|
|
 
| I have a 6 year old gelding, who sometimes on the ground just flat panics. This is not something that's place nor origin specific- It can be on the trailer at the show, in the cross ties at home, or just leading him. He's immediate reaction is to back up, the problem comes when he hits the end of the lead and pressure hits his poll- he panics and FLIES backwards and asks no questions. I have no idea how to fix this.
A little history- I've owned him since last April, and the lady I bought him from told him from time to time he would set back at the trailer. He's gotten better, but even just the other day he had a melt down over fly spray and backed like a crazy person straight out of the barn in a panic.
I'm all for tieing one up and leaving them, or getting my point across however need be. The problem is, he litterally is afraid something bad is going to happen to him- I'm sort of at a witts ends here.
Is it something that's just going to be "him"? He's a wonderful horse other then that hole. I can't beat (take that lightly) him for it, because that literally just makes him that much more upset about the situation. Leaving him tied to a tree in the back doesn't matter because then he's fine.
So I guess what I'm asking is- Has anyone ever dealt with something like this? Should I just leave it be and call it one of his quirks? |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | My guy was like this, although he is much much better as he ages and has gotten used to us. When we first got him you never knew what was going to cause him to freak out. Something as simple as someone walking out of the trailer beside him, throwing a saddle pad on, putting the saddle on, spraying something on him etc. He was abused before we got him. We just took it slow and easy, let him know each time what we were doing and now it almost never happens. I think circumstances can cause this and sometimes horses are just like people, some are just more flightly than others. |
|
| |
|
| I am hoping he does get better as he gets older- If someone new comes aorund he is sure they are going to eat him at first.
I don't all know what he went through- I bought him sight unseen and had him shipped up to me. He was a barrel futurity flunk out, then they "attempted" to make him a rope horse and I guess that didn't go very well either. So he definitely has had some bumps in his road. |
|
| |
|
 The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
 
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | Have you had him gone over by a Chiropractor? There was a race colt at a barn I worked at that was just CRAZY and scary whenever you did anyhting with him. After he was Chiro'd, he was 1000% better. You wouldn't have even believed it was the same horse. (And it was an immediate difference.) |
|
| |
|
 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | Get a Blocker tie ring. Never tie him solid. When a horse like this hits the end of the rope, he panics more and it can be dangerous for him and you.
Frankly, I have tie rings all over the place - a couple permanently attached to my trailer, one at the shoeing station, one on the thinking fence, etc. etc. I prefer not to tie horses at all. |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Fun2Run - 2015-09-24 10:31 AM
Get a Blocker tie ring. Never tie him solid. When a horse like this hits the end of the rope, he panics more and it can be dangerous for him and you.
Frankly, I have tie rings all over the place - a couple permanently attached to my trailer, one at the shoeing station, one on the thinking fence, etc. etc. I prefer not to tie horses at all.
^^^this^^^  |
|
| |
|
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Horses who like to pull back, or their reaction is to go backward, I try and not set them up for failure.
When fly spraying, I don't tie, I keep a hold of them, and have them turn circles around me while I am spraying.
When saddling, I don't tie, I keep the halter shank in my elbow.
I try not to make a big deal out of it, and I try to work a little each day on desentizing.
I also don't haul these horses along, I will take 2 others and sandwich him in the middle |
|
| |
|
| I haven't tried chiropractic, I'll definitely give that try.
I've seen the tie blocker rings, one of my friends used them on her mare that wouldn't tie- I never thought of trying one of those on him. Do you just use a long lead so they know they can get back, but they'll still be technically "tied" to the ring itself, like a 8ft lead with a knot on the end so they can't just pull back and run off? I'd just be worried about that at a show if he got loose? |
|
| |
|
 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | I would definately have him worked on by a chiropractor, i'd get him a pht poll pack to help relax the muscles around the poll & I'd use a tie ring instead of tieing him solid until he learns he's ok. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I also would get a tie ring and then I would work with him at the tie ring. Not just get one and head off to the show. You are right you might come back to the trailer and he is gone. Honestly I would invest in a Clinton Halter, lead and Tie ring. I am sure there are off brands cheaper. That is just the one I know. I bet you can you tube him doing a tieing session. His leads are like 12 or 14' long. and basically you tie them on the ring and then go to spooking them a bit until they realize that one you are not so scary and 2 they are not going to hit a solid wall and have to panic it will give. But go youtube it. Its one of his easier exercises to learn.
ok I couldn't find a video but did find this article maybe it is enough to help.
http://horseandrider.com/article/clinton-anderson-trouble-free-tying
Edited by ajs2002 2015-09-24 11:47 AM
|
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I use the Tie Clip. |
|
| |
|
 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | My mare sets back too. She got better with age, then she took all of last year off due to an injury. She is back to work now and she is also setting back more again than prior to the time off.
I will not tie her without the Tie Clip – great invention. Also I leave a little bit more slack when I tie than I would with another horse. That seems to help a lot. As noted before, I untie when I saddle. This horse has gotten better about it before and I hope she will get over it again. She already improved in the last couple of weeks.
Good luck. I know it is frustrating.
|
|
| |
|
 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Have you tried the PHT poll wrap that goes over your halter/bridle? I had one that got kicked in the poll and this little guy does him wonders. I suspect there is some lingering damage that we haven't found yet. but he does get finicky and noticeably tense when we are under saddle and don't have it on. Head bobbing and twisting and acting like he wants to get away with it. When we do have it on, he is licking and chewing and much more relaxed. He doesn't pull back(knock on wood) so I don't have experience there.
I agree with others on the blocker tie ring |
|
| |
|
 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Yep, blocker tie ring and maybe have his TMJ area looked at by a chiro. If he has set back that many times he is sure to be out and sore in this area. And I agree with Cheryl, don't set them up for failure. If you know they tend to panic at being fly sprayed untie them to do it, if they do it when cinching up, untie them, etc. Its easy with the tie ring, simply unhook and hook back up when you are done. |
|
| |
|
Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | ajs2002 - 2015-09-24 11:41 AM I also would get a tie ring and then I would work with him at the tie ring. Not just get one and head off to the show. You are right you might come back to the trailer and he is gone. Honestly I would invest in a Clinton Halter, lead and Tie ring. I am sure there are off brands cheaper. That is just the one I know. I bet you can you tube him doing a tieing session. His leads are like 12 or 14' long. and basically you tie them on the ring and then go to spooking them a bit until they realize that one you are not so scary and 2 they are not going to hit a solid wall and have to panic it will give. But go youtube it. Its one of his easier exercises to learn.
ok I couldn't find a video but did find this article maybe it is enough to help.
http://horseandrider.com/article/clinton-anderson-trouble-free-tyin...
I spoke to Craig Cameron last week about my mare and he suggested the same thing. A 20 ft lead and a rope halter. Good desensitation prior to doing the trailer thing. |
|
| |
|
Location: U.S. | After eliminating ALL physical issues. I Would get a rubber tire ring like a tube from a bike and tie him in a stall corner. Tie the ring around the post just about at wither height the tie him to that. Also you can get a ring and put the rope around (more over) his neck back around and then tie him so when he pulls it pulls in a diffent spot further back. Just some ideas. |
|
| |
|
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| rockstarinboots - 2015-09-24 11:03 PM
After eliminating ALL physical issues. I Would get a rubber tire ring like a tube from a bike and tie him in a stall corner. Tie the ring around the post just about at wither height the tie him to that. Also you can get a ring and put the rope around (more over) his neck back around and then tie him so when he pulls it pulls in a diffent spot further back. Just some ideas.
Potential problem with tying them in a corner or to something at eye level, is when release from setting back they generally lunge forward. So lunging forward into a corner can result in a broken neck, or a traumatic brain injury.
I would rather tie the horse to a highline so they have no obstacles to launch into |
|
| |
|
Location: U.S. | cheryl makofka - 2015-09-25 6:12 AM
rockstarinboots - 2015-09-24 11:03 PM
After eliminating ALL physical issues. I Would get a rubber tire ring like a tube from a bike and tie him in a stall corner. Tie the ring around the post just about at wither height the tie him to that. Also you can get a ring and put the rope around (more over) his neck back around and then tie him so when he pulls it pulls in a diffent spot further back. Just some ideas.
Potential problem with tying them in a corner or to something at eye level, is when release from setting back they generally lunge forward. So lunging forward into a corner can result in a broken neck, or a traumatic brain injury.
I would rather tie the horse to a highline so they have no obstacles to launch into
That's a good point I have never thought of...my thinking was they are less likely to hurt them self at eye level if they really pull...never considered lunging forward! Guess I have gotten lucky lol |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | The tie ring is great. I also second that you need to train him a bit to it. You need to constantly desensitize him as well and try not to put him in a bind that he will likely pull back at (Without a Tie Ring). Get a Clinton Anderson DVD on desensitizing it is helpful. All great advice you have gotten so far.
Chiro will be helpful because a horse that pulls back usually is out or gets out easily. They also can have a little permanent damage in the neck. Chiro will not fix a pulling back horse but it will help them from what pulling back does to one. The tie ring or clip, can fix a horse, but my experience is, if they are really bad, sometimes nothing will ever fix it. This is where I disagree with CA. The tie rings sure can help a lot though. With training, you should really be able to help or manage his flipping out and pulling back episodes.
I had a horse just exactly like you describe. Good luck.
Edited by Tdove 2015-09-25 9:53 AM
|
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Tdove - 2015-09-25 9:40 AM
The tie ring is great. I also second that you need to train him a bit to it. You need to constantly desensitize him as well and try not to put him in a bind that he will likely pull back at. Get a Clinton Anderson DVD on desensitizing it is helpful. All great advice you have gotten so far.
Chiro will be helpful because a horse that pulls back usually is out or gets out easily. They also can have a little permanent damage in the neck. Chiro will not fix a pulling back horse but it will help them from what pulling back does to one. The tie ring or clip, can fix a horse, but my experience is, if they are really bad, sometimes nothing will ever fix it. This is where I disagree with CA. The tie rings sure can help a lot though. With training, you should really be able to help or manage his flipping out and pulling back episodes.
I had a horse just exactly like you describe. Good luck.
Yep, Tdove, some horses just can't be fixed. My daughter has a mare like that. She has enough damage in her poll area that some really good chiro/vets told her they would not adjust her there for fear of injuring her further. She is an older mare and when she sets back she means business, and it is not fear based. It is more like she is done standing there, its time to do something else. She just leaves her in the trail when she is not riding her. The trailer is a stock trailer with slats all the way to the tire wells, so she is probably cooler in the trailer than out. We are going to try the tie clip with a really long lead rope at home to see if it changes anything, but don't really expect it too. |
|
| |
|
 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Have you had this horse to a chiropractor? I broke a mare that would flip at the slightest touch of the halter her poll and tmj was out. The vet worked on her and she quit. The other thing is take him to a round pen with just a halter on and get him respectful of you Use a lunge Line make him lunge to the left and the the right at a circle the cut that circle in half so he is just going left and right in front of you then ask for a stop and don't let him come to you.walk up to him and ask for a back up all the way around the pen. Repeat this until you have his full attention and feel you trust him to respect you. It won't happen over night just going to take some work. |
|
| |
|
 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | I agree with a good chiropractor! Horses with compromised atlas/axis, causes pinched nerves and reduced blood flow that can affect eye sight. Best of luck, my 5 year old can get really tied up in his poll and needs regular Chiro work....
Edited by dream_chaser 2015-09-26 11:35 PM
|
|
| |
Fighting Poll Pressure // At what point do you call it a "quirk"?