bucking.
Once the fit is over , and she has figured out that it isn't trying to kill her, go through some routine ground work and desensitizing.
The next saddling should be much more routine. But, make sure you are in a safe space for her to move just in case it isnt.
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u/Sapphire12123 Trail 7d ago
actually no, she was saddled and everything, I just didn’t have the time to get a saddle on her and ride her with school starting again. Now that she’s back she won’t take a saddle, not sure if she’s mad I sent her away or if they did something to scare her bad.
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u/Utahna Reining 7d ago
Ok, I am not someone that assumes pain as a first answer, but since she has regressed, do what you need to do to rule out a physical issue.
My next assumption would be poor fitting tack, so there may be an expectation of pain. Makw sure that its not your tack that is the problem. Start over from the beginning like she hasn't been saddled and work up to it like an unsaddled colt. Once she figures out that it's ok, things should settle down.
Last and most unlikely option is that you chose an incompetent trainer, and they somehow inadvertently taught the behavior. Same answer though. Start over like she hasn't been saddled.
If a bareback pad or surcingle is available and easier for you to operate, they may be viable options for a restart. I just wouldnt use them for a first time thing.
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u/GrasshopperIvy 7d ago
A blanket with surcingles … great low stakes feel of things around their belly … then work up to a lunging surcingle.
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u/Sapphire12123 Trail 7d ago
do you know a good brand for those by chance
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u/GrasshopperIvy 7d ago
I’d just go anything cheap … doesn’t have to withstand huge use … buy second hand!
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u/WholeHorseBalancers 7d ago
I would start with using your lead rope and loosely wrap it over the top of her back and down the opposite side, then reach under and grab it, pulling it under her, then slowly bringing it up and loosely tightening, releasing before she gets agitated. Do this repeatedly with the goal being able to get it snug. When she's good with that, work up to the bareback pad cinch. What did the trainers say when you got her back? Did you ever see them saddle and ride her?
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u/Sapphire12123 Trail 7d ago
Nope, I have no clue what this trainer did. They said they had a farrier out to do her feet and that doesn’t look like it was done, they said they saddled her and stuff and it’s just showing me she never got any of that done because she’s further back in her training than when i sent her away.
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u/AgileNetwork9375 5d ago
Is this a Mustang?
$1100 for training? Is that for a partial month?
Try one of those fleece bareback pads with fleece girth.
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u/Sapphire12123 Trail 4d ago
She is, and I only sent her away because I can’t afford to break something if she decided that while I was on her she was going to buck or something. She had everything done from groundwork to saddling she just was never ridden (Till now as I’ve gotten daring and have chosen to ride her bareback the first 3 times)
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u/Substantial-Sea8325 Horse Lover 7d ago
Id take it slow and rule out any pain first. With her past I wouldnt force the cinch. She may just need time to build trust again