Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Pistol is my first horse. I've had him since the beginning of September. When we first got him, I rode him after a few days of allowing him to settle in. He was alright, but then he ran off with me at full speed. We solved this by adding a tie down to his tack, and that made him a perfect little gentleman. Then, he started getting very uncomfortable whenever I shifted my weight, such as to mount or dismount, but only then. He got to the point where when I tried to get off he reared! We finally figured out why. He had an awful rainrot infection all down his spine and hips because the people we bought him from decided to leave him out in the pasture for 4 weeks straight during all the hurricanes. He got nonstop rained on.
Thanks to that wretched rain rot, he's had a 6 week vacation from riding, and has become extremely spooky in these past 6 weeks. I still handle him every day, he's just as nice as can be when you go to pet him, but he's a jerk sometimes. We got a second horse, Lacy, to give him a companion, give me someone to ride, and most importantly, to CALM HIM DOWN! Well, I think she simply made him more excited, even though she's extremely calm and seemingly bombproof. We were hoping that he would learn from her, but he hasn't.
I finally got back on Pistol yesterday, and it didn't start out very well. He acted like he had never seen tack before. When we went to put the blanket on him he almost hurt himself trying to get away. He clenched his muscles so tight to himself it was obvious, and even tried to lower his body to the ground without falling. Next we had to practically throw the saddle on him to get him used to it. He took the bridle OK, but this was really ridiculous. You don't forget what tack is in 6 weeks, and you don't forget manners. I got back on him after this fiasco, but not for more than 10 seconds. The second I started to get on he started trying to run away so Dad held on to the lead rope and I got on. Pistol instantly reared, trampled my dad, took off at a gallop and I came flying off.
Has my horse gone completely mental? I ask this very seriously because this isn't the only situation in which he's panicked. Oftentimes if he's just say, grazing outside, tied to a post, or even in his stall, everything will be peachy and calm. Nothing will change, no noise, no wind gust, nothing. SUDDENLY THE HORSE EXPLODES!!!!! He'll take off at light speed, he'll break the rope in a panic or tear a post out of the ground (yup, he's done it), or suddenly almost hit the wall. It's like something in his mind spooks him. I just don't understand why he's like this. He's also extremely, extremely head shy. He's not a mean horse or anything, he never has been, but he's terrified of something for some reason. I've checked everything. I make sure I never wear any make up or perfume around them, and I don't smoke, so my smell doesn't change. My clothes are usually the same type when I'm around them. My hair is never different. NOTHING will change, but out of nowhere, he'll spook and dangerously at that. He's cut himself badly on the tail end of a pickup truck one day by breaking his rope and taking off in its direction. I DON'T GET IT!
I can also tell by this, there is no way in the world this horse trusts me. How do you earn their trust? I've never hurt him, and I used to be too nice but I can tell with this guy it's going to have to be no nonsense from here on out. He got to the point where he avoided me, so I make him earn his dinner every night. He HAS to let me pet him, and not just for a second, for as long as I want, or else he's not getting any food. He's figured this out, and it's made him better about being a snot in the stall.
Can anyone help me with this? Is my horse mental, seriously? What kinds of things can affect a horse's behavior like this? Grain? Disrespect for people? My neighbors do like to come down, fill up a scoop, and hand distribute it among the three, but they let the horses push them around about it. But that doesn't explain the spooking, this was going on long before they started this. Maybe he's going to need a refresher course with a very, very good trainer... but that is going to have to be a last resort because I'm a college kid with very limited funds. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you.

Well, its hard to say what is causing this behaviour, but the first thing I'd look at would be his saddle fit. If he is in pain, he would try to avoid the saddle and being ridden. I'd have the vet look at him and check his back and maybe get some help with saddle fitting. Also, maybe look at the Marv Walker technique to get him to bond to you. There is a really good website just search for Marv Walker and see what you find Good luck!

No, he's not in pain, the vet checked him over not more than 7 days ago. The saddle fits fine, we've had tons of knowledgable people over here telling us what to do. Everything as far as that goes is perfect. Besides, that doesn't explain the sudden outbursts that cause him to rip posts out of the ground and run into trucks and run into his stall gate. I'll look up Mary Walker though, thank you for the suggestion

Hi there,

sorry to hear you're having trouble with your horse, Pistol. We tend to keep horses in quite an unnatural environment, compared to how they would live wild in herds. There is a lot of really good recent writing about 'Natural Horsemanship' and how you can use the horse's natural instincts, and your own intelligence, to build up confidence and trust between the two of you. In the wild, the horse has to be alert to danger, he has to respond really really quick to predators. Under your care, he has to learn to trust you more and more, with the aim that eventually, he looks to you as his first defence against danger - ie if you're there with him, he trusts that no bad will come to him. I recommend you have a look at 'Right from the Start' by Mike Schaffer, "Lyons on Horses" John Lyons, anything by Gincy Self-Bucklin (yes, that's her real name). Not that you need to sit down and read anything cover to cover, but they all have good chapters in them that give you an insight into how your horse is thinking and feeling.

I know this is a more vague answer than you want, and in the short term you want to get right on and ride him safely, but I would advise you to take it slowly with this horse. Work on your ground handling of him. Work him in hand lots and lots. I bet you will say that on the ground, and in hand he's perfect - but that's the point - the more you do together where both of you are happy and confident, the more you are building up trust in each other.

Good luck ,and keep keep yourself safe

Kate