teaching to bridle and come on an outline

Question
hi.

13 months ago a rescued a DWB, who has previously been internationally showjumped. When i got him, he was very underweight, and scared and nervous of people. 13 months down the line, i have fed him up and am looking to start eventing him in the next few years.

When i first got him, he Bunny-Hopped in trot, and i can pretty much safely say he was scared, and worried what i might do to him, therefore trying to get away from my hands and the bit.

I have ridden him with loose reins, re-teaching him to bend round my legs and not worry about what my hands are doing. Recently, however, i've started to take more of a contact, and ask him to come down to the bridle. In basics, he is doing very well, he isnt attempting to get away from my hands at all.

I am however, worried about how much pressure i can put on him, as i dont want to spend another 13months building more trust. can you give me ideas on how to encourage him to bridle and to soften to my hands? Also, do you think he could turn around and go back to how he was? Do you think there is hope for horses with his sort of background, and his age (11)?

Thanks, Kate

Answer
Kate --

Congratulations and a pat on the back to you.  You know what you're doing!  Your gut feel will tell you how much pressure you can put on him.  I realize he's 11 -- we don't know how long he was abused.. so that's a question mark -- but it sounds like he is trusting you and coming around.  german martingale helps your hands with his mouth <grin> ..

put some pressure on him gently and see how he reacts -- if he handles it continue the same pressure for a while prior to increasing..if he reacts negatively (your gut feel) then back off for a while longer....

You know best - you're seeing him react -- I can't tell on paper <smile>....  again - hope for what future?  no one can 100% tell but it sounds like he's coming around for the positive....  now he may freak the first time he's hauled to a show somewhere (bad memories) so you may need to be prepared that you'll need to make that "haul" to the show a positive event -- maybe not even riding him - just him being there with "no pressure"?  hope this makes sense...

if he's sound and you can continue to rescue his brain -- there is hope for this horse..

good luck!
Dee