7yr old paint

Question
QUESTION: Hi!
I have a 7 yr old paint/QH cross, which i bought wen he was 4.  wen we bought him he was broke to ride and jumping 2 feet.  we rode him twice and then had to let him sit during the winter (which wasnt a good thing to do, i know).  wen we tried to ride him in the spring he buck as soon as the person sat in the saddle and threw them.  we had a trainer out to work with him but she said she didnt want to ride him.  wat are your suggestions for re-training him?
Thanx so much
Amanda

ANSWER: Amanda,

Well, if my math is right it's been 3 yrs. since he was ridden?  First off you need to get another trainer.  I can't imagine anyone calling themselves a trainer who is not willing to get on a horse!  

Go back to doing some ground work with him under saddle on a lunge line. Work him a half hour or so on the lunge then have someone at his head when you get on.  Make sure the saddle you are using fits!  Anything that fit him when he was 4 in all likelyhood no longer fits him at all.  Just like kids outgrow shoes so do horses outgrow saddles.  He's pretty close to being a mature horse know, which he wasn't at 4.  Any horse that's been properly trained to ride shouldn't have it make a difference how long they haven't been ridden.  I've gotten on horses that haven't been ridden in years!  Yes, they will tighten up at first due to the unaccustomed weight, and may even try a crow hop or 2 but that's all.  If the saddle is too tight because it's too small that may have precipitated the bucks.  But just have someone at his head.  Put a halter under his bridle when you do this to lunge him with and also for the handler to have a lead line on when you, or someone, mounts up.  Let him stand there for a few minutes until you feel him relax a little.  Pet him, praise him, get him to relax before you ask him to move.  Then, let the handler walk alon with you on with the horse on the lead until you feel him relax again. He hasn't carried weight in a long time so he's got to get used to doing that again.  Keep the starting work time to short periods.  A half hour at first, graduate up to an hour.  I would do the lunging and holder for the first couple of times until you feel you don't need them any more.  The lunging will get some of the ginger out of him and let him get off the feel good bucks before you get on him.  I've got friends that have to do this all the time when they haven't been riding their horses in a while.  My horse, I got on her on Mother's Day for the first time since I bred her, Aug. of 2005, and it was like I had ridden her yesterday.  But Sailor is 15 and has over 1,000 mi. in endurance riding with additional thousands of miles of training so I never even thought about it.  

Just make sure the saddle fits and is comfortable.  Don't give him an excuse or a reason to buck.  If he does when you get on just keep his head up (that's why the handler too) and he'll be fine.  

Lyn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok that was very helpful but i have another question.  he was very lame last week suddenly and the vet said he had a very deep absess in his hoof.  he is healing nicly, but if this prevents him from being 100% sound do u=you think it could effect the way he works being ridden and if it does effect it is it a good or bad thing   i should add he tends to be very hot blooded and a lil stittish
thanx again
Amanda  

Answer
Amanda,

You have to get the abscess healed before you can even think of using him.  It's absolutely akin to animal abuse in my book to work a horse with an abscess.  You'll have to work with shoeing and trimming and probably some antibiotics to start with to get it healed and grown out.  There's no reason he shouldn't be sound when it's healed.  That may have had a great deal with him bucking when ridden depending upon how long he's had it.  It sounds like it's been there for a while.  Don't ask for any work until he's sound.  While it's growing out, once the infection is under control and he's moving soundly when properly shod you can start him doing some lunge line work.  If he stays sound with the for at least a month then try riding him again.  

Let him tell you when he's ready.  No sense ruining his attitude by asking him to work when it's not physically possible for him to do so because he's in pain.  You wouldn't.  Don't expect him to.

Lyn