My difficult gelding

Question
Hello Kathryn,
I have a 9 year old gelding, he is an absolute sweetheart, I can halter him after a few minutes of tlc, but when it comes to the saddle he starts huffing and gettng nervous... he has been getting better though lately with the saddle.  But wait! Getting on him is another story, almost impossible, he will not stay in one place and he keeps turning from you when you put any pressure on the stirrup, then once you are on him he is very nervous and he just wants to run and get you off of him.  I did ask this question before and got a reply from someone else to check the saddle for fit, that has been done and everything looks good. so what now?
When you have a trust issue with a horse, do you acert yourself with the horse by riding them, should you be harsh with them or gentle?
thank you in advance.
Nora

Answer
Hey Nora,

It sounds like he is just way overly nervous; almost like he has been hit or hurt from a person before. You should probably start it off from the beginning, nice and easy. Start going in and scratching his neck, petting him and putting on the halter, like you said you've been doing. After the halter is on, start scratching and rubbing him again. Try not to pat him being that most horses take it the wrong way. And with him, he may have been hit so with you patting him, he may take it the wrong way. Talk to him, and praise him --- let him know everything is okay and begin to gain trust.

Once you follow through with that, time to re-introduce the saddle. First take your saddle pad, English or western. By what you are saying he should snort and huff a little. Start rubbing the saddle pad on his legs, chest, etc and let him get used to it. Every few seconds, scratch him and praise him; "Good man, Good boy, Easy.." etc.
Now try to put the saddle on. Try to do the same thing and allow him to know it won't hurt him, cause pain, and so on. Put on the saddle. Let him get used to it, continue the praising. Once he chills out start patting the saddle with your hand kind of hard. Let him jump a little from the sound once or twice. Now increase the pressure and the noise. Praise him and scratch him.

Once the saddle is on and he is wearing everything needed to be ridden, walk him around -- girth tightened, stirrups down. Keep patting the saddle. Say HO & make him halt. Scratch him and tell him good boy is he stands. If not, correct him by backing him up, then walk him forward and ask him to halt. Once he listens and is okay, start putting pressure on the stirrups. Let him be startles for the first few time. Any more than that, begin to correct him. If he dances when you touch the stirrup, smack him on the neck. He should realize by now that he is going to be fine and that he shouldn't be pulling his little plead not to get on him.

Once he is somewhat okay with it, get a lounge line and begin to lounge him walk & trot ONLY. More trotting than anything else, cantering does nothing for a horse except make them look pretty. Trot both ways, each way for a about 10 minutes. Don't let him be disrespectful, if he goes to run away, shank him or if he stops, move him forward. This will help him learn that YOU are in control. After the lounging is done, now try to get on him and just walk. Continue with the praising to let him know he was good and you're ok and trustable.

Every time you do this, start advancing you're riding. Maybe for the first 2 times you get on, walk. The next few days add in the trot. Hold off on cantering for a while until you can trust that he will not run away with you.

This will take time. I have a 14 year old Morgan gelding who someone dropped off to me one day completely beaten up. He is so nervous over everything, but I did the same exact thing and he is coming along and it's only been a week.


Best of Luck and remember, take you're time.
Sincerely,
Kathryn