fearful gelding

Question
QUESTION: Hello,  We bought an andalusion gelding for my beginner husband to ride.  On the trial ride the horse was great.  When we got him home, we found he is extremely fearful of noise from his back and behind him.  My husband has already fallen off of him once because he shied when he heard the nylon cloth he was wearing. He jumped and started sidestepping.  I'd like to give him a chance.  Help!

ANSWER: Hi Jacqueline!

I'd like to ask a few questions before I recommend anything specific.

How old is the gelding, what was he trained to do, how long have you owned him and what is his current routine with you...how much is he ridden/exercised now and such?

What would you say is your husband's experience level, what discipline is he riding and what are his goals?  How often does your husband ride and how much is he willing to put into his riding?  50%....75%....100%...everyone is different.

Lastly, I'd like to know why you purchased an Andalusion.  It's an uncommon breed.

Solange

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

QUESTION: This gelding is 12 years old and was used for mainly trail riding.  We bought him last summer.We don't do much in the winter because of the weather so we have just started up again.  My husband is a beginner and would probably put in 50%.  We both work full time so it's just not always possible to get out.  I have a paint gelding that is lazy and pushy, and I ran across a 1/2 arab, 1/2 andalusian mare that I really liked.  She was something new for me and really had a nice personality.  She loves people.  Anyway, we wanted something stout for My good sized husband and our vets assistant said she had this horse for sale because she didn't have any time for him. He had been pastured for close to a year.  I was hoping the personality was something similar to my mare.  We just got him here before this past winter so it's possible he just isn't settled yet.  I am trying to work with him until I feel he is safe for my Husband.  I think he's worth a try and I feel bad for him because he's so nervous.  He seems to really be fearful of loud noises particularly from above him if your in the saddle, or directly behind him where he can't see you. Thanks for getting back to me so soon.  It's really nice to get some input.

Jackie

Answer
Hi  Jackie!

The most common mistake I see made by horse buyers is that they buy something that is just not "specific" enough for what they want to do.
They find a nice something or another that appears nice and has maybe stood awhile for whatever reason but, still....it seems quiet so they buy it and then "BOOM"!  Not so quiet anymore and the new owner starts to wonder "What the heck happened?"

If you had come to me and told me you had a beginner husband who would never put allot of effort into riding because of a busy job and he still wants to trail ride....he's large (therefore strong but, unbalanced) and the horse may be off for long periods of time because of weather......I would not have recommended this gelding.  

Because he is too young, too strong and too untrained.  Now, yes he may have done trails but, how much?  Everyday for years and years?  Or 5 times in the summer and really never well and that's why he wasn't ridden much and eventually sold?  See, training has to "stick".  It has to be there no matter what the circumstances....that's what a trained horse does. In stressful, new or difficult situations, it falls back on it's training and waits for the rider to show it the way.  "What do I do now, Boss?" is what should go through a trained horse's head during a time of question. Do you see evidence of this with your gelding?  Or is he just instinctively reacting to things as if there is not even a human on his back?  If so, then he is untrained or his training is not "sticking".

I would have recommended a 15-20yr. old gelding of any large enough size of any breed that had spent it's life doing nothing but, lessons, trail riding, fox hunting, eventing or pleasure riding.  He could have been a little arthritic and need shoes but, still have a good 5 years left in him.  I would have told you to trail ride him at least twice, once yourself and your husband once before you made a decision.  Then, I would have told you to pay anything they were asking. Because if he was all those things and safe enough for your spouse, he's worth his weight in gold.  Hubby could really enjoy himself, not put allot into it, still consider himself a "rough rider" and you wouldn't have to worry about him falling off, breaking his leg in 3 places, not working and you having to wait on him hand and foot!  LOL!!

But, instead you have a nervous nellie on your hands....what to do?

I recommend a combination of formal lessons for your husband to learn his seat/balance and formal training for your gelding.  I always tell people to get a trainer in the breed of their horse  (QH trainers do not work well with saddlehorses) the closest you may get is a Dressage person who understands Warmbloods and Draughtcrosses.  Have the trainer out to evaluate your situation and get all of you on the same page, working together as a team toward a real understanding of each other and toward a partnership.  You cannot do this alone and should not try. Things will not magically change in this situation, real hard work must be done on a daily basis to form the safe environment you want and need.

Lastly, you could sell the gelding to a much more advanced rider with a more structured environment and start looking again for hubby.  Refer back to paragraph 4  :-)

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange