A weird horse Options

[ridecowgirl]

Here's a question for everyone. I bought a QH/Mustang gelding a couple of years ago to break and resell. He was 4 years old and had some ground work done with him, but he had never been saddled or ridden. I was willing to try for it as I had just started a horse off the same farm. Cowboy was super soft - I mean, softer than any horse I've ever seen before, or since. He was very willing and I didn't have any problems really. I started by riding him bareback quite a few times, and got him used to the saddle in the mean time. He never really threw any fits with the saddle, didn't buck at all, and in general accepted it very well. I started riding him with a saddle and he did great - I was just continually amazed at how soft he was. I rode him in a Double Diamond halter with a roping rein and, honestly, I didn't have to pick my rein up a full two inches before he stopped dead from a walk. (All I had done was walk him at this point). I rode him without a problem for two weeks and that included walking him around our field a couple of times. One day I took him out in the field; we were just walking around as usual when he leaped into a gallop and started bucking. Right here I should have pulled him in a circle (I don't know how much it would have helped, but it's definitely what I should have done), but it caught me off guard and I pulled back on the reins. He only bucked a couple of times before he went to his knees and flipped over. I was thrown really, really hard, and apparently had a light concussion because I still don't clearly remember how everything happened - the last thing I remember is him going to his knees. Anyway, I blacked out entirely so my brother unsaddled him for me. Every time I've ever fallen off any horse I've gotten right back on(dumb me, they were all broke horses!). Anyway, I got back on the next morning, but I decided to stay in the round pen. No sooner did I get on than he jumped forward, bucked, went to his knees and flipped over. The only way I know this is what happened is because my brother happened to be watching this time. The force threw me into one of the boards on my round pen and I went right through. After that my dad wouldn't let me ride him for several weeks,(I physically couldn't) but I collected some new ideas and he finally agreed to let me start back at riding bareback. I did this because I knew if he tried his "scenario" over again there was no way I could stay on anyway. If I was bareback I could slide off before I got thrown. He did really well and I continued riding him for several months just at a walk(I was back in a saddle), and always in the round pen trying to regain my confidence (I was really scared just to be on this horse, but I knew I had to do it). He was really doing well, and I was sure he was ready to start trotting, but there was no way I could ever ask him to go faster - I had a hard enough time just walking! My brother had been dying to ride him, but I was scared to let him. I finally agreed to let him after I watched him ride and work with an unbroke filly we had. He did really well so I let him mount Cowboy. I went over everything before he ever got on and told him if anything happened, or if Cowboy even started to act a little nervous, to turn him in a circle. Everything went well and my brother finally asked him to trot. He trotted just a few steps and my brother brought him back down to a walk - it was perfect! They continued walking for a while and then I told him to ask Cowboy to trot again. This time Cowboy got nervous and my brother pulled back on the reins - he was soon sitting in the dirt. The weirdest thing about all of this, is that Cowboy acted like his brain wasn't even connected to his body. I've never seen anything like it - he just totally went crazy, bucking and flopping around like he didn't have any control of himself. I wasn't allowed to ride him for a while after that, but after a month or so I was back in the saddle. From the time I got thrown the first time, to the time I quit riding him, 9 months had passed. In that time I got (mentally and physically) to where I could go out there and ride him, at a walk, around the round pen and actually feel confident about it. I had ridden him for several months without incident, and was riding him again one day when, without any warning, he jumped forward, dropped to his knees, and flipped over - this time though, he didn't seem to go entirely out of control - at least, he seemed a little calmer about everything. I led him around for a few minutes and did a few other exercises with him. He did fine so I got back on. He did the exact same thing all over, but again, he didn't seem too freaky when he did it. After that I wasn't allowed to ride him and I was finally convinced that I couldn't give him what he needed. He ended up getting hurt pretty bad in a fence, which I took care of, but I was supposed to go to PA and I didn't have anyone I could trust to take care of him while I was gone. I gave him to someone who thought they could handle him, but after they took him I never could get a hold of them or contact them - much to my disappointment! My cousin cowboys for a living in Colorado, and he told me after I first got bucked off that the horse was too smart for his own good and that I'd better get rid of him. Even though I don't have him any more, I still wonder if there might have been something I could do. Has anyone ever dealt with a horse like this before?

[Mustang Blue]

I'm guessing it might've been your saddle. Mustangs are harder to fit then your average horse with their short backs and narrow withers. Do you know what HMA his mustang parent was gathered from? It might help give me a better clue as to how he was built. And from my experiences, they are extremely smart...and they also won't tolerate any pain caused by their human partner. It's also possible he threw his back out during that first "leap into a gallop"
my guess is, being the first time you galloped on him, he hadn't learned how to balance you in faster gaits, or the saddle pinched him (very often the case) so he started pitching...which threw him off balance causing him to go down on his knees. He rid his rider and learned he could do it again, but also found relief from any possibly pain. Mustangs ARE to smart for their own good, lol. Some folks like that in a horse...others don't....you can use it to your advantage or it can be used against you.

[lowrider]

I had a similar thing happen with a paint mare that we were pretty sure had mustang in her. But in my case she had been ridden in an arena at walk trot and gallop...I say that because she never learned to control and collect her canter. It was always flat out. She had been ridden in the field at a walk and then one day I got on her to warm her up before some little kids wanted to see her, and she did the same thing yours did. She immediately jumped into a fast trot and when I attempted to rein her in she went to a gallop. So I did try to pull her into a circle, but because of her short neck she effectively tucked her neck and went to bucking blindly toward the fence, she lost all control too. I rode it for a few minutes till I realized she wasn't going to stop for the fence, so I let go and she launched me pretty good. Once I got my wind back I managed to get back on her and ride her back to the barn change her into an aussie stock saddle (both saddles had been properly fitted) and made her go around the field. Then went to the hospital where they informed me that I had bruised my kidney and severely bruised my pelvis. I peed blood for about three days, which was convenient since my husband was returning from a military deployment and I had not seen him in 10mo. After that day, no matter where I rode her, she would figure out a way to get me off. We both went to a trainer to see if she could help us through the problem, to no avail. The only time she was happy was if we were on trails. So I decided for both of our sakes to sell her. She has a nice home with someone who rides for the state and trail rides everyday. She is happy and I got a 2yr old gelding that I have had since, and he is just what I needed. She is also the reason that my husband made me promise to wear a helmet every time I ride.

[ridecowgirl]

Mustang Blue: I considered that my saddle might be a problem, but if it was why did he do fine for weeks/months at a time? That's what I can't figure out - I never could come up with any pattern or anything specific that would cause him to do what he did. I understand about Mustangs being smart - my solid broke mare is a BLM Mustang. She's wonderful, but she's smart enough to leave me clueless sometimes! Most of the horses that I work with and break are at least half Mustang, so I have a lot of respect for the "breed" [smile]. I know it had to be scary galloping for the first time without being gradually moved into it. I shouldn't have ridden him outside the round pen at all until I had taken him through all his gaits, but... live and learn I guess! Of course, I didn't ask him to gallop - I think something might have scared him, but I lost enough memory of what happened that I can't say for sure what it was.

[Paul]

Sounds like you found out the hard way like I did that it's best to let your pony get used to the saddle at all gates before attempting to ride. At the walk it usually ain't no big deal but then the horse goes into a trot or lope and it's "GEEZE, THAT SURE DON'T FEEL GOOD!!! Then all he** breaks loose.

My advice for what's it's worth. Saddle your pony and let him wear it for several hours. Turn him out in a large paddock where he can run and play with the thing and let him get to where it's a part of himself just like his mane or tail. Put him someplace where he can't get into trouble like getting a stirrup hung up on a post or something.

Paul

[Mustang Blue]

"I rode him without a problem for two weeks and that included walking him around our field a couple of times. One day I took him out in the field; we were just walking around as usual when he leaped into a gallop and started bucking."

am I correct to assume this field was still very new to him? How long had he been in captivity? 4 years old isn't very old and especially if he hadn't been in captivity for long (even up to a year, year and a half....if I am correct, then the possibility exists that he either heard, smelled, saw or even imagined something out there to fear, possibly even a fear of being alone since he was born into a herd and out in the open, a herd means survival..being alone means a high chance of being some mt lion's dinner. The possibilites of what went wrong are endless,. and since you no longer have him, you will probably never know for sure....don't beat yourself up over it. Enjoy your mare and any futre training prospects..just remember to take into consideration of where they came from and how long they were in the wild.
Case in point, I am currently training a 12year old mustang, who came from an abusive background after running free for 8 years...he not only had to learn to trust, he had to learn to rise above his ordeal...it has taken me 2 years now to get him to the point to readily except a halter, lead with manners, load and unload in a trailer allow full body petting and brushing, and allow his FRONT feet to be trimmed....but considering his background, it is a mountain of milestones...I doubt I will ever take him out to wide open spaces alone like I can my other mustangs, but one never knows what can be achieved with the power of the Lord and lots of Faith :-)

[ridecowgirl]

I really appreciate everyone's help. for Mustang Blue; Cowboy wasn't a full Mustang. His dam was a BLM Mustang, but his sire was a Foundation QH. He was bred in Wisconsin. Good luck on your Mustang that you're working with! With God anything is possible! [smile]