There is a horse at the barn where I "work" who started pulling back. He never used to do it. Actually, he doesn't have ANY vices/bad habits up
until this one, and that's saying something considering he's older (17).
This horse is not spooky. I've been at this barn for over 10 years and can't recall him ever truly spooking at anything. He might stare at something, but never has any blow ups. Apparently, not too long ago, this horse was tied down in the arena where the trainer saddles them up (the arena is not attached to the barn). Something either scared him or maybe a bee stung him or something, but regardless, he pulled back, broke his halter, and got loose. Didn't go anywhere though.
I ride this horse occasionally to help out the trainer (keeping him in shape), and he told me of this new habit and to not tie him in that spot. He's still fine in the cross ties. Since the incident, the horse has gotten better, but still not fully trusted being tied there. The other day, my trainer and I took a couple horses to my old 4H's riding practice at the county fairgrounds (he is an adviser). I brought this horse to ride. He was fine at the trailer UNTIL the horse he brought (who was out for the first time) fussed some, and my horse pulled back. He did it 5 or 6 times, but gave up when the halter didn't give. He did this twice during our time there. He never used to even flick and ear when a horse scuffled at the trailer (which is why he is often the horse we bring as a companion for a young horse's first time out so he can be a "good influence").
The odd thing about him is that it's almost like he's actively looking for things to be scared of so he can use it as an excuse to pull back. For instance, the other day I went out to ride him, and he was in the cross ties. I got the saddle from the tack room and came out and he stared at it, and you could see in his eyes that he was thinking about pulling back or at least spooking somehow. He sort of had that "leaned back" look, though he never actually did lean on the cross ties. Keep in mind that this horse has lived at this barn since he was a weanling, and has been saddled in that area his entire riding life (since he was 2 or 3). He's NEVER acted like that before. He never actually spooked and was fine for me to put the saddle on, but it was very weird to see him react that way.
I actually considered that it might be a vision problem and maybe he isn't seeing things the same way he used to, so it's scaring him. However, he seems to be fine in all other aspects. I know that a horse who learns to pull back (and succeeds) will often try it again, but it's just weird to see him actually look scared of things he was never scared of before after all these years. It sucks that the trainer never identified what actually scared him, and now because he "spooks" at so many different things, it's impossible to tell what might have actually caused the first spook to be able to work with him.
Any ideas on how to go about fixing this?
This horse is not spooky. I've been at this barn for over 10 years and can't recall him ever truly spooking at anything. He might stare at something, but never has any blow ups. Apparently, not too long ago, this horse was tied down in the arena where the trainer saddles them up (the arena is not attached to the barn). Something either scared him or maybe a bee stung him or something, but regardless, he pulled back, broke his halter, and got loose. Didn't go anywhere though.
I ride this horse occasionally to help out the trainer (keeping him in shape), and he told me of this new habit and to not tie him in that spot. He's still fine in the cross ties. Since the incident, the horse has gotten better, but still not fully trusted being tied there. The other day, my trainer and I took a couple horses to my old 4H's riding practice at the county fairgrounds (he is an adviser). I brought this horse to ride. He was fine at the trailer UNTIL the horse he brought (who was out for the first time) fussed some, and my horse pulled back. He did it 5 or 6 times, but gave up when the halter didn't give. He did this twice during our time there. He never used to even flick and ear when a horse scuffled at the trailer (which is why he is often the horse we bring as a companion for a young horse's first time out so he can be a "good influence").
The odd thing about him is that it's almost like he's actively looking for things to be scared of so he can use it as an excuse to pull back. For instance, the other day I went out to ride him, and he was in the cross ties. I got the saddle from the tack room and came out and he stared at it, and you could see in his eyes that he was thinking about pulling back or at least spooking somehow. He sort of had that "leaned back" look, though he never actually did lean on the cross ties. Keep in mind that this horse has lived at this barn since he was a weanling, and has been saddled in that area his entire riding life (since he was 2 or 3). He's NEVER acted like that before. He never actually spooked and was fine for me to put the saddle on, but it was very weird to see him react that way.
I actually considered that it might be a vision problem and maybe he isn't seeing things the same way he used to, so it's scaring him. However, he seems to be fine in all other aspects. I know that a horse who learns to pull back (and succeeds) will often try it again, but it's just weird to see him actually look scared of things he was never scared of before after all these years. It sucks that the trainer never identified what actually scared him, and now because he "spooks" at so many different things, it's impossible to tell what might have actually caused the first spook to be able to work with him.
Any ideas on how to go about fixing this?
