horse.

Question
Hiya, I bought a new a new horse about 7 month ago now, when we got him i started riding him and he was well behaved for the first two weeks, sometimes was a bit difficult to mount but was fine when on. He then started tossing his head and not working properly so we decided to get his teeth and back checked, his teeth were fine, but when the physio came she said he was really good not to have thrown me off as his back was very sore from a badly fitting saddle from the previous owner. he then had physio and after so many weeks was fine to ride again, but build up gradually which i did. At first i had no problem with him, untill one day i was out hacking, he felt really calm and was fine most of the hack untill all of a sudden he stopped and wouldn't go forward, he was half rearing, and jumping all over the road, he was in company and there was nothing around that was scary, as soon as i got off and led him he was completely calm. I hacked out again and he didn't put a foot wrong, then the next hack he did the same thing before i had left the yard, again i got off and led him, and he was instantly calm. We got the saddle fitter out, she got a saddle that she thought fit him for me to try, i mounted and he stood still and calm, and she checked the saddle. She then asked me to walk him on, as soon as he walked off he began to bronco, i fell off, but he still continued to bronc, however the saddle was on without a saddlecloth, which we had never done before. I had ridden him a few days before in the arena and he was fine. The physio is coming back out, but i am not sure where to go from here if she says there's nothing wrong with him. Do you think this is a behavioral problem, or that he is in pain, or he associates pain with the saddle, because when we first got him and he actually was in pain he didn't attempt to throw me off.

Answer
To properly assess the situation and determine if this is an ill fitting tack issue or a behavioral issue, you will need to take a close look at your horse.  Determine if his withers are abnormally high, or if he has a bit of swayback.  Look for swelling, bumps, or raw flesh on his withers, back, barrel, poll, nose, and the corners of his mouth.  As you groom him pay attention to his behavior.  When you curry his barrel, chest, withers and back try to observe if he pins his ears, swishes his tail, steps away, or stomps.  When you use a cloth or soft brush on his face observe if he shows any discomfort.  Also apply pressure on either side of his spine using your thumb and forefinger.  Begin applying pressure in front of his withers and slowly and evenly glide along the length of his spin all the way to his dock.  Again take note of any displayed discomfort.  If he shows discomfort during your observations then you are most likely dealing with a tack issue.  My mare happens to be very sensitive and quick to become sore.  I have to go to nearly all extremes with here to ensure her comfort.  When I bought her she was already this sensitive.  I initially bought her as my junior hunter and equitation horse.  I am 5'6" and at the time I weighed 115lbs.  As it was then I had to use a damp leather chamois and withers pad, along with a baby pad, a gel pad,  and 1-2 inch thick square foam bounce pad.  I also always had to use a soft girth cover.  In addition I had to massage her back before and after each ride along with having a chiropractor and massage therapist working with her quarterly.  Now she is retired.  Her back in her old age has dropped and I carry an additional 20 lbs myself!  To ride her now I have to maintain all the previously mentioned tack and I have to keep my rides shorter and less often.  Another good thing to try is to stretch his front legs for him after you tighten the girth just before you get on.    Your situation sounds to me like mine. If however you don't notice any discomfort when observing him, and if you have tried a gel pad and withers pad with no success, then you can consider this to be a behavioral issue.  If such is the case seek a trainer's advice, or please feel free to come back to me.  I am happy to provide you some techniques to solve this!