> This is a 30 year old horse, unfit, not been ridden for a long time, suddenly had a saddle put on and ridden in trot and canter. Now, to me, that seems like simply asking for trouble.
He had been in good condition before he choked, like a month ago. A day of arena work, a day of trail work, and one of something new. The trotting and cantering was his idea. He was about jumping out of his shoes. He was practicaly piaffing. I told him to trot and he started a slow canter. I pulled him out of it after a few strides though. > It sounds to me like he has some kind of pain issue - not that surprising if he's had a long rest, then been asked to trot and canter out of the blue. I would guess he hurt, and he said in the only way left "get the hell off me, lady!". The saddle does fit. I have had four people, trainer, teacher, show trainer, barn owner: all that ride western. He is long in the back and has nice withers. I do usually ride him in my english but I know that he can get naughty after some time off. >So he got more riding, pretty intense from the sound of it, to teach him a lesson.... I just had him do turning on the hunches and forehand, walk/back, side pass, all things he has done before. I do that until he seems to be on the aids. > If you had had a long break from exercise (and you were a pensioner to boot!), you would not start with a 5 mile run. You should not ask your poor old horse to do the same - please, I know this probably sounds harsh, but have some common sense! We used to take long trail rides. He has what I call the pony patiance. Or lack there of. He is always jigging and dancing. I have to leave his stall door open, with a guard, so he can watch everything going on in the barn. JR
