Cross Training Questions - Does anybody have any advice for training an unbroke pony?

Does anybody have any advice for training an unbroke pony?

My horses are broke, but we bought a pony that was supposedly broken already, but he will not let a saddle make contact w/ his back at all. Riding lessons hasn't helped much. The only person he lets ride him is me, and that is bareback while he is eating or cross-tied. And just because we can't ride him doesn't mean he isn't fit; he is VERY healthy for a 10 year old pony. But the thing that gets me is that he has bucked everybody who tries to ride him, including my dad. I think that somebody out there MUST know what to do about him. Please answer if you have got any ideas, and DON'T say "sell him" because I have grown really attached to him, and so has my family.

Public Comments

you could always hobble him but it's kinda mean. but we had one that we had to do that to and it worked but i thought it was so cruel.
Yes get a stunt gun and if he doen't obey use it until he obeys. Or buy a whip and whip its ass until you tame it. My dad did that.
I am guessing he is bridle broke? If not, I would start with that. Then, to saddle break him, start with a blanket on his back. When he is used to it, you can move to a saddle (uncinched). When he is used to that,cinch up the saddle. Then add weight to the saddle. Use feed sacks... Then when he is used to that weight, have someone lay over the saddle. Then move to someone sitting on him...As you move through these steps, walk him on a short lead, then a long line. Keep him walking until he is ready to move to a jog, etc. Keep talking to him and make sure lots of people touch him gently and talk to him sweetly. It sounds like someone did a bad job of breaking him and now he is scared. This method can take awhile, especially if the horse is really spooked. You have to change his perception of people.
Okay, first things first...did you get a vet check when you bought the pony? If you didn't, I'd call a vet and get a thorough examination. I know a woman who purchased a horse that had gone over backward during training and the previous owners didn't disclose this. She had a vet check him out and it turns out that he had nerves in his spine which were damaged when he flipped. To this day, he cannot be ridden due to the severe damage and he's only 7 years old. He'll always just be a "pasture pet". If the vet check shows that there's nothing wrong, then I'd check to see that the saddle fits him correctly. If it's pinching before you get on, then the added weight of a rider will make the problem worse and who would blame him for wanting to be rid of the pain? Then it's a matter of getting a saddle that fits him better, or even using a bareback pad (without stirrups). Finally, if all of the above check out, then it's time to call a professional trainer - riding lessons will help YOU, not the horse. If he has a tendency to buck it's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. Unless you or your family is experienced in working with a problem horse, then I would definitely recommend a professional. There are all kinds of great training methods out there...i.e. Parelli, Lyons, Anderson, etc., but unless you have some experience, these methods won't necessarily get you the results you want either. Finally, I don't want to rain on your parade, but if you can't afford a trainer, and since you're so attached to this pony, I'd just keep him as a pasture pet. I'd rather keep him and not ride him, than take the chance on someone being seriously hurt. Once they figure out that they can buck you off, it just gets worse unless it's corrected. Good luck and let us know how things go.
You could always try putting him in a floating stall while someone gets him saddled up and then gets on him and thenyou just let him stand there for an hour or so, then try walking with someone on his back. Then if he bucks, tie him to a trailewr and make him stand there for another hour, then try it again, he will get tired and eventually give in. Try putting a more experienced rider on him, so if he bucks, they know exactly what to do.(heels down, grab the saddle horn,etc.) Just work on getting him tired enough that he'll listen. If he is a samll pony then you might have better luck with a larger person staying on him. I hope that helps ~Victoria~
Day by day get to trust your horse and show him no one is going to hurt him. For a few minutes every day work on easing the saddle pad.on him and have the pony stay still. If he doesnt buck it off reward him with treats or a good pat. After a few days with a saddle pad introduce the saddle as before. cinch the girth tight but dont atempt to get up on him. Add bags of flour to the saddle to adjust him to the weight. Attach a lounge rope to his halter or bridle and work him around the feild each day. When he is comfortable with it and doesnt buck attempt to get up up on him putting a little more weight each day. Dont whip him because he will associate that with bad things. DONT ALWAYS give him food as a treat as he will become unruly and bite if he doesnt get a treat.
First off, get a vet check to make sure that he isnt in pain. Second, make sure that all of your tack fits properly and that it isnt your tack that is pinching him. Third, have your farrier check his feet to make sure that he isnt having feet problems. If you can rule out those three, then it is limited to training. For a few days, just let him be a pony. Feed him, turn him out, groom him, love on him. But dont try to ride him. About a week later, turn him out into a round pen or very small pasture if you have one. Take off his halter and let him sniff around for a few minutes. Then take a lunge line and flick it toward him, making sure that you dont hit him or even touch him with it. Get him going at a trot. Once you see his ears flick back at you and then you see him start to lick and chew with his mouth, stop flicking the lunge line and let him come to you. Then make him turn around and go the other way. One he gives you the same signals as before, let him come to you again and pet him and love on him. This process which was discovered and perfected by Monty Roberts, is called join up. It is safe and effective. This will make him gain trust in you because he will see you as the herd leader. The actions that you performed are the same that and Alpha mare would perform on him with her body language. The entire time that you are making him go in circles, keep your eyes on his shoulders. After you have acheived this, immediately take your saddle and put it on him. By immediately, I mean in the same lesson. Place his saddle blanket on gently, talking to him as you go. Then put the saddle on very gently as you go. Tighten up his cinch and send him out on the circles again. After he gives you the same cues, let him come in and put his bridle on. You can choose to get on him then or wait until you repeat this lesson another time or two. I prefer to get on as soons as they have been bridled. This may take a few times before he will act like he has been under saddle before. Take your time and dont rush. Hope this helps I have to add to this answer because I know I missed a few things. It is very easy to miss things when you have been working with horses forever and you know what you would do in that situation. Have a friend video tape you as you try to ride him and then you two review that tape together. If the tape show neither of you anything, go to a trainer. Have him/her look at it and tell you what they think. Send your horse to a trainer if all else fails. Make sure that you do it before someone gets hurt.
If it's not pain, I am going to have to agree with the person who said professional trainer. When it comes to most things in horse training, if you have to ask what to do, you probably shouldn't be doing it by yourself.
The "hobble" idea is not a good one. I saw a girl at my old stables who tried to do that. Horse stumpled and both went down. It puts your horse at risk of fracture or even breaking. Hobbles are not used for riding training purpose. Only ground manner purpose. For your pony, you should of had the owner of the pony ride or have someone as a demo rider prior to buying. Never buy a horse "assuming" by word was broke. Have you checked to see if your saddle has anything pinching him? Does the saddle fit him? Saddle pad is clean with no ticks or anything that will bug the horse? Do you turn him out to let him get out his energy prior to trying to ride? Recommend he gets at least 20 mins of running and playing on his own before getting him out of the arena. Doing some ground lunging with commands which help get the horse focused and ready to ride. Before he can get his first buck in, take one of the reins and bend his neck to the side so his spine isn't aligned to be able to buck. The only thing he can do is turn in a circle. Then as he is calmer and not moving. Let up on the rein pressure and ask to go forward at the walk. If he gets upset, re do it again. However, check his behavior. Is he swishing his head side to side? check the bit if it is bothering him. check his teeth to see if any pointed. Is he jumping, moving around a lot? Any previous back injuries or leg injuries? Sign of Abuse? Possibly a trainer would help too since they can physicaly watch and see what is going on.